No Roefs, no Reinildo, no Mukiele, no Brobbey, no Xhaka from the start, a goalkeeper making their Sunderland debut, a centre-back making his first Premier League start...
It wasn't pretty, Leeds were the better side, but THAT WAS ABOUT GRIT.
That takes Sunderland to 40 points by the 3rd March, an absolutely sensational achievement for a side playing their first year in the Premier League for 9 years.
A reminder that Sunderland finished 4th in the Championship last year, as close to Oxford United in 17th as Leeds and Burnley at the top, before scraping into the Premier League with late winners in the semi-final and final.
And yet... the only side to beat Sunderland home and away so far this season is Fulham and we've conceded fewer goals than Liverpool and Man United.
Fuelled by one of the most remarkable summers of recruitment in Premier League history.
So proud of my club!
Regis Le Bris is leading this Sunderland side to one of the greatest seasons in their history.
BEAT NEWCASTLE ONCE AGAIN ✅
7TH IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE ✅
Absolutely INCREDIBLE! 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️🔴⚪️
Luke O'Nien has now played in the Premier League, Championship, League One, FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy for Sunderland.
313 games for us and two promotions. Not to mention a promotion winner with Wycombe Wanderers in League Two. Also played non-league with Wealdstone.
#SAFC
It feels like every week at the minute #SAFC are growing more and more into the club we always knew and never stopped believing it could be.
It’s just fucking wonderful isn’t it?
⚪️🔴 Just interviewed Brian Brobbey after his first Premier League goal rescued a point for #SAFC - here’s what he told me!
💬 “Oh I know about the motto here, ‘till the end’! Everybody always pushes till the end! Granit said to everyone in the last 10 mins that we need to keep pushing and we could get something.
“It was a good header from Dan and I was just in the right spot. So many emotions - I was waiting for this goal and I finally got it so I’m so happy. Never heard anything like that noise in my career when I scored!”
Wilson Isidor's injury time goal vs Brentford means Sunderland win their opening two Premier League home games for the first time in 23 years... last done in 2001/02 ⌛