"This time last year, Sunderland were dreaming of promotion to the Premier League after going top of the Championship table by beating Luton Town. Fast forward 12 months and the Black Cats have just beaten Club World Cup champions Chelsea to move to within two points of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League table. To describe Sunderland's start merely as a dream would be to do it a disservice."
"To put Sunderland's start into context, it's worth remembering how the Black Cats defied expectations to reach the top-flight again. Regis le Bris' side finished 24 points behind Burnley and Leeds in the automatic promotion spots and managed just 58 goals in their 46 games. They required an injury-time winner to edge past Coventry in the play-off semi-finals and they were clear underdogs going into the final at Wembley against Sheffield United, who finished 14 points ahead of the Black Cats."
"But Sunderland showed their resilience again, coming from behind in the final and scoring another injury-time winner through Tom Watson to regain top-flight status for the first time in eight years. It makes this season's start all the more impressive. The 17 points Sunderland have accumulated from their nine matches so far is the Black Cats' equal best start in the Premier League, matching the tally from the 1999-00 season."
Sunderland have surged to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal after beating Chelsea, accumulating 17 points from nine matches. The strong start defies expectations for a newly promoted side and counters critics who questioned their transfer activity. The promotion campaign under Régis le Bris came despite finishing 24 points behind automatic places, scoring 58 goals in 46 games and requiring injury-time winners in the play-offs, including a decisive late goal by Tom Watson in the final at Wembley. The current 17-point haul equals Sunderland's best opening nine-game start in the Premier League (1999–00), and only five other promoted teams have taken more early points, all avoiding relegation.
Read at www.bbc.com
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