Paint the town red (and white): vs West Ham (H):
Opening night at the Stadium of Light crackled with energy—which Sunderland channelled into a powerful 3–0 win. Leading the lads out of the tunnel was new captain Granit Xhaka, the more experienced and accomplished signing made in the summer transfer window.
The first half was tense for both sides, seeing chances at both ends but nothing clear-cut. Omar Alderete was substituted on for an injured Jenson Seelt in the 53rd minute to make his debut in red and white stripes in the English Premier League. It took him merely minutes to then contribute his first assist with a lofted cross to Elizier Mayenda in the 61st minute. The viper picks up where he left off last season as he leaps for the ball and redirects it into the left of the goal, beating Hermansen and establishing a 1-0 lead.
The second goal was well worked from the right-hand side, two new signings coordinated a passage of play in which Reinildo Mandava laid a 5-yard pass to Simon Adingra, who whipped a sublime cross to who else but Dan Ballard. He rose to the occasion, beating two West Ham defenders to the ball and heading it home to put the black cats 2 goals ahead in the 73rd minute. What a way to mark their return.
The Stadium of Light erupted, and a statement of intent was broadcast to the top flight.
The Stadium of Light erupted, and a statement of intent was broadcast to the top flight. Sunderland were not finished there, Thierry Henry regen (Wilson Isidor for those unfamiliar to his game) opened his account in the Premier League after a neat through ball from the Moroccan Chemsdine Talbi saw him down the left-hand side.
Déjà vu for Sunderland fans in the late minutes of injury time as he cuts in onto his favoured right foot and nestles it into the far corner, beating West Ham keeper Hermansen, who perhaps should have done better. 3-0, absolute euphoria. Let's get carried away, man.
A Sharp Wake-Up Call: Burnley (A)
The elation of the opener was swiftly grounded at Turf Moor. The unwanted early departure of Sunderland's promotion hero, Dan Ballard, seemingly set the tone for the fixture as he was forced off due to injury.
While having good spells in possession, Sunderland didn't appear to be able to break down the rigid Burnley defence, and their lack of end product saw them go into half-time goalless. Burnley appeared to have a game plan and it was executed finely through the first half. Opportunities came and went for both sides but nothing clear-cut.
Sunderland's Eliezer Mayenda with possibly the best chance of them all, critics claim it should have been converted. Burnley perhaps with the better chances overall, especially their goal, which was ruled out after a foul on Jenson Seelt in the build-up.
With no goals at the break and words to be had by both managers at half-time. A new approach in the second half saw Burnley come out with confidence from the dressing room. A demonstration of flair from Jaiden Anthony as he backheeled the ball into the path of Burnley captain ,Joshua Cullen, who took it nicely and wrapped a low driven shot into the far right corner from the edge of the box.
Time was running out and Sunderland had yet to find their gears. After pressing for an equaliser in the second half, Sunderland couldn't find their rhythm and they sloppily lost possession in the opponents half, outdone by their desperation.
Nine touches, three passes, one goal. Cullen and Anthony link up again but in reverse. Cullen passes to Anthony, with Xhaka desperately trying to recover the ball, who took it round the Sunderland goalkeeper Roefs and Sunderland fall two goals behind, a mountain to climb to redeem a point from an overall poor display.
Burnley, the puppeteer to the marionette of Sunderland as they played into their hands and suffer a 2-0 defeat away from home.
Glimpses of quality not enough as Sunderland are brushed off by their fellow promoted side. A game perhaps Sunderland fans believed to be their best chance at a win before the season started proven otherwise. Burnley, the puppeteer to the marionette of Sunderland as they played into their hands and suffer a 2-0 defeat away from home. A tough affair as Burnley used their opening home fixture atmosphere to their advantage.
Stoppage time scenes: Brentford (H)
Sunderland approach their 2nd home fixture of their Premier League campaign, hoping to pick up where they left off regarding their dominance on home soil in their previous outing at the Stadium of Light. The fans brought the shellshock atmosphere as usual, while kick-off approached.
Sunderland saw themselves figured out by Brentford in the first half. A quick break from Collins after Mayenda was dispossessed and saw Brentford through on goal with Ouattara. Collins threaded a lovely through ball which split the two Sunderland defenders and the goalkeeper held his composure and found the back of the net. Only for it to be ruled offside by the finest margins, a shoulder was all it took, but it was enough.
Not a lot of noteworthy moments other than that in the first half. Brentford likely looking to build on their game and keep the pressure on, while Sunderland will look to wind their way out of the shackles Brentford cast them in.
New half, new attitude for Sunderland as energy levels seemed to have risen. Until a cross was delivered by Brentford and Mandava found himself in a tangle with a Brentford attacker. The ref blew his whistle, but fans around the stadium didn't seem to know what the ref's verdict was. He drew out a yellow card and dished it out to Reinildo, then pointed to the spot.
Sunderland players were not in agreement, primarily Mandava himself and the captain Granit Xhaka, who pleaded to the ref but to no avail. Penalty awarded, heads in hands, was this going to be what separated the two sides? Robin Roefs' towering height filled the goal; he made it as small as possible for Schade, which was an unexpected penalty taker; Roefs had no analysis on him, so he relied on old-school tactics and tried to force him into where he wanted him.
Roefs had no analysis on him, so he relied on old-school tactics and tried to force him into where he wanted him.
Schade struck the ball, Roefs made his guess. SAVED! A fire lit in the belly of the Sunderland players; they've avoided going a goal behind twice already, they had to dig deep. A dagger in the heart, a headed effort from Brentford striker Igor put them ahead in the 77th minute, and the keeper didn't stand much chance.
Sunderland were still at it, and heads were not dropped. A free kick from Trai Hume weaved its way through the hallway of limbs in the penalty area and was deflected out for a corner. In the hustle, a foul was committed on Mukiele inside the box, copy and paste of the previous Brentford foul and Sunderland were awarded a penalty.
Enzo Le Fee, stepped up to take it. Ice cold, the most nonchalant in the stadium as he buried it into the bottom right corner. For those wondering, he decided to whip out his best Spiderman web shooter impression for his celebration, a little unorthodox, but we can run with it.
82nd minute 1-1. Game on. Chances came and went, but nothing telling for either side. 8 minutes of added time, Sunderland on the left side of the Brentford box. The ball was dropped off to Xhaka, who delivered an inch-perfect cross to Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor, who had come on off the bench and put Sunderland ahead in the 90+6 minute of added time. A newborn child and a newborn habit of scoring in the Premier League for Isidor, what a week for him and what an opening set of fixtures for Sunderland AFC in their return to the Premier League. 6 points in 3 games, not too shabby ey?