Sunderland have 26 points from their opening 16 Premier League matches
The Black Cats are yet to lose at home this season
Thoughts of a European finish have overtaken worries of a relegation battle
Having earned promotion to the Premier League in dramatic fashion against Sheffield United in last season's Championship play-off final, it is safe to say Sunderland have kept that momentum going in the top flight.
Expected to struggle, as the three newly promoted teams usually are, the Black Cats have been the surprise package in the division and find themselves in contention for a European finish with just one game to play before Christmas Day.
With everyone involved with the club on cloud nine after Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby victory over bitter rivals Newcastle, we have taken a look at the stats behind Sunderland's impressive form.
Home form crucial
Before this season, the last time Sunderland graced the Premier League was the 2016-17 campaign and that ended in disaster, with just 24 points amassed as they finished bottom of the pile.
The Black Cats managed just three home wins that season, losing 11 times and drawing the other five, but it has been a very different story at the Stadium of Light this term.
Regis Le Bris's side have a home win-draw-loss record of 5-3-0, and they are one of two teams – the other being Arsenal – who are yet to taste defeat in front of their own fans.
Sunderland's tally of 18 home points is bettered by just three sides – Aston Villa (19), Manchester City (21) and the Gunners (22) – while their seven goals conceded at the Stadium of Light is the joint fourth-best defensive record in the division.
Impressive rearguard action the key cog
Sunderland have kept things tight at the back, conceding 17 goals in total to give them the joint fifth-best defensive record in the league alongside the Villans.
They are also third in clearances per match, making 518 in total, while they are joint-second in saves per game with goalkeeper Robin Roefs making 55 in total across the season so far.
The Black Cats have not been as fluent going forward with just 19 goals scored – only four teams have netted less and two of those are in the relegation zone (Burnley and Wolves) – but that has not stopped them from racking up seven victories.
Sunderland are actually bottom in expected goals at 13.3, which is a stark contrast to Manchester City's leading xG of 30.9.
Never-say-die attitude
Sunderland have not let their heads dip this season and they have won 12 points from losing positions, leaving only Villa (15) ahead of them in that department.
Le Bris's troops have found themselves behind in 10 league matches, winning three and drawing three, evidence of the resolve in this squad.
Sunderland not afraid to get stuck in
The Black Cats have not been afraid to mix it up this season and this desire to put in challenge after challenge has seen them fall foul of the official on several occasions.
Sunderland have received 33 yellow cards – the joint fifth-most in the division – while their tally of two red cards has left just Chelsea (4) ahead of them in that area.
While ill-discipline can prove costly, this has not been the case for Le Bris's side and they are unlikely to change this attitude anytime soon.
Safety already in the bag?
Given 26 points was enough to stay up last season and just one more point was needed to avoid the drop in 2023-24, Sunderland already look to have secured their top-flight status with not even half of the campaign gone.
It would take a monumental collapse for the Black Cats to drop down into the Championship and the club will now have European aspirations, especially after beating Newcastle 1-0 at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Sunderland's highest-ever Premier League finish was seventh, which they achieved in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, but they could be on for a higher position this term.
