Have Sunderland cracked the code for Premier League survival?

Life in the English top flight for newly promoted teams tends to be tough in general, but it has been even tougher in recent seasons. Barring a few exceptions, they all struggle to avoid relegation at the first time of asking, and most fail — as has been the case in the last two seasons.

Returning after a hiatus of eight years, there weren’t huge expectations from Sunderland at the start of the season. But the Black Cats have taken the Premier League by storm. After 11 games, they’re fourth in the Premier League table with 19 points, having registered five wins, four draws, and only two defeats, marking a superb run so far. They have even taken points off heavyweight sides like Chelsea and Arsenal. 

Here, we look at the three major factors that have led to Sunderland punching above their weight in the league thus far. 

Coaching and tactics

Little was known of Régis Le Bris when he took charge of the Black Cats in the Championship last season. Even though his previous side, Lorient, had suffered relegation from Ligue 1, the Sunderland management deemed him capable of taking them back to the Premier League.

And their faith was thoroughly repaid. Le Bris led Sunderland to promotion in his very first season. Having made the play-offs with a fourth-place finish in the league, his side beat Sheffield United in the play-off final to confirm their return to the top flight after an eight-year gap.

As for his tactics, Le Bris normally prefers a 4-3-3 formation, but he is adaptable. We have seen him play a back three or even a back five depending on what the situation demands. Le Bris doesn’t mind giving away the ball and expects his players to maintain a tight defensive structure and hit the opposition on the counter. His players are quick on transitions and move the ball forward at a rapid pace.

So far this season, Sunderland have looked difficult to break down, and their forward line has looked capable of threatening any defence, as was shown against Arsenal, who are famously hard to score against and hadn’t conceded two goals against any other opposition in any competition before they visited the Stadium of Light.

New recruits working well

Ahead of the season, Sunderland knew that, in order to compete and stay in the top flight, they would need to bring in quality players and bolster the squad.

More often than not, making too many changes can backfire, but the Black Cats seem to have done exceptionally well in the recruitment department. They had to let go of star midfielder Jobe Bellingham in the summer, but they compensated for him by securing a mix of shrewd signings alongside quality young players.

Granit Xhaka is one such example. The former Arsenal captain has been a revelation for the Wearside outfit, having made an instant impact with his experience in the middle of the park. Reinildo Mandava at left-back is another player who has added experience to this young side, while the likes of Habib Diarra, Simon Adingra, Brian Brobbey, Chemsdine Talbi, Nordi Mukiele, and Robin Roefs have also improved the quality of the squad.

Sunderland have used their funds well and built a squad not just for top-flight survival but for competition for a top-half finish come May.

Home record and defensive solidity

For any Premier League team to succeed, whether it’s winning trophies or avoiding relegation, their home record and defensive solidity make a massive difference.

So far, the Stadium of Light has proved to be a fortress for Sunderland. They are undefeated at home after 11 league games in total, and even when they have gone behind, their supporters have carried them to results with vociferous support.

Sunderland’s defensive structure has also helped them win points in tight games. Prior to the Arsenal game, they had only conceded eight goals in ten games, which was the second-best defensive record after the Gunners themselves. They also already have four clean sheets this season.

Centre-backs Omar Alderete and Daniel Ballard have been a wall, while Nordi Mukiele at right-back has been a stand-out player with his dangerous long throws up front. The former RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain man is also strong in the air and in ground duels, often coming up with important tackles, blocks, and interceptions. Their last line of defence, Roefs, has been excellent in goal, keeping the opposition strikers at bay. Roefs’ save percentage is the best in the Premier League so far, even ahead of big-name keepers like David Raya and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Conclusion

Sunderland are not dependent on one or two players to bail them out of trouble; they’re performing as a collective, which is always a good sign. With the management and new recruits performing with unrelenting mentality, and with their loud supporters behind them every step of the way, the Black Cats are proving to be a massive threat for any side trying to take points off them, particularly at the Stadium of Light.

If they continue their current form, the Wearside team may at least end up in the top half of the table, which would be a dream homecoming for them as well as upset the Premier League dynamics, similar to how the likes of Brentford, Bournemouth, and Brighton did when they arrived from the Championship.

It has been quite refreshing to see a promoted team come in and make life difficult for the established teams, ensuring no side is guaranteed any freebies against them. Though only 11 games have been played in the Premier League thus far, and despite the unpredictable nature of English top-flight football, the early signs point to Sunderland being here to stay.

And we love it.