On April 17, 2021, Sunderland faced Blackpool in a critical Sky Bet League One match at Bloomfield Road, where they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat. The loss marked Sunderland's third consecutive defeat, following setbacks against Charlton Athletic and Wigan. Aiden McGeady was the standout player for Sunderland, coming close to scoring when his shot hit the post. However, the game turned against them when Lee Burge, Sunderland's goalkeeper, inadvertently scored an own goal after a deflected clearance. This defeat left Sunderland's automatic promotion hopes hanging by a thread, as they struggled with injuries to key players and a lack of defensive solidity. Despite a brief victory over Plymouth in their next match, Sunderland ultimately found themselves in the playoffs, where they faced a challenging defeat against Lincoln City, further ending their promotion aspirations.