Editorial: Sunderland are on cloud nine

Was it ever in doubt?

I was a bit sceptical about our chances on Saturday, but only because Fratton Park has been such an unhappy hunting ground for us throughout my lifetime — yet, our players simply didn’t care about the past.

They turned up, grafted, were aggressive, determined, and got the job done. Like against Cardiff, it was flawless, showcasing the blueprint for how to go away from home and return with three points tucked neatly under your arm.

Make no mistake, this is a special Sunderland team, and we’re certainly on to something. Even after just four games, I feel pretty confident in saying we’re going to be a menace against nearly every side in the division if we can maintain this level of intensity. Régis Le Bris has them well-coached and difficult to figure out.

I don’t even think I’m getting carried away here — it’s just a pure fact at this stage. We’re four games in and have overcome every obstacle in our way so far. The road ahead is long, and there will be bumps, but we’re not relying on individual brilliance to win games. Everything is a team effort, and everything is a result of hard work.

You simply cannot trump hard work. As long as these players are well-drilled and working hard, we are a threat, and we will be fine.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

It’s important that the players currently in the side don’t get too complacent. They can’t afford to because waiting in the wings in virtually every position is a capable understudy eager for an opportunity. We signed four players on deadline day, and three of them won’t be content sitting on the sidelines for long.

Chris Mepham is an experienced Premier League and international defender — he isn’t here to warm the bench. Nor is Salis Abdul Samed, who could have stayed at Lens if he wanted to be a squad player. Milan Aleksic has already played European football this season and just earned his first call-up to the Serbian national team, so he’ll want to continue his personal momentum and play games.

Then there’s Wilson Isidor, whose attitude seems exemplary, and like the others, he hasn’t come here to sit on the sidelines. Ian Poveda could have landed at almost any other Championship club, and the easy route for him would have been a permanent move back to Sheffield Wednesday, but he’s backed himself to come to Sunderland and make a name for himself.

And I could go on and on — this is a deep squad with lots of quality. When we lost Aji Alese to injury and Dan Neil to suspension, we were able to bring in Dan Ballard and Alan Browne. Yes, we’re short in full-back areas and don’t have the depth of some of the recently relegated Premier League sides, but we’re not far off.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

This all bodes very well for what’s to come after the international break.

Crucially, this time will be used to bring our new recruits up to speed and for Régis Le Bris to get his ideas across on the training ground with those players who haven’t received international call-ups. September is the quietest month of the season in terms of the number of games we’ll play, so we have to make the most of it.

I’m buzzing at the minute, and I don’t know if that’s coming across... I’m trying to suppress some of my enthusiasm for everything that’s happening right now because I know there’s a danger of getting too carried away.

We’re only four games in, and I’m already dreaming of promotion, which is silly really, but I can’t help it. I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this enthusiastic about Sunderland at the start of a season.