Our quiet opt euphoria that
Disappointing though Sunderland’s last two results were, only the morbidly negative think they have found scope for serious complaint in the season so far.
Meanwhile, the real fans are attending games, if possible, and supporting their side in impressive numbers.
The team is unbeaten, four points off top and averaging two goals per game.
Several young players are beginning to forge reputations.
Jon McLaughlin became the first Sunderland goalkeeper to save a home penalty since Tony Norman against Chelsea in about 17 BC.
Of course it could have been better. Three points ought to have been nailed against Fleetwood.
With only one clean sheet there are defensive issues, especially at right-back, and a significant lack of physical presence.
They keep coming from behind – the obvious flaw being that they keep having to.
Everyone is learning. Admittedly, everyone ought to have already learned how to defend set pieces and how to abstain from committing absurd fouls in their own penalty area.
But otherwise it’s a crash course for manager, owners, players and supporters.
Jack Ross doesn’t know his best XI. How could he? There are players in the squad he has barely or never watched – or possibly even met.
One thing we have learned is that opponents are additionally motivated when they play Ross’ team.
This is because the biggest two games on the fixture lists of the other 23 clubs in the division are both against Sunderland.
This partly explains why the opposition has scored first in five games from seven; then conked out in the latter stages. Sunderland waiting half-anhour to join in explains the other part.
The antidote is to attack first; and we’ve learned that playing two holding midfielders is unlikely to achieve this.
We are learning about referees (I could go on), opposition tactics and League One generally.
The good news is that while everyone connected to Sunderland is being educated, 15 points from 21 have still been accrued. Not record breaking; yet not bad either.
There is no reason to suppose the team won’t improve, or that the manager doesn’t know his job.
While they get to grips there will inevitably be some bad results. It will be important not to overreact when this happens.
Burton Albion are next, with memories of the previous fixture against them still raw to the point of bleeding. Another draw wouldn’t spell disaster.
In 1987-88, the last time Sunderland were in the third tier,