Sunderland have defied modern trends by amassing 27 points from their first 13 Premier League games, the best start for a promoted side since Wigan Athletic in 2005-06. The Black Cats sit sixth in the table, above Manchester United and Liverpool, just eight points behind leaders Arsenal. Their tally is already four points more than the typical survival threshold from last season.
Just two years after playing in League One, Sunderland returned to the top flight via the playoffs, finishing 16th in the Championship last season with only 76 points – the joint-lowest for a playoff winner in over a decade. Despite spending modestly compared to other promoted sides, Régis Le Bris has seamlessly integrated 15 new signings.
Captain Granit Xhaka has been instrumental, providing four assists and anchoring the midfield with his defensive intelligence. The team’s defensive solidity is evident: only 13 goals conceded, the fifth-best record in the league. The Stadium of Light has become a fortress, with Sunderland unbeaten in seven home games – a feat not achieved by a newly promoted side in 24 years.
While the season is still young, Sunderland’s form evokes memories of Peter Reid’s side in 1999-2000, which finished seventh. For now, the promoted club is rewriting the script that has seen most recent newcomers struggle to stay up.
