Mike Dodds just accomplished something that no other Championship manager has done since 2010.

Sunderland suffered their sixth consecutive defeat at the weekend, losing 4-2 on the south coast against Southampton.

Following Michael Beale’s departure in February, the Black Cats are still without a permanent manager, with Mike Dodds taking interim command.

Dodds has overseen a terrible run of form that has left Sunderland 11 points behind sixth-place Norwich City.

Any dreams of making the play-offs are now gone, and emphasis is turning to next season, with the hiring of a permanent manager expected at the end of the season.

Sunderland’s lack of experience may have contributed to their recent relegation, as pressure to reach the play-offs mounts.

On Saturday, Dodd announced the Championship’s youngest starting lineup since 2010.

Mike Dodds set a new Championship record.

Following the defeat at St Mary’s, journalist Ali Maxwell posted on X that Sunderland’s starting eleven on Saturday had the Championship’s youngest average age.

Surprisingly, the interim manager fielded a side with an average age of 21, eight months younger than one of Peterborough United’s starting XIs from the 2009/10 season, when they came last.

While it’s encouraging to see youthful talent given a chance at the North East club, it appears to be hurting their promotion chances.

To fight inexperience on the pitch, it is critical to have a number of well-season professionals, too.

But, in Sunderland’s case, their oldest player against Southampton was Daniel Ballard, who turned 24 in September.