THE fact Sunderland have three times the amount of points they had in 2013/14 at the same point last season may be sound reading to fans on Wearside, but when they also took eight games to register their first win it is no time to celebrate.

Off the back of a somewhat fortunate point gained at home to Spurs on Saturday, it is worth looking at whether Sunderland are on the up or masking an unsolved problem.

In the previous two seasons Sunderland have been heavily involved in relegation scraps but have managed to survive on both occasions.

In 2012/13 they had managed to get themselves safe with a few games to spare but then failed to win in their final four games including a 6-1 drubbing by Villa.

In 2013/14 they seemed certain for the trap door with away games against Chelsea and both Manchester clubs looming towards the end whilst in the relegation zone. However, against the odds, they took seven points from these games steering themselves to safety.

Following the end of last season they have brought in nine players and 14 have gone the other way. Their main signings have been in midfield with Jordi Gomez (free), Will Buckley (£2.5m) and Jack Rodwell (£10m) coming in.

Most noteworthy is the lack of firepower brought in with the failure to secure the signature of Fabio Borini from Liverpool. The signing of a striker seemed vital with Sunderland’s current strikeforce limited in terms of proven Premier League quality.

Last year’s top scorer was winger Adam Johnson with eight Premier league goals showing the lack of a consistent goalscorer upfront.

Their lack of goals is emphasised in their total of 41 goals scored last season (exactly the same as 2012/13), just over one a game, which was the sixth lowest last year (three of those below were relegated).

With the way they started 2013/14 as relegation certainties and finishing it in title chasing form it would be unfair to expect Sunderland to continue in the same vein this year.

Current results are encouraging but if the goals dry up, and with no proven Premier League striker on the books, this season could become a familiar story.

By John Sunter