As the Premier League whistle blew on May 11, 2016, a huge roar of relief boomed round the Stadium of Light.
Sam Allardyce had pulled off another great escape ensuring a tenth consecutive season of Premier League football on Wearside.
The Black Cats were winless from their opening eight games and only had three points when Allardyce arrived on Wearside and he himself openly admitted it would be a big challenge to keep them up.
