Marco Gabbiadini outlines ‘exactly’ what Sunderland need after Fulham loss amid ‘baby steps’ claim

Sunderland host Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend, and former club legend Marco Gabbiadini believes a return to the Stadium of Light in front of a packed home crowd is precisely what Régis Le Bris’ side need following their recent defeat to Fulham.

The Black Cats suffered a flat 1–0 loss at Craven Cottage, a display well below their usual standard. They now look to put things right on home turf against a Bournemouth team enjoying an impressive campaign under Andoni Iraola. The Cherries currently sit eighth in the table, level on points with Sunderland, but arrive after a dip in form — losing to Manchester City and Aston Villa before drawing with West Ham. In Gabbiadini’s view, this could be the ideal scenario for Sunderland to respond positively after their own setback.

Gabbiadini on Sunderland’s mindset ahead of Bournemouth

Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle’s Total Sport, Gabbiadini said the team’s ability to regroup after difficult moments has become a defining trait of the current regime.

“It’s been a feature of the club over the last couple of seasons,” he said. “The squad takes pride in that resilience. The players who’ve been here longer have passed that attitude on, and the new signings have bought into it. It’s not easy — it requires real character.”

Gabbiadini compared Bournemouth to Fulham, noting that while neither are traditionally huge names, both have built strong identities in the top flight.

“They’re not a big-name club, but they’ve been in the Premier League for several years. When you go through multiple transfer windows or even get relegated and bounce back, keeping the core of the squad together makes a massive difference,” he continued. “We’re still taking small steps in that respect, and we have to match them.”

Despite that, he believes Sunderland’s home advantage could tip the balance:

“A home game is exactly what we need — another big crowd backing the team. Hopefully, we’ll all be smiling next week.”

Saturday’s fixture will be the first meeting between the two clubs since Sunderland’s last Premier League stint in 2017. Their most recent encounter came that April, when Josh King’s late goal sealed victory for Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light.