“Dominated” – Regis Le Bris makes blunt admission on Leeds United after Sunderland draw

Sunderland can count themselves fortunate that Leeds United didn’t leave the Stadium of Light with all three points on Sunday afternoon.

Leeds wrapped up their 2025 campaign with a tough away trip to face one of the season’s surprise packages, but they arrived full of belief and intent. The Black Cats were unbeaten at home going into the clash and managed to preserve that record, though they were pushed all the way.

Leeds Fight Back to Extend Unbeaten Run

Few would have predicted Leeds ending the calendar year on a five-game unbeaten run, especially given their difficult run of fixtures. Yet Daniel Farke’s side travelled to Wearside full of confidence, reflecting just how much their survival hopes have improved.

Sunderland struck first against the run of play through a brilliantly worked goal, as a disguised Granit Xhaka pass set up Simon Adingra for a composed finish. However, Leeds refused to be discouraged.

The visitors emerged for the second half with renewed intensity and were quickly rewarded. A flowing, Bielsa-style move involving all 11 players ended with Dominic Calvert-Lewin applying the finish to level the score.

Leeds continued to push for a winner in the final 25 minutes but ultimately had to settle for a point — one that still extends their gap to the relegation zone to seven points.

Regis Le Bris Admits Leeds Dominance

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris rarely sees his side under such pressure at home, but he acknowledged that Leeds were the superior team for large spells.

“Leeds are a good side and they’re in great form,” Le Bris told SAFC. “They showed real quality today. We started well and scored, and we even had a chance to make it two before the break. But after that, they changed their structure and we struggled to find our rhythm.

“They dominated the game, although we managed to regain some momentum late on. In the end, it was probably a fair result and a good lesson for us in the Premier League.”

Leeds Build Breathing Space at the Bottom

As 2025 comes to a close, the most encouraging takeaway for Leeds is the growing cushion between themselves and the relegation zone.

Once deep in trouble earlier in the season, they now sit seven points clear of West Ham, offering a huge psychological boost heading into the new year. With January approaching, both clubs face a crucial period — but Leeds appear to have turned a corner at just the right time.

After a difficult stretch of fixtures, they’ve emerged stronger, more confident, and very much in control of their survival fight.