Prior to the start of the season, Sunderland's then-boss Alex Neil described this Black Cats team as an 'unknown quantity' at Championship level. After winning promotion following four years in League One, and with a squad heavy on youth and light on Championship experience, it was hard to disagree with Neil's assessment.
Just how this group of players would cope with the step up was anyone's guess. But, eight games in, Sunderland fans have been hugely encouraged at the way their team has fared - particularly given the fact that their promotion-winning head coach Neil himself has since departed, jumping ship to take over at Stoke City, to be replaced by Tony Mowbray.
And the fans' optimism is not without good reason, as Sunderland have made their best start to a Championship season since they won the division under Mick McCarthy back in 2003-04. Their record this season - three wins, two draws, three defeats, equating to 11 points - exactly replicates that of 19 years ago, with the McCarthy team slightly edging ahead with a plus-four goal difference as opposed to the current side's plus-two.
