Sunderland are sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table ahead of the first international break of the 2026/27 season.
The first international break of the 2026/27 season is upon us - and that gives us a chance to look back at how Sunderland have fared over the first month of the new Premier League campaign.
Regis Le Bris’ men have claimed just one win in their opening five games after following up an opening day defeat at newly-promoted Ipswich Town with a narrow home victory against Fulham. However, since that Stadium of Light win, the Black Cats have earned just a solitary point in their last three games as a battling draw at Brentford was followed by defeats against Premier League title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City.
Nordi Mukiele of Sunderland has a shot during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Sunderland and Arsenal.placeholder image
Nordi Mukiele of Sunderland has a shot during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Sunderland and Arsenal. | Getty Images.
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The latter of those losses brought plenty of positives for Le Bris as his side pushed City all of the way at the Etihad Stadium - but emerged without a point despite Brian Brobbey hitting a memorable hat-trick. However, one statistic shows just how different Sunderland’s opening month of the season could have been and displays the fine margins at play in the top flight of English football.
There are six clubs that are yet to hit the woodwork during the opening month of the new season and they are Arsenal, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur. That should not be a surprise when it comes to the last two clubs in that group after they scored a combined three goals between them during their first five games of the new campaign. But Sunderland can count themselves as one of the most unfortunate clubs in the league after they hit the crossbar or post on five separate occasions during the last month - and ranks as high as all but one of their rivals across the top flight of English football.
How many times have each Premier League club hit the woodwork this season?
Hull City's Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi (L) hits the post with his header.placeholder image
Hull City's Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi (L) hits the post with his header. | AFP via Getty Images.
0 - Arsenal, Coventry City, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur
1 - Newcastle United, Leeds United, Ipswich Town, Chelsea, Brentford, Aston Villa
2 - Manchester City, Bournemouth
3 - Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Hove Albion
5 - Sunderland
6 - Manchester United
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