Sunderland are set to embark on League One for the first time in 30 years and will be hoping to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.
Sunderland fans have had a torrid few seasons supporting their beloved club and, after back-to-back relegations from the Premier League and most recently the Championship, the Black Cats will soon begin life in the third tier of English football.
However, there is a new found optimism on Wearside, with new owner Stewart Donald and Scottish manager of the year Jack Ross set to take the club to new heights starting in August.
Former Eastleigh chairman Donald, along with 42-year-old Ross, can begin to prepare for a pre-season full of hard work now the pair know where their team will be playing and on which date after the English Football League fixtures were announced this morning.
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With Sunderland’s opening five games coming against the likes of Luton Town and AFC Wimbledon, Jack Ross’s men should be looking to take maximum points from their five August fixtures.
Sat August 4 – Charlton Athletic (H)
The Black Cats start life in League One at home to Charlton, a team who they certainly do not have the best record against after losing their last three clashes. However, the last time Sunderland played Charlton was in 2005 and fans on Wearside will be hopeful their home support and classy League One side will be too much for the team that finished sixth last season.
Sat August 11 – Luton Town (A)
Jack Ross will be looking at Luton in the second game of the new season and will be eyeing up all three points. The Hatters finished second in League Two last term, meaning they will begin life in League One next season, and Sunderland should be looking to roll over the London side if they are to stand any chance of promotion at the first time of asking.
Sunderland have not met Luton since 2007, where they were beaten 3-0 in a League Cup tie, but the Black Cats had won the previous seven meetings prior to that.
Sat August 18 – Scunthorpe United (H)
Scunthorpe will be one of the tougher sides on paper for Sunderland to overcome, with the side having an excellent season last time out. However, Sunderland must be eyeing up three points at home to a side who on paper should be a level or two below the Wearsiders.
Key to Sunderland’s beating of Scunthorpe will be whether or not they can stop Josh Morris, top scorer for the side nicknamed the Iron last season.
Tue August 21 – Gillingham (A)
Sunderland’s penultimate game in August comes against Gillingham, a side who finished 17th in last season’s League One final standings. The Black Cats will see this game as one of their easiest on paper in August, but it will be important for Jack Ross to ensure his side do not take any game lightly.
Sunderland have only met with Gillingham eight times in their history, winning 62 per cent of those games. The Black Cats have lost only once to Gillingham, but that loss came in a division two play-off where they lost 3-2.
Sat August 25 – AFC Wimbledon (A)
Sunderland’s final game in August comes against last term’s relegation survivors AFC Wimbledon. Jack Ross’s men will be hoping to be capping off what they hope to be an unbeaten month and a start to the season which shows the rest of League One their intentions for the campaign.
Again, like Gillingham, Sunderland have to be beating sides like these if they are looking to be serious contenders for the League One title next time out.
Despite Sunderland’s desire to start the season well with an unbeaten opening month, the Black Cats must first put things right off the pitch with a number of new signings. This will be up to both Donald and Ross, with a whole host of players set to leave the club before a ball is kicked in August.
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