SUNDERLAND returned to the big time with a bang as they blew powderpuff West Ham away.
A stunning second-half onslaught smashed the Hammers 3-0 as Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard and Wilson Isidor secured a first Premier League victory in 3,024 days.
ReutersEliezer Mayenda opened the scoring with a brilliant header[/caption]
GettyThe roof came off the Stadium of Light[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialDaniel Ballard’s bullet header doubled their lead[/caption]
ReutersBallard was once again the hero for the Black Cats like he was in the play-offs[/caption]
GettyWilson Isidor’s strike capped a dream return to the top-flight for Sunderland[/caption]
It might only be for a few hours, but this 3-0 triumph sent them top of the league, and the North East club are going to enjoy every single second of it.
It’s been quite the wait, but boy, was it worth it.
What a story it’s been since their last taste of the top-flight – and it wasn’t all just about the one we all watched on Netflix.
Nine permanent managers have sat in the dug-out since David Moyes left at the end of 2016/17 relegation campaign.
No-one could have predicted then Sunderland’s remarkable fall and rise as they tumbled down into League One, where they were stuck for four years, and then back to the big time.
For all of the cringe and excruciating despair that the infamous Netflix series provided, last season’s climax was very much the Hollywood ending.
A last-gasp play-off semi-final win over Coventry had the Mackems dreaming again, but none could have dared imagine what would unfold at Wembley.
Tommy Watson, the local lad who came off the bench, scored the 95th-minute winner against Sheffield United with his last touch for the club.
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But the 19-year-old winger is no longer at the club and, after a crazy summer, Le Bris’ side has a whole new look to it.
An astonishing 11 new recruits are already through the door and PSG defender Nordi Mukiele, watching from the stands today, is on the brink of becoming the 12th.
The major surgery had fans both equally excited and torn – but any fears were soon shot down on this memorable afternoon for the Mackems.
Only three of the players that started against the Blades at Wembley were in the XI here and they were joined by SEVEN debutants.
New skipper Granit Xhaka, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra and new No1 goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
But while it was all-change for the hosts, it all felt a bit samey-same for Graham Potter’s Hammers.
They only had two new boys in their XI, goalie Mads Hermansen and wing-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, and it was left to their captain Jarrod Bowen to provide their biggest threat.
He almost spoiled the party just minutes in when forcing Roefs into action before Reinildo then brilliantly snatched the ball off him just as the England international was about to pull the trigger from close range.
Though, despite the major changes to their side, Sunderland proved to be a tough nut to crack and refused to be outclassed.
A wonderful one-two between Mayenda and Diarra led to the latter making Hermansen work.
However, for all of their enthusiasm, it was a trustworthy old boy who got them out of jail before the break.
Man of the match Ballard managed to hook away a certain goal from Diouf to ensure it remained deadlocked at half-time and it proved to be a key as the Hammers wilted after the restart.
The big moment came just after the hour mark.
Sub Omar Alderere hung up a cross and Spaniard Mayenda leaped the highest to meet it and nod it into the bottom corner.
Potter will have been fuming. For all the possession his team had enjoyed, they failed to really threaten. But this time it was their defending that had him raging as they failed to stop the Sunderland striker
The noise was incredible. But it soon got even louder.
Ballard perfectly headed Adingra’s cross from the right into the net and the Black Cats had lift-off.
It was dreamland stuff. And it was only going to get better.
Wilson Isidor broke from a corner and charged towards a now tired Hammers defence and then curled a strike from outside the area, albeit with a slight deflection, into the net to send the Stadium of Light in euphoria.
And for all the talk of the huge influx of signings, the fact it was three of last season’s promotion winners that delivered the goods perhaps makes it even more special.
While Sunderland may not be top for long, they will at least get to enjoy being two points ahead of local enemies Newcastle for at least nine days.
Meanwhile, it’s a nightmare start for Potter. And if things don’t improve against Chelsea on Friday then the pressure will already be well-and-truly on the Hammers boss.
GettyEl Hadji Malick Diouf saw an effort cleared off the line at 0-0[/caption]
GettyThe atmosphere was electric at the Stadium of Light[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
