If every of Sunderland’s league video games to date has featured a barely totally different dynamic, with the Lads frequently showcasing their capability to adapt, alter and emerge with one thing to point out for his or her efforts, Saturday’s go to of Wolves was very a lot a recreation to file below “One we merely should discover a strategy to win — someway”.
The opening-day stroll within the sunshine towards West Ham was memorable; the last-gasp victory over Brentford thrilling, and attracts towards Villa and Crystal Palace — in addition to an outstanding away victory over Nottingham Forest — demonstrated that this staff is blessed with each talent and metal, will all the time be exhausting to beat, and is studying rapidly concerning the ever-changing dynamics of life within the prime flight.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Enzo Le Price celebrates the second Sunderland objective, an personal objective throughout the Premier League match between Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stadium of Mild on October 18, 2025 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photograph by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC through Getty Pictures)
Nonetheless, it’s honest to say that this take a look at towards a facet who look sure for a season-long relegation battle was one thing totally different as soon as once more, however because the membership concluded its annual Founders’ Week by paying tribute to greats of years passed by, it was our new era who took centre stage.
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The worldwide break had bisected the fallout from a disappointing loss at Previous Trafford and though defeat to Manchester United was under no circumstances surprising, the mark of any facet with aspirations of survival — and even higher — is to make sure that any blips don’t develop into crises; that defeats might be handled rationally, analysed calmly and rectified subsequent day out, and that was the case towards the West Midlanders as Régis Le Bris’ males marked their return to dwelling turf with a win that, while not probably the most enticing, was nonetheless essential.
As soon as once more, the bedrock of this victory got here within the form of our defensive warriors, Omar Alderete, Dan Ballard and Nordi Mukiele, who slotted in with Arthur Masuaku omitted.
Mukiele acquired the objective that set us on our means, sliding the ball below Sam Johnstone (the primary objective scored by the Lads at my finish of the stadium since Romaine Mundle’s effort towards Preston — cheers, Nordi!) after some good play down the left, whereas Ballard and Alderete — already safely described as a “cut price signing” — merely wouldn’t be moved of their objective to maintain Wolves out and assist Robin Roefs to a different clear sheet.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Nordi Mukiele celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening objective throughout the Premier League match between Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stadium of Mild on October 18, 2025 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photograph by Martin Swinney – Sunderland AFC/Sunderland AFC through Getty Pictures)
The opener got here after VAR had denied Wilson Isidor, with the striker caught offside simply earlier than he slammed the ball previous Johnstone, however Mukiele’s intervention ensured that we acquired precisely what we wanted.
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Attacking-wise, it was a blended bag for Sunderland on Saturday — not helped, it have to be stated, by some intervals of sloppy passing and poor decision-making that sometimes allowed Wolves to not less than get a foot on the ball and attempt to drive openings.
Maybe it was the results of some worldwide break-induced rust, a little bit little bit of pressure or some underlying indecision after taking the lead, however we will definitely cross the ball with higher effectivity in addition to taking part in with extra goal, and Le Bris will probably be eager to make sure that this stays the blueprint, significantly at dwelling.
On the wing, there was no lack of effort from Bertrand Traoré but it surely was no coincidence that the introduction of Chemsdine Talbi injected some actual spark into our ahead line, and while this wasn’t Chris Rigg’s best hour in a crimson and white shirt, the one means he’s going to study concerning the realities of Premier League soccer is to really play it, and his boundless power and willingness to trace again wasn’t the signal of a participant who was steadily shedding coronary heart as the sport went on.
Because the second half wore on, 1-0 felt like a dangerous scoreline as we sought to place the sport past the guests’ attain and Wolves favoured tactic of lofting the ball into the house field endured, however any nerves have been lastly eased when a Sunderland breakaway led to a scrappy personal objective, Ladislav Krejci the unlucky perpetrator on this event as any hopes of a Wolves fightback have been extinguished.
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General, a deeply satisfying afternoon’s work for Sunderland. The form of win that breeds confidence, generates momentum, and ensures we proceed to carve out a repute as staff that may greater than maintain its personal at this stage.
The pundits could not absolutely respect us and can probably proceed to quote sure metrics as proof that we’re using our luck, however you understand what? Allow them to. They’ll have their column inches and we’ll proceed to point out we belong at this stage. That looks as if a good tradeoff to me, and there’ll come a time the place our expertise as a staff merely can’t be denied.
Saturday 18 October 2025
Premier League
Stadium of Mild
Attendance: 46,578
Sunderland: 2 (Mukiele 16’, Krejci (OG) 90’)
Wolves: 0
Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, Ballard; Alderete, Mukiele, Sadiki (Neil 95’); Xhaka, Rigg (Geertruida 76’), Le Fée; Traoré (Talbi 63’), Isidor (Mayenda 76’)
Subs Not Used: Patterson, O’Nien, Masuaku, Brobbey, Adingra
Wolves: Johnstone, Doherty (Hoever 67’), S.Bueno; Krejci, H.Bueno, Munetsi; André, João Gomes (Fer López 76’), Arias (Tchatchoua 77’); Strand Larsen, Rodrigo Gomes (Arokodere 76’)
Subs Not Used: Sá, Mosquera, Agbadou, Toti Gomes, Møller Wolfe