Sunderland, di Black Cats dem, wan turn dem self to di best newcomers wey don enter Premier League for 17 years. E be lik say dem don waka jolly, and all eyes dey on top dem as dem prepare to face dem arch-rivals, Newcastle, for di first Tyne-Wear derby in nine long years this Sunday.
Kick-off dey set for 2pm, but no worry, you fit catch di action live for Sky Sports Main Event from 1pm. As dem dey ready to hammer on, one win for Sunderland go make dem gather enough points wey pass wetin any promoted team gather last season, and na less than half di time wey dem take do am.
Head coach Regis Le Bris don do wetin many dem no expect. Last time wey newly promoted team perform like dis na Phil Brown’s Hull City for 2008. Dem don put di serious foot on ground, despite di fear wey dey waka around di league say di gap between Premier League and Championship don dey grow.
Sunderland don find deyself for dis position now just three years after dem dey play for League One. E no b easy, but dem don find dia own way to hustle. As Le Bris talk am, “We no go play like Guardiola or De Zerbi, because we be Sunderland, and I be Regis Le Bris.” Dis guy don really capture di heart of di North East.
Even for di Championship, di focus no be on showing off but rather how dem go play alpha and maintain di right team formation. Last season, dem score only seven goals more than dem wey relegated, but now, dem don sharpen dia game. Dem don up di game since dem finish Wetin dey happen for Wembley, and dey learn from di past mistakes of other teams.
Now as dem ready for serious encounter on Sunday, di numbers don show say Sunderland dey 10 points clear of di relegation zone. E no fit surprise anybody how dem manage go there, since dem actually create di lowest expected goals in open play for di league – even worse than Wolves. If dem follow di stats, no be dem for win any match!
But di real matter na efficiency. Sunderland don learn to make di right moves without plenty ball possession. Only energy and solidity na di way forward for dem. Granit Xhaka don show say him dey lead di charge, as he dey run pass people instead of di 33-year-old needing gym coach.
Dem also bulb di transfer market, splashing cash like say dem dey bask for palm wine, pulling in 13 new faces. Despite di risk wey come with blending so many new players, nine of dem don dey shine for di pitch don dey appear for 10 plus league matches each.
Xhaka dey motivate di boys; “Dey need make sure say e dey fit like puzzle from di first player to di last player.” For dis season, main man for di goal post, Robin Roefs, dey do di magic with di second-best save percentage for di league.
Di aerial knowledge don come back again because dem don recruit solid defenders. Di new boys dem, Mukiele and Alderete, don help Sunderland collect di fifth-most aerial battles. Dem go come face dia rivals with five set-piece goals, ranking dem same level with Aston Villa and di others.
As dem dey approach AFCON, dem go miss plenty players wey dey go play for dia countries, especially di likes of Sadiki. So dis match fit show dem di way forward because next month no go easy for dem.
But for now, dem just dey focus on defeating Newcastle. If dem fit hammer dem, e go mad! This Tyne-Wear derby go sure gimme chills! Abeg, make sure you tune in!
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