It’s a strange quirk of Sunderland’s 2025/2026 season that many of our away wins have carried extra weight — either in terms of building momentum, sending a message and in the case of this latest impressive outcome, keeping the Lads on track for what would surely be one of the most extraordinary achievements in our recent history.
Beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was thrilling; seeing off Leeds at Elland Road was hugely important in the context of the league table and our triumph over Newcastle at St James’ Park made for memories and images that’ll last a lifetime.
These were all hugely impressive results for this young, exciting and dynamic Sunderland team, but after we rallied from 0-1 down to defeat Everton, getting one over on David Moyes and ensuring that we’ll head into the final game against Chelsea with a chance of bringing European football to Wearside, the nature of the performance felt almost as important as the outcome.
Be in no doubt: the parasols aren’t up and the mojitos aren’t on ice just yet. There’s plenty to play for and boy, do these players sense it.
This was another classic example of the resilience that’s hardwired into this Sunderland team.
It was a showcase of our refusal to give up on any cause and to demonstrate that the fundamentals that may turn a promising team into an elite one are in place — they simply need to be honed, fine tuned and enhanced during the summer, with Régis Le Bris given full backing and the space and time he needs to continue to oversee our development.
At the moment, we’re a very good football team. What’s really promising — as we saw during the second half — is that we have so much room for improvement and a ceiling that’s as high as any I’ve seen at our club. Exciting times, indeed!
If the first half at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was marked by frustration — the concession of a scrappy opener as Merlin Röhl’s shot zipped off Granit Xhaka’s boot, the loss of Omar Alderete to injury and a lack of threat up top despite playing some good football and dominating possession — the way Sunderland rallied after the break was hugely impressive and spoke volumes about the Lads’ determination to end the season on a high.
It was Brian Brobbey who got the ball rolling, showing his strength to hold off his man and fire the ball past Jordan Pickford, and when Enzo Le Fée edged Sunderland in front after some neat interplay and sharp reactions when the ball broke to him, it felt as though the win was there for the taking as the Lads began to gain a foothold and then a greater degree of control.
The hosts were game and in truth, there’s probably not a great deal between the two sides on a man-for-man basis, yet Sunderland probably had the edge when it comes to genuine game-changers and once again, the bench was used to superb effect by Le Bris.
The introductions of Chris Rigg, Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi made a real difference and shortly after the Senegal international had failed to make the most of a Sunderland break by missing the chance to play in Wilson Isidor, he made amends, rampaging down the right and firing the ball across the Everton box, where Isidor was waiting to slot it home for 1-3.
It was a great moment for the popular striker and a confidence boost for Diarra — he’s by no means a lost cause and I’m adamant that he’ll be hugely influential for us next season. His recent performances might’ve been somewhat erratic but the club will doubtless show faith in their record signing and I feel the fans should do the same.
Everton did have chances to haul themselves back into contention and a point-blank save from Robin Roefs from a Jake O’Brien header gave Sunderland something to be aware of late on, but in contrast to the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the brilliant Iliman Ndiaye wasn’t able to influence the game as he would’ve liked and the Toffees were left to rue their inability to kick on and build on Röhl’s opener.
Another landmark day, then, with Sunderland going to a new stadium, locking horns with an established and useful top flight rival and emerging victorious thanks to a combination of fighting spirit, intelligence, togetherness and the ability to convert the chances that were carved out after the break.
After a season of graft, grit and moments of individual brilliance, we’ve cracked the fifty-point barrier. Spirits will be high heading into the final game of the season and with one last push, perhaps the Lads can provide us with the most astonishing conclusion of all.
Win, lose or draw against the Blues, what a campaign it’s been, and this truly is a Sunderland team that’s earned every accolade that’ll be heading their way.
Sunday May 17 2026
Premier League
Hill Dickinson Stadium
Attendance: 52,590
Everton: 1 (Röhl 43’)
Sunderland: 3 (Brobbey 59’, Le Fée 81’, Isidor 90’+1)
Everton: Pickford, O’Brien (Coleman 88’), Tarkowski; Keane, Mykolenko, Garner; Iroegbunam (George 73’), Röhl (McNeil 88’), Dewsbury-Hall; Ndiaye, Beto (Barry 73’)
Subs Not Used: Travers, Dibling, Patterson, Armstrong, Alcaraz
Sunderland: Roefs, Geertruida, Mukiele; Alderete (O’Nien 23’), Reinildo, Xhaka; Sadiki (Diarra 77’), Hume (Talbi 60’), Le Fée; Angulo (Rigg 77’), Brobbey (Isidor 77’)
Subs Not Used: Ellborg, Cirkin, Ta Bi, Mayenda
