A look at the all important talking points from Sunderland's 3-0 win against West Ham
Sunderland players celebrate after Eliezer Mayenda opens the scoring against West Ham United. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Well, how about that? Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League with a win and turned in a really impressive second half display against Graham Potter's side.
Eliezer Mayenda scored the Black Cats' first goal back in the Premier League with a brilliant header past Mads Hermansen after a pin point cross from Omar Alderete just after the hour mark.
The Wearsiders second goal of the afternoon 12 minutes later was almost a carbon copy but from the opposite, Simon Adingra's cross met by the head of Dan Ballard and powered into the bottom corner.
Wilson Isidor came off the bench to add a third in injury time. Here are the key talking points from Sunderland's 3-0 win over West Ham United.
Regis Le Bris' brilliant gameplan
Regis Le Bris handed out seven debuts in the starting XI with Robin Roefs, Reinildo, Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki, Habib Diarra, Simon Adingra and Chemsdine Talbi making their competitive bow for the Black Cats. There's been plenty of discussion and debate about how the new players would fit in and whether Sunderland would be a cohesive unit.
On this outing, it's fair to say they were. Of course, they'll get better and improve in the coming weeks but they certainly didn't look like a team who hadn't played together in a competitive fixture before.
Part of that is down to the system Le Bris utilizes, the simplicity of it and yet efficiency both in and out of possession. The summer recruitment drive has signed square pegs for square holes.
There were question marks over the lack of goals in pre-season and Sunderland weren't exactly peppering the Hammers' goal - not that anyone expected that outcome either mind - but the Black Cats did create opportunities.
Maydenda worked tirelessly but had very little service. But, as they say, good strikers are judged on the goals they score and the youngster needed just a sniff to open the scoring. His header a real poachers finish.
It wasn't wave after wave of Sunderland attack, but brilliantly timed counter attacks that cut West Ham to pieces. The second goal of afternoon a similar cross from deep, a similar brilliantly placed header.
Regis Le Bris manager of Sunderland. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images)
For all Sunderland didn't create a boat load of chances in the first half, the second half was as clear a tactical blueprint as you'll see from a Le Bris team. In the opening 45 minutes Sunderland side had just 36 per cent possession, but limited the visitors to just two shots on target.
Jarrod Bowen with the best chance for the Hammers and some neat interplay on the edge of the area, Roefs down well to his left to deny the forward at the front post. That was that in terms of dangerous opportunities.
The Black Cats' possession creeped up to 37 per cent in the second half, but it was the ruthlessness of their counter attacks that was the difference this afternoon.
Dan Ballard vs Nicholas Fullkrug had the hallmarks of a heavyweight clash for the ages, but it was the Black Cats defender who got the better of his opponent early on and the German had very little response. Jenson Seelt was equally impressive up against Bowen despite one or two scares.
It was unfortunate when the Dutchman had to come off, but his replacement Omar Alderete produced a moment of magic for the opening goal. The Paraguayan had the audacity to cross the ball into the box from 40-yards out in the left channel, a brilliant delivery put on a plate for Mayenda.
The second goal, another brilliant cross into the area from deep and Ballard in the right place at the right time. Isidor's late goal in injury time a superb goal on the counter.
Transfer gamble and future-proof plan
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman admitted the Black Cats had taken a gamble in the summer transfer market but they've also attempted to future proof the club having spent around £132million on new players in preparation for life in the top flight. On this showing, that gamble has paid off.
Speaking to Football Focus earlier this afternoon, Speakman said: "You know, we've seen history not be kind to some clubs who've had a real go. So it's bound to be a bit of a gamble, it always is. But how much is the club future-proof to make sure everything will be okay in the long run? Yeah, we've always tried to look at every outcome when we make decisions.
"We're always looking at what's the short-term, and obviously for us that's the Premier League season, and obviously what the medium and long-term is. So we certainly have always been well-planned with that. I think you've always got to look at all the different outcomes, whether they're positive or negative.
"We're all geared up for the positive. You can spend a lot of time, I think, talking about the challenge and the difficulty. We've tried to assess the focus on what the solutions are and how we can build a really positive team for the Premier League."
Sunderland Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman
A bright start but tougher tests await
A brilliant first half performance and top of the Premier League table. Yet, nobody will be getting carried away.
Le Bris let out an uncharacteristic release of emotion when Isidor put the result beyond any doubt in the dying embers of the game. Relief, euphoria and three points on the board.
The French head coach knows he's in a results based business and tougher tests await, but what a brilliant start to life back in the top flight.