After pulling off another great escape, Sunderland are once again battling to stay in the Premier League.
Already fighting desperately to stay in the Premier League, Sunderland started the month of January with two wins, a 3-1 victory against fellow strugglers Aston Villa and a 2-4 away win at Swansea City, thanks to a hatrick from Jermain Defoe and a Fernandez own goal.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe celebrates with Vito Mannone after the game
However, after the Swansea City fixture, Sunderland’s form again dipped, and the Black Cats didn’t pick up another win until the 13th of February, beating Manchester United 2-1. The performance showed heart and belief, and that Sunderland were not going down without a fight.
Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian in action with Sunderland’s Fabio Borini
Despite their spurring performance against United, Sunderland’s next win wouldn’t come until the 16th of April, as the Black Cats and Sam Allardyce looked in plenty of trouble.
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce looks nervous
Two sensational wins towards the end of the season saved the Wearside outfit, beating Chelsea 3-2 and Everton 3-0, thanks to goals from Patrick van Aanholt and Lamine Kone, the Black Cats survived the drop.
Sunderland fans celebrate survival after the game
After saving Sunderland, England came calling for Sam Allardyce, and once again the Black Cats found themselves managerless over the summer.
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce leaves
Moving quickly to replace Allardyce, Sunderland brought in former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes, who was looking to restore his reputation in English football.
Sunderland manager David Moyes poses
Things did not start well for Moyes at Sunderland, as the Black Cats went their first 10 Premier League games without a win, picking up only two draws in that time from Southampton and West Bromwich Albion, thanks to goals from Jermain Defoe and Patrick van Aanholt respectively.
Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt scores their first goal
Finally, on the first fixture of November, Sunderland picked up their first win in the Premier League this season, with a 1-2 away win at Bournemouth, thanks to goals from Victor Anichebe and Jermain Defoe.
Sunderland’s Victor Anichebe celebrates scoring their first goal
Since the win at Bournemouth, Sunderland have gone on to win two more of their last 6 games, and are finally starting to look like finding their shape and form under David Moyes. In order to survive the drop though, Moyes will be hoping that his Sunderland side can turn more of this form into wins come 2017. Saturday’s big defeat at Burnley won’t have helped, with Sunderland currently back in the relegation places.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe with Sunderland manager David Moyes
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