There may well be some disappointment over Sunderland’s opening day defeat against Ipswich Town - but there can be no doubt the Stadium of Light faithful were fully behind Tony Mowbray’s side throughout a brave loss.
It seemed almost inevitable former Black Cats loan star Nathan Broadhead would find the target against his old club and that came to pass just before half-time as the Tractor Boys striker put his side in front. George Hirst doubled the visitors lead seven minutes into the second-half and things went from bad to worse for Sunderland when Trai Hume was shown a second yellow card with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Mowbray’s men put in a determined push to claim an unlikely point as Dan Neil got them back into the game with four minutes left on the clock. Despite 13 minutes of injury-time being signalled, the Black Cats could not find an equaliser and were left empty-handed from their opening game of the campaign.
The highlight of the day was the ferocious atmosphere created by the Wearside faithful on a challenging day for their side - but how did the Stadium of Light attendance compare to Sunderland’s Championship rivals?
![Attendances for Championship clubs’ first home game of the season ranked.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2022/08/19/08/GettyImages-1415261491.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. Attendances for Championship clubs’ first home game of the season ranked.
Attendances for Championship clubs’ first home game of the season ranked. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
![Attendance: 10,828](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/07/24/22/GettyImages-1418442465%20%282%29.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. Rotherham United v Blackburn Rovers
Attendance: 10,828 | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
![Attendance: 16,446](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZlMTM4ZjczLTNkY2MtNDc1Ny04NWRhLTNiODY5MjI0MGQ0NTo0ZWE1Nzc4OC0zOTUyLTRhOTEtODNkYi1iMTJhNzgzYTEzOWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. Plymouth Argyle v Huddersfield Town
Attendance: 16,446 Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
![Attendance: 16,741](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/07/03/11/GettyImages-1482426393.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
4. Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion
Attendance: 16,741 | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images