August’s review
September’s review

Overall Position: 4th
Played: 3
Won: 2
Drawn: 0
Lost: 1
Points: 6
New Bridges Open: 1

Two months down, seven to go.

Onto October and a game that would’ve been considered as big as they come 10-15 years ago is now considered as a much more underwhelming proposition as Sunderland started the month at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

The former world dominators have been on a downward trajectory since David Moyes took the helm (sound familiar?) and recycled their way through managers with ease (again, sound familiar?). Current man-in-charge Ruben Amorin was struggling to create a United front and they had started the season in indifferent form. Sunderland supporters went into the game probably the most optimistic they’d ever been going into a match against Man United. We should’ve known better…

Immediately the starting XI set off alarm bells as Arthur Masuaku and Simon Adingra were entrusted to keep United quiet down our left hand side but returning favourite Amad, alongside Bryan Mbuemo, saw this as a weakness and quite rightly targeted them for much of the first half. We conceded to a well taken Mason Mount goal and Regis Le Bris decided to change it in the best way we know how by unleashing Dan Ballard. RLB changed to 5 at the back to match our opponents and though this made some difference, it wasn’t enough, and Sesko did his best work since the Thong Song and made it 2-0.

Into an international break that felt like three years but was amazingly only one week and injury concerns surrounded both Noah Sadiki and Omar Alderete upon their return to Wearside. Cue much debate about how we would replace them, particularly Sadiki given we were already missing Duracell Bunny Number 1 in Habib Diarra. We needn’t have worried though as both started at home against bottom side Wolves. Ballard coming into the side, however, and Masuaku coming out, meant Hume switched to left back and Nordi Mukiele went out to the right – and it was these two who put Sunderland ahead with a nicely worked one-two. Wolves came into it in the second half without testing Roefs too much, before a hilarious own goal made it 2-0. Dare we say it… this felt a little like a routine win.

For the final game of the month Sunderland travelled to Stamford Bridge for, after the experience at Old Trafford, “proper test Number 2”. The pre match narrative was around Alderete missing the game due to concussion protocols and how we’d cope without the King of Paraguay.

For the first time this season we started with five at the back and needn’t have worried again as the lads produced another outstanding display, possibly the best yet of the season. What was particularly pleasing about this performance was that we fell behind early in the encounter and could’ve crumbled, but such is the desire and determination amongst the group they dragged themselves straight back into the contest.

Everyone’s favourite vibes man Wilsonnnnnn Isidor nabbed his fourth goal of the season after a Mukiele long throw caused inevitable havoc in the area. Chelsea, with a squad costing around £1.5 billion, had the majority of possession could do little with it as Ballard, Mukiele, and Gertruida on his first start kept them at arm’s length.

Xhaka marshalled in his usual way and even broke forward a couple of times, whilst Hume and the returning Reinildo were at their buccaneering best on either flank. We would’ve all been happy taking a 1-1 draw against the World Club Cup winners but subs (or should I say “finishers”) Bryan Brobbey and Chemsdine Talbi had other ideas, the former holding up the ball for what felt like longer than the most recent international break, only to roll a perfectly weighted ball into Talbi’s path as the Moroccan fired into the bottom corner for the winner. Cue scenes, limbs etc. in the away end. It was nothing less than the lads deserved and the result put us 2nd in the premier league table.

While by end of the month, when the other fixtures had been played, we’d slipped down to fourth in the table this was still an extraordinary achievement. Already more points than our 2005-6 season and the most points won by a promoted team at this stage in the Premier League in 17 years. Perhaps now everyone would start taking us more seriously. Apart from Alan Shearer, he can just keep quiet.

Another extraordinary month done. No nightmares this Halloween. Onto November and more tests await, the return of David Moyes and the visit of the league leaders, Arsenal.