Sunderland are gearing up for their second successive season in the Championship following a four-year stay in League One. Very few would have predicted a play-off finish in their first season back in the second tier especially given the amount of rebuilding at the Stadium of Light in the past 24 months.
The Wearsiders were one of the surprise packages last season and swaggered their way over the line and into the top-six on the final day of the season. Tony Mowbray's men may have come unstuck against a physical Luton Town, but there's been a concerted effort this summer into addressing that area of weakness.
The Hatters would win promotion to the Premier League to round off a remarkable decade for themselves, going from non-league to the top flight. Although the two clubs are of vastly different stature behind the scenes, Sunderland could learn from a thing or two from Rob Edwards' side.
