From all-time low to the Champions League locations, Sunderland marched into Stamford Bridge and left with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea. When the Black Cats bought promoted again to the Premier League, there was hope that after making fascinating transfers, they’d discover their stride and keep away from a 3rd consecutive season throughout which all three newly promoted groups have been relegated from the Premier League, however now they will do one thing that hasn’t been achieved since 2020-21 by, fellow Premier League returnee Leeds United.
That is the final time {that a} newly promoted aspect completed within the prime half of the Premier League. It was achieved by Wolverhampton, Sheffield United, and Leeds between 2018 and 2021, however hasn’t been achieved since, with the hole between the Premier League and the Championship rising wider by the season, with elevated spending within the prime flight. However even predicting a resurgence this yr from promoted sides, Sunderland, the third group promoted, successful their place by way of the Championship playoffs, would’ve been one of the crucial unlikely suspects.
The Black Cats have been final within the Premier League within the 2016-17 season earlier than a fast fall occurred, happening from the Championship all the way in which to League One. That keep in League One was a prolonged one as properly, with it lasting 4 seasons earlier than spending three seasons within the Championship. Even for a widely known membership, that is sufficient to interrupt issues aside, however not for Sunderland with a mix of youth and expertise main them.
Including Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen has reworked the membership’s midfield, however even gamers like Chemsdine Talbi are new to the membership. With Wilson Isador scoring the opening purpose after being concerned of their promotion marketing campaign from the Championship, it exhibits the steadiness of including new gamers to the membership whereas preserving expertise from those that bought them right here to create a balanced squad.
Going into Stamford Bridge for a win is the largest win up to now this season for the Black Cats, placing them on 17 factors. With the magic quantity for Premier League security normally being 40 factors, they’re nearly midway to that focus on below Regis Le Bris. There’s nothing higher than rapidly gathering Premier League factors as a result of these cannot be taken away from you, and doing so is giving Sunderland extra confidence by the day.
Defensively, they have been among the many greatest groups within the league, solely permitting seven targets and taking a look at their anticipated targets allowed of 10, whereas they’re overperforming, it is not by sufficient that may counsel that the wheels will fall off this group. With contributions from in all places within the assault, there’s additionally no over-reliance on one participant both.
In a season the place groups like Nottingham Forest, West Ham United, and Wolves are all within the relegation zone, if there is a time for Sunderland to interrupt into the highest half, it is now. There’s nonetheless loads of the season to play ou,t however they’ve already introduced that the Black Cats are again, now they should show that they are right here to remain.
