Sunderland betting statistics - 2024/25

Tom Watson’s late strike at Wembley in May was enough for Sunderland to book their Premier League spot at Sheffield United’s expense. The Black Cats used their nine lives to come from behind to beat the Blades to end an eight-year top-flight hiatus. Regis Le Bris did well to mastermind promotion via the playoffs in his debut campaign at the Stadium of Light helm.

For a team of Sunderland’s stature, Premier League football was a minimum requirement for Le Bris, at least in the long run, so to have guided the club to England’s top tier in his first season in charge is a huge achievement.

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Possession won, tackles and counter attacking goals

One of they key factors behind Sunderland’s promotion-winning campaign was their desire to work hard off the ball to force opposition turnovers. They’d routinely press teams in order to regain possession quickly, that key for a side that ranked 13th for possession (48.6%) in the division. They carried out Le Bris’ high-pressing demands, however, as evidenced by a return of 2320 ball recoveries, that more than any other team in the Championship last season.

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What was key about the way Sunderland won the ball is that they did so in a key area. Indeed, only Bristol City (1005) won possession in the midfield third more times than the Black Cats (946) in the Championship last season, as they allow teams to close the gap on their goal before striking, winning the ball back and breaking forward at speed.

With the game plan to spring lightning-quick attacks, it’s no wonder Sunderland managed 50 shots following a counterattack; no team managed more in the 2024/25 Championship campaign. In addition, only free-scoring Leeds (10) actually scored more counter-attacking goals than the Black Cats (9).

In addition, Sunderland ranked eighth for tackles per game (16.6) in their push to readily win the ball back from opponents. However, their willingness to go all guns blazing in search of possession also had its drawbacks. Opponents at times had the players to ride challenges by Sunderland players, meaning Le Bris’ side ranked second for the number of times they were dribbled past per game (7.6).

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Dribbles, fouled and set pieces

One of the key reasons behind Sunderland’s ability to hurt sides when they did win the ball was that they had the players to beat markers with relative ease. The likes of Patrick Roberts, Romain Mundle and Enzo Le Fee are all capable ball carriers, which saw Sunderland complete more dribbles per game (8.6) than any other Championship side last season.

Opponents, though, often went to great lengths in order to limit Sunderland’s offensive when they did spring upfield. It’s not a shock that, given the game plan Le Bris implemented, only Swansea (12.7) were fouled more times per game than Sunderland (12.3) on 2024/25. The style of play combined with the players on the Black Cats' books meant they were routinely targeted as sides sought to stop attacks by hook or by crook.

That being said, Sunderland did fail to really capitalise on any deadballs they won, having scored just nine set-piece goals last term, while they managed just 54 key passes from set-piece situations, the seventh fewest.

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Goals conceded, streaks and ill-discipline

A risk that came with playing the Sunderland way was that they were regularly at risk of being sucker punched by opponents. It was a gamble that ultimately paid off, but they still conceded 47 league goals on their way back to the Premier League. While the joint-fourth fewest, it was still some way off Leeds and Burnley, which hurt their hopes of securing automatic promotion.

Another reason behind Sunderland’s failure to finish in the top two was their end-of-season collapse. While they finished 24 points off the pace, a lack of consistency hurt their chances of finishing in the automatic spots, evident in that they endured five-game losing streak to see out the regular campaign, the joint-third longest in the division. While a playoff finish had effectively been wrapped up, and they were well off the pace of Leeds and Burnley, the downturn in form could have proved detrimental on their way to Wembley success.

In addition, inexperience could have also played a part in their failure to finish in the top two. Sunderland were responsible for the youngster starting XI in seven of eight matches last season, so it also shouldn’t come as a surprise that they received 114 cards – 110 yellows and four reds – in the Championship last season, the third most in England’s second tier.

Le Bris and Sunderland have sought to rectify their mental weakness with the addition of seasoned head Granit Xhaka, the Swiss immediately instilled as captain following his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen. The Black Cats have also added quality in midfield, with Le Fee’s move also made permanent, and experience in defence to boost their survival hopes. Le Bris has top-flight experience from his time with Lorient, keeping them in Ligue 1 in his debut campaign at the helm, and supporters will hope for similar this time around at the Stadium of Light.

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