Sunderland manager David Moyes must prepare for the challenging visit from free-scoring Manchester City on Sunday in the knowledge that whatever the outcome, the club's annual attempt to pull off a great escape cannot properly start until April.
As a result of rearranged fixtures, the game against Pep Guardiola's side is one of only two Sunderland will play this month, with another home tie, against Burnley, on March 18.
Almost whatever happens in those two games, it seems highly likely the club will finish the month as they start it, at the bottom of the Premier League.