The Black Cats are five points off the summit with two games in hand on leaders Hull City, and still have eight games left to play in their bid to go up.
Interestingly, however, if the league table was decided on away form alone, Sunderland would be out in front, one point clear having played a game fewer than their rivals.
The same cannot be said of their home form, which has been patchy at times this season.
The Mackems have won nine of their 19 home fixtures to date, drawing six and losing four.
That's the sixth-best record in the division, but how does it compare to their home record over the past decade?
Bankrate.com have run the number on every League One side to see who has built up the strongest home fortress over the past 10 years.
Click and scroll through our countdown below...
![Games played: 213
Points: 276
PPG: 1.3
Win rate: 32%
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ1Y2IxZThiLWE4MjAtNGMzYi1hYzI4LWE4ZjJlMWMwZDNkYTo5MzdhM2ViOS0xNzBkLTRjNjYtYTJhMi1iODI1MDIyM2E4ODk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. Sunderland
Games played: 213 Points: 276 PPG: 1.3 Win rate: 32% (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Photo: Stu Forster
![Games played: 233
Points: 317
PPG: 1.36
Win rate: 36%
(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgzYmNiNWRkLTFiMWEtNDNjNS1hNDkxLWUzOTVhMDdhMDNhMDphYWVmOTU4NS1jZWYxLTQxYjMtODRmMC1lZTFiN2MwZWM0ODM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. Wigan Athletic
Games played: 233 Points: 317 PPG: 1.36 Win rate: 36% (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Photo: Alex Pantling
![Games played: 237
Points: 334
PPG: 1.41
Win rate: 38%
(Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ4NDFiZDcyLTRjYzQtNDE3OC1hNzJkLTViODZmOGEzNzZhZDo1MjRjYzkzZi03N2U2LTQwOTgtOTM2NC0xMTU4NThmZjlkMDY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. AFC Wimbledon
Games played: 237 Points: 334 PPG: 1.41 Win rate: 38% (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images) Photo: James Chance
![Games played: 231
Points: 331
PPG: 1.43
Win rate: 38%
(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY3ZjA2NThlLTVmNzYtNGZhZS05ZDhiLTQ1OWVhMzVmMGE0Zjo1MjM2YmQ4My03YzUwLTQ5ZTEtOWQwZC0zNzkzN2UwNjI2OTI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
4. Blackpool
Games played: 231 Points: 331 PPG: 1.43 Win rate: 38% (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Photo: Clive Brunskill