Statistically, this has been one of the worst 12 months in Sunderland’s proud 139-year history. Sometimes, though, the bare facts only tell part of the story.

Yes, the Black Cats are playing in the third tier for the first time in three decades. Yes, they are far from guaranteed to return to the Championship despite having only suffered two league defeats so far. In so many other ways, though, this is no longer a club in terminal decline.

Having started 2018 in deep relegation trouble, the first half of Sunderland’s year was an unmitigated disaster. Performances were wretched, results even worse, and relegation was confirmed when Burton Albion won at the Stadium of Light in late April.

That could have been the signal for a complete implosion. Instead, it resulted in a rebirth. Ellis Short agreed to sell to Stewart Donald, and while the American’s reign will be remembered as a disaster, his final act, writing off more than £100m of debt, enabled the new regime to start with something close to a clean slate.

Donald and his fellow director, Charlie Methven, immediately adopted a completely different approach to their predecessors. They encouraged an open dialogue with fans, going on supporters’ podcasts to deliver updates on the financial position. They refused to be bullied by players, paying off Jack Rodwell and sacking Didier Ndong and Papy Djilobodji. They even shelled out for some new seats.

Their appointment of Jack Ross was a masterstroke, with the Scotsman having already proved an ideal fit as manager. A complete squad overhaul saw more than a dozen new players arrive, and the majority have contributed to a strong start to the season.

Sunderland sit five points behind leaders Portsmouth, with two games in hand, with their record-breaking Boxing Day crowd confirming the new mood of optimism. For once, the advent of a New Year on Wearside brings hope not fear.


HIT OF THE YEAR

STEWART DONALD

Sunderland’s new owner has been like a breath of fresh air. Open, honest and engaging, he has enabled his club to reconnect with a fanbase that had grown thoroughly disillusioned at life at the Stadium of Light.


FLOP OF THE YEAR

JACK RODWELL

So many candidates, but Rodwell became an emblem of the wastefulness and lack of professionalism that was allowed to flourish under the former regime. He left having cost Sunderland more than £20m.


GOAL OF THE YEAR

CHRIS MAGUIRE (vs Southend United, October 27)

Maguire has been Sunderland’s long-range king this season, and after scoring a beauty in the defeat at Burton, the forward celebrated an ever better strike against Southend. Picking up a loose ball close to the halfway line, he broke forward before unleashing a 25-yard rocket into the top left-hand corner.


MOMENT OF THE YEAR

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BOXING DAY ATTENDANCE AGAINST BRADFORD

Sunderland had hoped for a bumper gate on Boxing Day – in their wildest dreams though, they could not have envisaged such a remarkable crowd. As Jack Ross rightly pointed out, there are very clubs that could attract 46,039 fans in the third tier.


2018 RECORD

P52 W19 D15 L18 F75 A68 Win Ratio: 36.5%