BREAKING NEWS: Stoke City provided Sunderland with a promotion boost that yielded significant dividends: Analysis

Defender Danny Batth had a significant impact at Sunderland following his transfer from Stoke City.

Sunderland is poised for a fresh start this summer with the appointment of a new manager, marking the beginning of a new era for the club. The Championship season has been tumultuous for the Black Cats, particularly with the controversial decision to replace Tony Mowbray with Michael Beale in December, which has had detrimental effects on their campaign.

Beale’s appointment was met with skepticism from Sunderland supporters, and his dismissal in February, following just four wins in 12 games, has left the team under the interim leadership of Mike Dodds until the season’s end. With the pressure on owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus to make the right managerial choice this summer, fans are eagerly anticipating a much-improved performance next season.

In addition to the managerial upheaval, Sunderland has undergone significant changes in its playing squad this season, with several key players departing, including Lynden Gooch, Danny Batth, and Alex Pritchard. Batth’s departure to Norwich City came as a surprise, driven by the club’s initiative to lower the squad’s average age. Despite the circumstances of his exit, Batth left a lasting impression during his tenure at the Stadium of Light.

Batth’s brief stint at Sunderland deserves recognition, considering his impressive track record prior to joining the club. He notably led Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Championship title in 2018.

After experiencing a decline in playing time at Molineux during their Premier League campaign, Batth made a move to Stoke City in January 2019 for an initial fee of £3 million. He quickly established himself as a key figure in Stoke’s defensive lineup.

Despite featuring regularly for Stoke in the first half of the 2021-22 season, Batth joined Sunderland on a free transfer in January 2022, which turned out to be a shrewd move for the club.

Although his start at the Stadium of Light was challenging, with manager Lee Johnson being dismissed shortly after Batth’s arrival, the 33-year-old defender persisted and eventually made significant contributions to Sunderland’s campaign.

After a period of injury, Batth returned to action towards the end of the season and played a vital role in Sunderland’s promotion to the Championship under the guidance of Alex Neil. He featured in all three play-off games, showcasing his leadership and defensive prowess.

Batth seamlessly transitioned into Championship football with Sunderland, forming a formidable partnership with Dan Ballard in central defense. His reliability and consistency were evident as he made 42 appearances across all competitions, even captaining the team on several occasions.

According to Sofascore, Danny Batth’s Championship stats for Sunderland in the 2022-23 season are as follows:

– Appearances: 40
– Clean sheets: 13
– Interceptions per game: 0.9
– Tackles per game: 0.7
– Dribbled past per game: 0.2
– Clearances per game: Data not provided

It was an extraordinary season for the Black Cats last year as they secured a sixth-place finish in their inaugural return to the second tier. However, Batth suffered an injury towards the end of the campaign, sidelining him for the crucial play-off matches.

Former manager Mowbray acknowledged Batth’s absence, stating that his team missed his presence, especially during their defeat to Luton Town in the semi-finals. Mowbray conceded that Batth’s defensive abilities would have been valuable in handling Luton’s aerial threat and physical style of play.