Cast your mind back to a year ago. Well, almost a year, the 2nd September 2023 to be precise. It's the date of Sunderland's fifth Championship fixture last season, which took place on a late, sunny summer's day, at home to Southampton. A sublime 5-0 win that day under then gaffer Tony Mowbray took our points tally to seven after five league matches. We scored in the first minute, Pierre Ekwah bagged a brace with two beauties and a then 16 year old Chris Rigg nodded in a romantic fifth in stoppage time after Jewison Bennette's triple pirouette and cross. Even Bradley Dack scored.
It was a day to live long in the memory. We won four of our next five league games, three of them away from home, and the season was up and running. Everything about the club looked rosy.
Sunday's emphatic 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday evoked similar memories for me, and I'm sure I'll not be alone in reminiscing. If we have learned anything about last season, it's that things can change almost in an instant. Some scenarios unfolded that maybe happen over a period of five or six seasons at other clubs, sometimes longer. Behind the scenes unrest concerning a variety of thinks derailed a season of promise, with the the feel good factor fading away less than half way through the campaign after the sacking of Tony Mowbray. This time around though, whilst erring on the side of caution, it feels slightly different to me. I must stress, I mean that in a positive way.
I was asked after the game, what I thought the most impressive thing was that I could take from the performance over The Owls. My answer? I thought it was how excellent we were without the ball. We were good with it, but the structure, the high pressing, the determination and desire to win the ball back when the opposition had it was brilliant to watch. Sunderland's players were akin to a swarm of bees at times, and Wednesday simply had no answer. We blew them away.
The players look to have bought into new ideas. Even small tweaks to how we set up from opposition goals kicks or from set pieces both defensively and offensively, have been more than noticeable. We have to credit Regis Le Bris, the staff and of course the players themselves for the way they set up and performed. If we can get our shape right, our identity right and implement RLB's ideas, we can more than compete with the other top sides in the Championship. For it all to come together in only the second league fixture is quite remarkable, and Le Bris even went as far to say as we can still improve even further. I don't doubt him. He has already stated publicly that we have an exciting and talented team packed full of potential.
This weekend sees us take on one of the strongest teams in the league, certainly on paper anyway. Burnley won't want to hang around in the second tier for any longer than one season, with promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt very much top of the agenda. Scott Parker has been installed in the hot seat after the departure of Vincent Kompany, and he is a man who knows exactly what it takes to get out of the Championship having done so with both Fulham and Bournemouth in his managerial career. It will undoubtedly be a tough test for us, but it will also be a tough test for Parker and his men as they head to the Stadium of Light. I have seen some supporters say already that the game will be a measure of where we're at, and to some degree, that is true. However, I'm a firm believer that the table doesn't really settle down until 10-12 matches have been played, and only then can we can all get a fair idea of what shape teams are in. We are still at the embryonic stages of the season. Whatever the result on Saturday though, I'm certain Burnley will be challenging for promotion in May. I can only hope and pray we are saying the same thing about Sunderland.
What Saturday does provide for RLB, is his first major selection headache. Does he find a way to include Alan Browne in the starting XI? It may be a wise decision considering the opposition will certainly be a step up in calibre from Sheffield Wednesday, and someone of Browne's experience could prove vital in the middle of the park. If he does come in, who makes way? The most likely would be Chris Rigg, whose minutes will undoubtedly have to be managed this season given his age, obviously not at this stage of the season, and his performance on Sunday makes it hugely difficult for him to start on the bench. It is an unenviable task but at the same time, one of the more nicer problems for a manager to try and solve.
It will be an eagerly anticipated game and team selection also. If it's anything like the last meeting at the Stadium of Light (Burnley winning 4-2 that day), we'd better strap ourselves in. I just hope Sunderland can come out on top. What a result that would be eh?
