"'Have a great New Year and enjoy STILL being unbeaten at home!' was the message delivered to Sunderland's supporters over the PA system after Manchester City had become the latest to try and fail to win against the newly-promoted side. Then they played 'That's The Way I Like It' by KC & The Sunshine Band, to add to the sense of the surreal on a cold night that showed just why the Premier League title race is a marathon rather than a sprint."
"Sunderland, promoted via the EFL Championship playoff in May, had been expected to be hurtling towards an instant return to the second tier by now after being listed as one of the shortest-priced relegation favorites at the start of the season, but Regis Le Bris's team are now just four points off a UEFA Champions League spot in seventh and who knows where the next 19 games will take them?"
Sunderland extended their unbeaten home record as Manchester City failed to win against the newly promoted side, prompting a celebratory message over the PA and a surreal song choice. The unexpected result underlined how the Premier League title race remains a long-term contest rather than a short burst. All teams have now played 19 games, turning focus to the run-in for Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Sunderland earned promotion via the Championship playoff and were preseason relegation favorites, yet they sit seventh and just four points off a Champions League position. Aston Villa and Sunderland have notably exceeded expectations, while Manchester City have already lost four games and Liverpool are underperforming despite heavy summer recruitment.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]