We have lift-off. Sunderland's victory at Bristol City means their Championship season is up and running for real.
There is always a slight sense of tension going into any new season, particularly a new season at a higher level. How long will it take to get that first point on the board? That first win? That first clean sheet?
Well, two games in and Sunderland have already ticked off the first two items on that list.
READ MORE: Alex Neil believes Sunderland's win at Bristol City will transform the perception of their start
First point? Opening day against Coventry. Check.
First win? Bristol. Check.
As for the first clean sheet? Well, there's time yet.
Aside from team objectives, Sunderland's victory at Ashton Gate also saw a couple of personal milestones ticked off. On-loan Everton striker Ellis Simms needed just four minutes to make himself an instant hero with a debut goal.
He backed that up with a second just after half-time, and only a stunning save denied him a hat-trick. And last season's 26-goal top scorer Ross Stewart demonstrated that he will get goals in the Championship, as he opened his account with what turned out to be the winner. Despite the glorious weather down in the South West, it wasn't all sunshine and roses.
The two goals that Sunderland conceded were charitable in the extreme, and it was typical of Alex Neil's desire to chase perfection that he spent almost as long in his post-match press conference dissecting the defensive errors that cost his team as he did singing the praises of his front two Simms and Stewart and reflecting on the victory. Sunderland held their early lead for just five minutes before a disastrous attempt to play an offside trap left Andreas Weimann unmarked and with time to take a touch before levelling.
Then at the start of the second period, more slack defending allowed Weimann to set up Chris Martin to put the Robins in front. But man of the match Simms put Sunderland back on terms within a couple of minutes, and Stewart did the rest with a little under 20 minutes of the game remaining.
From then on, it was a case of managing the game to full-time and Neil will have been pleased at the way they did that, given that they conceded late against Coventry. All things considered, Sunderland have made a very start to life back in the Championship with four points from two tricky games against well-established second-tier opponents.
Tougher challenges against better opposition are still to come, but Neil and his team will be encouraged by these early results. And when you consider that, as Neil frequently reminds us, Sunderland's squad remains understrength and very much a work in progress during the transfer window, these points are all the more precious.
After a midweek Carabao Cup diversion at Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland will resume their league campaign against QPR on Wearside next Saturday. Another chance to tick off that first home win of the season and that first clean sheet.
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