Same as Norwich quick turnaround so early thread.
We travel to Tyne and Wear to the early Championship leaders.
A slight surprise package under young French manager Regis Le Bris the departure of star player Jack Clarke doesn't seem to have done them any harm with replacement Romaine Mundle already stepping up with 3 goals.
Mundle with a rejuvenated Patrick Roberts, new striker Wilson Isidor and wonderkd midfielder Chris Rigg has helped make Sunderland a dangerous team in transition who are happy to sit back and go at teams on the break.
They are not afraid to press high however on occasion with the energetic midfield including Dan Neil happy to get involved.
And this has lead Sunderland to be not only the Championship leaders but top scorers as well.
And as you'd expect from a team comfortable not having the ball they don't concede many either, only 6 goals in 8 games.
And 4 wins in 4 at home and no goals conceded.
A tough ask for our stretched squad and walking wounded players.
But one we must overcome to make it to the 2ppg mark at the 2nd international break.
Given DF's hated of rotation and the stretched nature of our squad you don't expect much change.
But Gruev may be out it seems, slightly worrying how easily Norwich got at our defence at times especially given that is what Sunderland do best with fast breaks.
Is an argument for Bamford maybe? Byram?
A point would be a decent result perhaps? All be it 16 points from 9 games is playoff form at best which is not what we hoped for this season.
A real challenge to come.
