A new season but a familiar story as Bristol City's defence took the limelight but for all the wrong reasons yet again.
The game promised so much in the build-up. The biggest opening home attendance in 44 years, thousands flocking to celebrate the annual Flag Day before, the sun was shining and club legends were given a warm welcome on the pitch. What could go wrong?
That positive mood would quickly evaporate after just four minutes when Ellis Simms punished Kal Naismith's error by firing in the opener. Optimism could have easily turned to frustration if it wasn't for Andi Weimann scoring the equaliser after just 10 minutes.
Then it became a contest of who could punish the most defensive errors, which unfortunately albeit unsurprisingly, went the way of the visitors. Their front two in Simms and Ross Stewart could smell blood and they made City pay to leave manager Nigel Pearson lamenting his side's performance at the back - something we've heard all before.
We're only two games into the season but the pressure will only intensify as City still remain in search of getting their first points on the board. The Carabao Cup game against Coventry in the week will give the manager an opportunity to perhaps look at one or two other options but it's the league match at Wigan next weekend that has just become even more important.
Here's the verdict on a disappointing afternoon at Ashton Gate.
A desperate need for arrivals
I know, I know... it's easier said than done. But if there was ever a game that proved why City must bring in at least two new arrivals then that was it.
Matty James' injury in the warm-up was a quick reminder of how light City are of options, especially in midfield. Han-Noah Massengo came in for him at the last moment and the Frenchman was full of running and energy but with little to show for it (more on that below.)
We already know which players Pearson is in the market for. He wants a central defender and a central midfielder and they couldn't come any sooner... that is if they come at all.
While Zak Vyner was assured against Hull, yesterday highlighted his defensive frailties although it's unfair to single him out as Kal Naismith also had an afternoon that he will want to erase from the memory. I mention Vyner solely because, in reality, he's a stop-gap in the team until a new face comes through the door.
Vyner's afternoon peaked in the 10th minute when he assisted Andi Weimann - his second in two matches after setting up the forward at Hull last weekend. It was in the second half when he massively struggled to deal with the threat and power of Sunderland's two strikers.
In his defence, he had been ill during the week in which Pearson mentioned he had lost weight as a result and therefore it was a slight surprise to see him starting over Timm Klose. The Swiss veteran replaced his team-mate in the 66th minute as Sunderland continued to keep finding joy down their left side.
Considering how high City's wing-backs are playing this season, it's only natural that there is going to be space in behind which Sunderland exploited on numerous occasions. Pearson admitted Klose hasn't been at his best in pre-season and his lack of mobility to come across is an obvious concern for the manager - no matter how well he reads the game.
Tomas Kalas' return is going to be a huge boost but he'll come back into the frame with doubts over his long-term fitness, emphasising the need to bring another new face in at the back if Vyner and Klose aren't the solutions.
Pearson spoke on Thursday about the difficulties in recruitment and admitted they may have to trade in order to bring in a new arrival or two. Nobody wants to see City's best players and assets leave, and we're talking about Alex Scott and Antoine Semenyo here, but the squad needs reinvestment or else trouble could await.
Pearson knows he can't afford for his side to have the same defensive weaknesses as last season but that seems unlikely to change unless he brings in new personnel. It's a difficult dilemma but perhaps it's becoming more glaringly obvious that a tough sacrifice may have to be made to prevent City from lingering towards the foot of the table this season.
Matty James' stock rises
Yesterday proved Pearson right in a way... Matty James is vital to the way City play. He's had his critics at times last season but the manager remained persistent with him when fit and in pre-season especially, James' partnership with Joe Williams has been impressive.
So it was an obvious blow to find out he had pulled up in the warm-up with a calf problem, meaning Massengo came in for his first minutes of the season ahead of Andy King who remained on the bench.
In pre-season, there was a notable change of tactics in the Williams/James partnership with more of an emphasis for Williams to drop deeper to pick up the ball and almost take the role of a quarter-back to look for those passes through the midfield, often looking for James.
That allows James to push higher up the pitch with the pair able to intertwine. That partnership was missing yesterday with Massengo failing to prove why he should be starting in that midfield two.
Maybe it is the lack of game time, possibly it was the occasion or perhaps the uncertainty over his future and while there were moments of his quality and potential, they were few and far between. The Frenchman wasn't afraid to run at the Sunderland backline but there were countless occasions when he would take a touch too many and lose possession.
Pearson didn't mention Massengo at the full-time whistle but he did make the fact that he felt they missed James' ability to pick out a pass and retain possession. He said: "He's got a bit of a calf problem but hopefully it's not too bad. But that didn't help us. I think we missed his quality on the ball today."
City also missed James from a defensive perspective and Sunderland weren't prepared to lose the physical battle in the middle of the park. Then there are the comparisons of the pair positionally.
Massengo's dedication, willingness and energy has never been called into question but his eagerness to chase down the ball and force himself out of position then becomes a huge problem for Williams who then finds himself completely outnumbered.
Sunderland used that to their advantage yesterday and Massengo was often caught napping higher up the pitch leaving his midfield partner with the impossible task of attempting to screen the back four. James has that defensive intelligence of knowing when to push forward and drop back which also raises the debate about the midfield two system...
Three in midfield
The big concern that stuck out like a sore thumb is that Sunderland looked like they could score every time they went forward. Pearson admitted after the game that defensively the goals conceded were really soft and he's right, but the Black Cats still managed to create those opportunities all too easily.
Disregarding their three goals for a moment, if it wasn't for two brilliant Dan Bentley stops it could have been more. Although there is a debate that City's captain could have done better for two of the strikes.
City didn't do enough defensively in the middle of the park. As mentioned above, Massengo doesn't offer that defensive guard and Williams was walking on a tightrope for over 60 minutes of the game after picking up a yellow card in the first half.
This isn't isolated to only this contest, but City's midfield was overrun particularly in that second half after Sunderland had grabbed their quickfire equaliser. From then on, Neil's side were on top, winning the midfield battles and forcing the ball out wide so the likes of Clarke and Lynden Gooch were able to take advantage.
It's easy to write this in hindsight, but it was a crucial stage in the game where City needed to get their foot on the ball and dictate play. Alex Scott, who was excellent in the first half, faded in the second with the likes of Corry Evans able to keep him quiet in midfield.
That could have been the opportunity to drop the England youngster further back and sit with a flat midfield three and look to take advantage of that extra man in midfield and control the game again. There were matches last season where the flat midfield three was used really effectively, the away victory over Blackburn is the standout in the memory, and perhaps it's a formation tweak that could be used more often.
One because it provides more defensive solidity, two because it brings Scott more into play and three because it will then allow Massengo with more freedom to get into advanced positions without having to worry so much with the defensive gap he leaves behind.
There's also the argument that with extra defensive cover in the middle, it can allow the wing-backs with the license to get forward knowing a central midfielder is able to come across and close the space should an opponent get in behind.
The atmosphere and tributes
It can't be all doom and gloom but if there's one positive to take from the game it was the terrific atmosphere inside Ashton Gate and around the stadium, it's just a shame the result wasn't befitting of the number of people in attendance and tributes before kick-off.
It started outside the Three Lions pub in Bedminster as thousands flocked the streets with pyros and flags for the annual Flag Day celebration, this time in memory of legendary fan Stoney Garnett who died at the end of last month.
Just sitting inside the stadium you could see the amazing number of fans wearing the red fedoras in memory of Stoney with a huge round of applause in the 75th minute in tribute to an iconic figure around Bristol. There were also poignant words for Martin 'Tinners' Henneberry and Martin Boucher before kick-off - two fans that sadly lost their lives over the summer.
Around 25,500 supporters were in attendance to create a raucous noise inside the stadium, contributed by the 'mates rates' deal that allowed season ticket holders to bring two friends for £12.50 each. All club members were also able to buy tickets for just £15 and the initiative will be continued for the Huddersfield Town fixture at the end of August.
It just shows that there is a demand for fans to come and watch City if they are affordable ticket prices on offer.
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