7 Truths: Suarez rediscovers his form, Sunderland could be gone for some time

Sunderland fans knew before today’s match that they’d be looking forward to visits to Burton Albion and Bristol City but they could well find themselves making those journeys for more than one season.

It’s not that they don’t have the resources, as the club will be amongst the wealthiest in the league.

It appears that something is intrinsically wrong with the structure of the club with six managers coming and going in next to no time and the players seeming to lack any cohesion, fight or desire for the most part of this season. David Moyes is not to blame. They have gone down in spite of the manager, not because of him.

Since reaching the magical 40 point-mark at the end of February, West Brom have managed only one win and have scored just three goals in eight games. And the Baggies’ concerning run of form continued on Saturday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Leicester City.

They have now gone five games without a goal and were once again fruitless in attack as Jamie Vardy grabbed the winner for the third consecutive game at The Hawthorns.

The home supporters booed their team off after another limp and apathetic display – and they have every right to do so.

The fact that Tony Pulis has now only managed six wins out of 43 Premier League games after his sides have accumulated 40 points is quite simply an embarrassing statistic for the 59-year-old. And it says a lot about his mindset – survive and then relax.

The Baggies deserve more, particularly when a top-seven place was in sight.

It's only his second game back after more than a year out but Jack Butland looked assured during his first home game for 413 days.

Bar one nervy moment with Bruno Martins Indi, Butland came off his line well and his communication with his back line was solid. He was good in the air and his kicking was decent.

Most importantly of all he seemed sharp, making two excellent reflex stops, one in each half. The first denied an overhead kick from Andre Ayew and the second came after he had parried Ayew's snapshot in the second half, getting up well to get across his goal to deny Lanzini with his feet.

Joe Hart's position is certainly at risk and whilst Butland is still nailed on as the successor there's every chance he can take the jersey before Russia in 2018. With Gareth Southgate watching today he's bound to be in the squad for the Scotland and France matches. He may even warrant a start.

While Hull’s top-flight status is far from secured, Maguire looks certain to be playing in the division next season with or without them. He stood out again at Southampton where he was never troubled by the wily Manolo Gabbiadini and was one of the more proactive players on the ball, often carrying it out from the back as has become a trademark of his.

Only 24 years old, a commanding yet mobile presence and comfortable on the ball, he fits what many clubs will be looking for in a centre-half and that’s before mentioning that he’s English. Given the uncertainty that still surrounds Hull’s ownership situation and the resulting lack of transfer funds, Maguire could be available relatively cheap, even if they are not relegated, and isn’t short of admirers.

In case 16 points from the eight games Sakho has played for the Eagles wasn’t obvious enough, nor the 0.88 goals per game they conceded in those matches compared to 1.59 in the preceding fixtures, Crystal Palace’s defeat to Burnley highlighted just how important the Frenchman is for them. Without him they looked very vulnerable at the back and, surprisingly for a Sam Allardyce side, were bullied at set plays.

Sakho is likely to have a large price tag in the summer but on this evidence he would be worth it for Palace. He’s the archetypal Allardyce defender, has no future at Liverpool and, judging by appearances at least, is enjoying life at the club. Seeing him go elsewhere would be a huge disappointment.

It is only one match, but after a few days of dealing with the fallout from Joey Barton, Burnley should be relieved that they are finally rid of him.

The trouble he had at Rangers, and almost every club before his move to Scotland, should have made it clear that he wasn’t a player with enough talent to make the distractions worth it.

Burnley aren't expected to support him through his appeal, nor should they. Once they replace him in the squad this summer, they may come to realise it was never a sensible move to bring him back.

Luis Suarez had gone five games without a goal, a rare time of struggle for one of the few world class strikers currently plying their trade.

Barcelona were facing Espanyol in a fearsome Catalan derby, and needed victory to stay top of La Liga with only a handful of games to go - three for Barcelona, and four for Real Madrid, both sides on 81 points. Without him, the pressure would have built to perhaps unmanageable levels.

Barcelona will be thankful to have Suarez back to his threatening best as Luis Enrique tries to end on a high after a troubled season.