Prior to the start of the season, Sunderland's then-boss Alex Neil described this Black Cats team as an 'unknown quantity' at Championship level. After winning promotion following four years in League One, and with a squad heavy on youth and light on Championship experience, it was hard to disagree with Neil's assessment.
Just how this group of players would cope with the step up was anyone's guess. But, eight games in, Sunderland fans have been hugely encouraged at the way their team has fared - particularly given the fact that their promotion-winning head coach Neil himself has since departed, jumping ship to take over at Stoke City, to be replaced by Tony Mowbray.
And the fans' optimism is not without good reason, as Sunderland have made their best start to a Championship season since they won the division under Mick McCarthy back in 2003-04. Their record this season - three wins, two draws, three defeats, equating to 11 points - exactly replicates that of 19 years ago, with the McCarthy team slightly edging ahead with a plus-four goal difference as opposed to the current side's plus-two.
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Not since the previous season, 2003-04, have Sunderland earned more points after eight games in the second tier, when they had 13 on the board at this stage, although ultimately Sunderland finished third in the table and lost to Crystal Palace in the play-off semi-finals, in what was then known as the Football League Division One before it was rebranded as the Championship in the summer of 2004. Sunderland have been promoted from the Championship more recently than 2005, memorably winning the title under Roy Keane in 2006-07.
However, the Black Cats got off to a famously poor start that season, losing four straight games under the legendary figure of Niall Quinn before finally earning their first win in the Irishman's last game in charge when Keane was in the stands preparing to take over. Keane then won his first two games in charge and drew the next, but it meant that after eight games Sunderland had only ten points to their name.
Before their return this season, Sunderland's most recent Championship campaign came in 2017-18 - and the less said about that one, the better. Simon Grayson's side won only one of its first eight games and had accumulated just six points, as they embarked on a season which culminated in disgrace and relegation to League One.
| Season | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 2022-23 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 11 | +2 |
| 2017-18 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 6 | -5 |
| 2006-07 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 10 | +1 |
| 2004-05 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 11 | +4 |
| 2003-04 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 13 | +4 |
Back to the present day, though. Sunderland have hardly had an easy run of fixtures so far.
They have faced Norwich City - a team that played in the Premier League last season, and which is considered promotion favourites - and, while Sunderland ended up losing 1-0 on Wearside, they should have won. Their other defeats came in close games at Sheffield United and Middlesbrough, both teams considered in pre-season as play-off contenders, and at Bramall Lane Sunderland played for an hour with ten men following Dan Neil's sending off.
Sunderland might have had more points to their name, with only late equalisers denying them against Coventry City on the opening weekend and then against QPR - the latter scored in injury-time by goalkeeper Seny Dieng. But enough of the ifs, buts, and maybes.
Reality is what matters. And while the club's start stands comparison to the promotion-winning sides of 2006-07 and 2004-05, there is no expectation even of a top six finish this season - that would be to heap unfair pressure on a newly-promoted team.
The important thing is that the club continues to progress under Mowbray in the weeks and months ahead. That will not be easy.
Despite a slew of talented youngsters arriving late in the transfer window, the squad remains thin in some areas and the injury to marquee striker Ross Stewart - which is set to sideline him for six to eight weeks - is a massive blow. But this team has shown the same kind of character this season that carried largely the same group of players to promotion in the second half of last term.
Sunderland may have started the season as an unknown quantity in the Championship, but we are finding out more about them all the time. And the early signs are very promising.
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