Sunderland's 1-0 victory over Chelsea can serve as a launchpad for their season, according to former midfielder Jason McAteer.
The Black Cats moved off the bottom of the Premier League table with the win, which was only their second of the campaign and eased pressure on head coach Regis Le Bris.
Victory boosts confidence
McAteer, who made more than 50 appearances for Sunderland between 2001 and 2004, said the result was significant beyond the three points. He told Casino Kings: "The crowd will have renewed optimism. It'll produce a little bit of confidence because it's Chelsea. If it was a bottom-of-the-table clash against a team like Hull or Ipswich, or a game they should have won, maybe it might have been a different feeling."
He added: "To go and beat Chelsea is a scalp, to be honest, and it's a big scalp at this part of the season, at this moment. You hope that's going to be the trigger or the platform to go on and produce some more good results."
Difficult run ahead
Sunderland face a demanding schedule after the international break, with McAteer highlighting fixtures against Aston Villa, Tottenham, Liverpool and the derby against Newcastle, alongside European commitments including a trip to AC Milan.
McAteer said the break offers a chance to reset: "They've got this time now, this break, to reset, settle, let the dust settle and have a little think about what's been going on. Hopefully, they come back and get something against Villa."
Squad depth concerns
McAteer attributed Sunderland's struggles to the challenge of sustaining success after a strong first season back in the Premier League, describing it as "second-season syndrome." He praised the club's recruitment, noting that players were brought in from different parts of the world, including Xhaka for experience.
He said squads in the lower half of the table lack the depth to challenge through April and May, adding: "Hopefully Sunderland can nick points here and there, hang on, consolidate in the Premier League, try to buy a bit more quality in the summer, and then hope to prolong their stay in the Premier League or mount a decent challenge again."
McAteer acknowledged the psychological pressure of a relegation battle, saying: "It's crazy how football works out when you're down there. Nothing goes for you, and then you start running out of games. The crowd turns, and then you really are in trouble. But they have got an opportunity to turn it around, and beating Chelsea is a big win for them."
