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Alex Charlton says…
I’d love to say “Same again”, and on many levels, I think Sunderland can deliver what they did against West Ham. However, Burnley away is a different challenge be, and they’ll be desperate to beat us at Turf Moor.
We’re bound to have more possession than we did against the Hammers, and they should be more defensively sound after last week. Against Tottenham, they looked edgy, but they should feel much more comfortable at home.
With that in mind, Habib Diarra will be key for us. His ability to break through the lines and to pick out a cutting pass can take us forward. If he can link up with our forwards like he did last week, Burnley will be in trouble.
Honestly, I feel confident. We should’ve beaten them twice last season, and Wilson Isidor will be itching to get his revenge.
Let’s make it two from two!
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Sunderland’s Habib Diarra during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Sunderland’s Habib Diarra during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
CameraSport via Getty Images
Ben McKevitt says…
Our opening fixture was a blast and a hugely impressive start to proceedings in the Premier League. West Ham showed flashes of Premier League quality but ultimately wilted in the face of superior athleticism, bravery and desire from our lads in red and white.
Burnley will, however, pose a different challenge altogether.
They didn’t surrender entirely against a strong, organised Spurs side, and were only decidedly beaten by superior quality across the ninety. I think they’ll push us hard, as both sides know the totemic importance of this game, despite how early it is in the season.
Scott Parker knows how to play defensively and knows how to do it well — their record last season was no fluke. Seeing the ball more could threaten the effectiveness of our typical transitional style of play more than West Ham’s possession-heavy game plan. However, Burnley’s losses in defence could prove costly in the Premier League.
I could see our positive reinforcements making the difference against what’s still a weak Burnley side on paper, but I’d be happy with an away point and the beginning of an unbeaten streak. I think it’s important not to get ahead of ourselves, and hope for the best rather than expect it!
Ewan Bowman says…
Confidence from both the players and fanbase should be sky high after the win against West Ham, where the performance was simply outstanding as we outfought, outclassed and overpowered our opponents.
This weekend, we face Burnley who we beat at home last season and should’ve beaten away. Despite their promotion, I actually feel they’re weaker on paper than last season.
The midfield battle is going to be key, with Granit Xhaka, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki, and also with our forward line I just feel we’ll have too much energy and quality for our hosts.
These are the games that usually define seasons for newly-promoted clubs. What a statement it would make if we manage to make it two wins out of two, and I’m confident we’ll do just that.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
CameraSport via Getty Images
John Wilson says…
I secretly thought we’d beat West Ham.
It just felt right: the opening day of the season and everyone totally up for it. I also thought that it would give us a big indication of how well we’d be able to perform this season in this league. Whilst I was overjoyed to see that indeed we can compete, it was in some respects a unique game, so now my feelings are almost back to square one!
How will we compete in our first away game, when this time it’ll be Burnley who are up for it? How will we perform when (God forbid) some people are thinking this is a slightly ‘easier’ game?
This is when our experienced players need to step up. and ward off any complacency. Every game will be a battle; every team deserves total respect and as Régis Le Bris said post match, “Next game, we start again, from scratch”.
With my positive hat on, if we approach the Burnley game with the same fire and desire, we can pick up our first three away points.
I thought when the fixtures came out, we could get nine points from our first three games. It just seemed arrogant and silly to say or think it, but why not?
I expect the same team to start — with the exception of Omar Alderete for Jenson Seelt — and this game will provide further evidence of how good or not we are. Remember, we may be a newly-promoted Championship club, but this is virtually a new team, with no hang ups and no baggage, just belief in their own ability.
They don’t know anything about ‘doing a Sunderland’, so I’m being positive and I’m hopeful of our first away victory, then folks really can start to chatter!
Lee Morrison says…
We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season but Burnley represents a different challenge entirely. They’ll be hurting from the Spurs game and so it’s vital we don’t let complacency creep in.
The departure of James Trafford is the biggest factor, for me.
Although Martin Dubravka does have experience, he doesn’t have the quality and assurance that comes with Trafford. As a result, I think we will score in the game itself and that Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor will have confidence after getting their first Premier League goals.
Either way, these Premier League games cause whole new levels of anxiety and I’d be happy if we can at least get a point away from home. We all know the coming months have some incredibly difficult fixtures but every point on the board is crucial.
As much as I hate the cliché, this is a six pointer.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Sunderland’s Eliezer Mayenda during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Sunderland’s Eliezer Mayenda during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
CameraSport via Getty Images
Malc Dugdale says…
I’ll admit I was apprehensive for the Hammers’ game, but after the showing from the Lads both old and new, I’m very confident we can get something at Burnley.
Although they finished above us in the Championship, they were a defensively-focused side who took the approach of making sure they don’t lose rather than focusing in how to win with flair and style.
Since then, our work in the market place makes theirs look like mere dabbling.
Most importantly, we’ve added affordable players with the right attitude and great attributes, and the clicking together of the team at home to West Ham showed the breadth of change has apparently not diluted the team spirit — which was such a huge factor in the playoff process.
I honestly think Régis Le Bris is a better tactician than Scott Parker, and that we should’ve done better last season than we did in terms of points haul.
I don’t think we’ll go entirely gung-ho away from home, but I’m quietly confident we can get a point and with our ability to hit on the break and transition at pace and with quality, we may well do better than that.
Grab a point, lads, and bring it home. Do better, and I’ll be happy but not totally surprised.