Sunderland’s 3-2 comeback win over AFC Bournemouth on Saturday felt less like a routine result and more like a statement.
Manager Régis Le Bris played it cool, insisting the club’s aim remains the familiar survival benchmark of 40 points, yet his side sit serenely in sixth place with 22 points from 13 games.
At this pace, the conversation has shifted from cautious optimism to a bolder question: could Sunderland already be the best promoted team of the past ten years?
Verdict: Overreaction
Before coronations are handed out, a quick rewind is necessary.
Since 2015–16, the most successful promoted finishes have included Wolves (7th, 2018–19), Sheffield United (9th, 2019–20), Leeds United (9th, 2020–21), Newcastle United (10th, 2017–18) and Fulham (10th, 2022–23).
Wolves’ 2018–19 side remains the gold standard, a polished, hungry unit led by Nuno Espírito Santo and powered by the likes of Rúben Neves, João Moutinho and Raúl Jiménez. That team not only finished highest among recently promoted sides but also carried their momentum into Europe the following season.
Sunderland’s case for greatness
Still, Sunderland are mounting a persuasive argument. This season, they have produced moments that belong in highlight reels: an away victory at Chelsea, a dramatic draw with Arsenal sealed by Brian Brobbey’s 94th-minute strike, and the gutsy Bournemouth comeback that showcased a squad with steel in its spine.
What sets them apart is not just results but temperament — a relentless work ethic and a refusal to surrender, traits that have become the club’s calling card under Le Bris.
They press, they run, they fight for every loose ball, and they do it as a unit. That collective intensity has turned Craven Cottage and the Stadium of Light into venues where Sunderland refuse to be outworked. If consistency holds, the club could legitimately challenge the memory of Wolves as the benchmark for promoted excellence.
The next test
Reality checks arrive quickly in the Premier League. Sunderland’s next assignment is a trip to Liverpool on Wednesday — a fixture that will test whether their early-season surge is a flash of brilliance or the start of something historic. Liverpool’s recent 2-0 win at West Ham has eased some pressure on them, but for Sunderland this is another chance to prove the hype is deserved.
Final thought
Labeling Sunderland the best promoted side of the decade might be premature, but the evidence is compelling. They have the results, the spirit and the momentum. Whether they can sustain it across the grind of a Premier League season remains to be seen, but for now Sunderland are not just surviving — they are rewriting expectations.
