STALEMATE: Sunderland’s Denver Hume, right, takes on Bolton’s Thibaud Verlinden in the Boxing Day goalless draw and, inset, Sunderland owner Stewart Donald
PICTURE: MI News & Sport

AFRIEND of mine recently backed Sunderland to get relegated at 1,000/1. Two weeks later, the odds had dropped to 100-1 and he cashed out for nearly £300. He certainly had a much happier Christmas than most Sunderland fans, who are subjected to fresh ignominy with each passing week.
The Black Cats spent Christmas day 13th in League One, eclipsing the previous all-tim...