THERE must be something about Everton and Sunderland. Last season, Nathan Broadhead made the temporary switch from Goodison Park to the Stadium of Light and played a pivotal role in the Black Cats’ promotion from League One, thrusting himself into the senior international picture with Wales in the process.

This term, it is Ellis Simms’ turn to swap Merseyside for Wearside, and while it might be a stretch to suggest the Oldham-born 21-year-old will be playing for England by the end of the season, he already looks like he has what it takes to be a huge success at Championship level over the course of the next nine months.

Simms could hardly have made a better first impression as he made his maiden Sunderland start at Ashton Gate at the weekend, with his two goals helping his new employers claim their first win back in the second tier.

The youngster opened the scoring with a clinical low strike after the Black Cats’ high-pressing style had forced an early error from the Bristol City defence, before adding a second in the second half with another slick finish that saw him fire the ball through goalkeeper Dan Bentley’s legs.

Ross Stewart headed home Sunderland’s winner with 18 minutes remaining, and just as the Scot and Broadhead combined effectively in the second half of last season, so the Black Cats look to have found another successful strike pairing.

“Sunderland’s a massive club with a big fanbase, and they’ve got great ambition,” said Simms, who turned down alternative offers from Blackpool and Hearts in order to move to the North-East. “They got promoted into the Championship, and I just thought it would be a great place for me to kick on my career, develop, and score some goals. It’s my first time in the Championship, so it’s a new challenge and a new adventure, so I’m just looking forward to it.

“Nathan was here last year and did well. He had praise about the place – it was all positive from him – and I just thought it would be a great environment for me to do well.”

Alex Neil identified Simms as an attractive attacking option at the start of the summer, and the Black Cats boss was understandably delighted at his new addition’s instant impact at the weekend.

Simms had been an unused substitute in Sunderland’s opening Championship game against Coventry, but with a full week of training under his belt, Neil felt confident the striker was ready to be unleashed against the Robins. It did not take long for his faith to be justified.

“I thought Ellis and Ross were absolutely outstanding, never giving Bristol’s back-three a moment’s peace,” he said. “Ellis is powerful, but he’s a rarity because he is also quick and the two of them complement each other really well.

“We signed him to push Ross, but also to play alongside him and give us a different dynamic, which was there for all to see. We now have two lads up top, who we can play the ball up to and both have goals in them.”

Sunderland did not have things their own way, with Bristol City cancelling out Simms’ early opener as Andreas Weimann shot home in the tenth minute and briefly claiming the lead as Chris Martin bundled home Weimann’s cross from the right at the start of the second half.

Simms’ second goal quickly restored parity, and the Black Cats were much the better side throughout the second half as they built up a head of steam that culminated in Stewart’s headed winner.

“If there was disappointment, it was in the goals we conceded,” said Neil. “For some reason we tried to play offside and conceded as a result. Their second goal was as soft as you will see at this level.

“Bristol had some good spells in the first half, but we were really dangerous even then and deserved to win. Between their second goal and the last eight minutes we were totally dominant.”