SUNDERLAND had waited years for a result and performance like Saturday’s. Eight years, to be exact. That’s how long the Black Cats spent exiled from the Premier League, even dropping as low as the third tier of English football as the storm clouds gathered over the Stadium of Light. Those clouds have well and truly cleared now.
Indeed, the sun shone on Sunderland as they opened their 2025/26 campaign with a statement 3-0 victory over West Ham. Regis Le Bris set up his team to play in quick transition, and the Hammers couldn’t cope with what their promoted opponents threw at them in front of a rapturous, sold-out home crowd.
It was the sort of occasion that suggested Sunderland will become the first promoted side in three seasons to avoid an immediate return to the Championship. The Black Cats have 37 games left to play, but Saturday’s opener set a standard that could make the Stadium of Light a difficult place to visit this season.
Under Le Bris, Sunderland have honed their threat in quick transition. This was an approach that led to the Northeast outfit winning promotion through the playoffs last season, and it’s an approach that could give Sunderland the best chance of staying up out of the three new teams in the Premier League this term.
Burnley are counting on their exceptional defensive strength from last season giving them a platform to build on in the Premier League. However, the fact of the matter is Scott Parker’s team will face much stronger attacks this season, making it unrealistic to expect many clean sheets. Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur was foreboding for their survival chances.
Leeds United racked up 100 points as Championship winners last season. Daniel Farke favoured a proactive, front-foot approach that made the Elland Road outfit the most entertaining team to watch in England’s second tier, but they may not have the top-end talent to be as proactive in the Premier League.
Sunderland, on the other hand, have a set up that allows them to defend deep and attack open space on the break. Not only did summer signings such as Granit Xhaka and Simon Adingra look comfortable in this system, but the Black Cats harnessed many of the players that won them promotion – see goalscorers Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard, and Wilson Isidor.
“It’s really important for two reasons at least – the first one they showed they can step up today,” said Le Bris when asked about his core of players that came up with Sunderland from the Championship. “At the same time they are really important because they keep the identity of the club and the way we worked last season. We’ve built this strength about togetherness, about the way we can work as a team and I think we showed it today. These players are important for that.”
Having spent £150m in the transfer market this summer, Sunderland have done their best to equip themselves for survival. Xhaka is already bringing leadership and control in the centre of the pitch. Adingra is offering a different dimension on the wing while Habib Diarra was a threat with his forward runs from deep against West Ham.
There could be more business conducted before the window closes. Ukrainian centre forward Artem Dovbyk has been linked with a switch to the Stadium of Light with Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi another target believed to be on Sunderland’s radar. They could get even stronger, but the signs are that the Black Cats might already have enough in them to make sure their Premier League stay isn’t a short one.
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