Sunderland go into the New Year with as many points on the board as they managed in the entirety of their last Championship campaign. The Black Cats' 4-1 thrashing of a sorry Wigan Athletic side moved Tony Mowbray's men onto 37 points, the same total that a very different group of players scraped together five seasons ago when the club suffered the embarrassment of relegation to League One.
But while 37 points was a pitiful return over a 46-game season, after 25 matches it represents an excellent achievement for the current squad in their first season back in the second tier after winning promotion. It lifted them into the play-off spots and up to fourth place in the table, although it would be a stretch to say they are riding on the coat-tails of top two Burnley and Sheffield United given the 13-point gap between Sunderland and the automatic promotion places - such is the crazy nature of the division that 13 points also happens to be the gap between the Black Cats and basement side Wigan.
Sunderland may also drop a place or two this evening depending on the outcome of other Championship fixtures, but regardless they will undoubtedly go into the New Year with a fine platform on which to build. The win at Wigan was an interesting study in changing footballing fortunes.
READ MORE: Tony Mowbray explains his attacking dilemma as the goals flow for Sunderland
Last season, Wigan were promoted from League One as champions, finishing eight points ahead of Sunderland who ended up fifth and had to fight their way to promotion via the play-offs. But savvy recruitment, a canny head coach, and sheer grit and hard work have seen Sunderland handle the step up with aplomb, while Wigan have struggled badly.
Sunderland have now won five of their last eight games, while Wigan have won only one of their last 12 outings and new manager Kolo Toure has now picked up just a single point from his first four games in charge. While Toure continued to toil at the DW Stadium, Mowbray was enjoying one of those days where every decision he made paid off.
He made five changes, two of which saw Trai Hume and Bailey Wright replace the injured Lynden Gooch and Dennis Cirkin, with the others seeing Ellis Simms start instead of Ross Stewart to avoid overtaxing the latter who has only just returned following a long lay-off, Edouard Michut making his first start for the club in place of rested skipper Corry Evans, and Abdoullah Ba impressing on a rare start instead of Patrick Roberts, as Mowbray opted for a 3-4-3 system. Sunderland could - and probably should - have had the game wrapped up before half-time, such was their dominance against a Latics side that looked low on confidence after their 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.
Simms headed them in front inside 20 minutes and they could have added more goals with Amad rattling the crossbar and Ba denied by a brilliant save, only to let Wigan get a toehold in the game just before the break as ex-Black Cat James McClean hit the post a couple of minutes before Will Keane levelled the scores. But just after the hour, Mowbray sent on Stewart and Roberts as part of a triple substitution and it immediately paid off when Roberts was brought down by Tom Naylor inside the box and Stewart converted the penalty.
Roberts then made it 3-1 with a deflected shot five minutes from time, before the former Manchester City man provided the assist for Amad to add the fourth goal with a stunning strike in the final minute of the 90. The only downer on the day was the sight of Alex Pritchard limping off with a recurrence of his calf injury just five minutes after coming on as part of that triple change.
Even that could not dampen the mood of the 4,500 fans who made the trip from Wearside to Wigan, and they - along with all the Sunderland fans back home - will be looking forward to 2023 with a real sense of optimism.
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland's Tony Mowbray admits his Alex Pritchard decision backfired, as he gives injury update
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray details his first-half frustration on way to big win at Wigan
- Sunderland player ratings as Patrick Roberts is among the stars in convincing victory at Wigan
- Sunderland climb into Championship play-off places after Wigan Athletic rout
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray explains Jewison Bennette's absence against Blackburn on Boxing Day
