Ha'way back when: Sunderland v QPR - the last five league games at the Stadium of Light

The Rangers boss has had two stints at the club, managing Plymouth, Leicester, Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Millwall in between.

Back in 2004, Sunderland went on to win the Championship under Mick McCarthy, while Holloway’s men ended the campaign in 11th.

The teams met on Wearside early in the campaign, with a last-minute Steve Caldwell goal preventing a home defeat.

Paul Furlong put Rangers ahead only for Marcus Stewart to fire the Black Cats level just after the half hour.

Martin Rowlands had Rangers ahead after 71 minutes but Caldwell saved the day at the death.

Sunderland: Myhre, Wright, Arca, Robinson, Breen, Caldwell, Lawrence (Thornton 84), Whitley, Kyle, Stewart (Elliot 73), Oster (Lynch 73). Subs not used: Alnwick, Whitehead.

The two clubs last met on Wearside on February 10, 2015.

It was a season where Sunderland finished 16th in the Premier League and Rangers were relegated as the bottom side.

Even so, Rangers did the double over Gus Poyet’s Sunderland, winning 1-0 in London and 2-0 in the North East.

Goals from Leroy Fer and Bobby Zamora clinched the points for Chris Ramsey’s side at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland: Pantilimon, Reveillere (Brown 63), Van Aanholt, Bridcutt, Vergini, O’Shea, Johnson, Larsson, Defoe, Wickham (Fletcher 82), Alvarez (46). Subs not used: Mannone, Coates, Agnew, Graham.

In the 2012/13 season, QPR finished bottom again, with Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland escaping the drop in 17th place.

On Wearside, the sides played out a goalless draw. In London, Rangers won 3-1 with goals from Loic Remy, Andros Townsend and Jermaine Jenas, with Steven Fletcher getting a consolation.

The season before, Sunderland ended up in 13th place, with Rangers just surviving in 17th place.

The Black Cats managed a home win this time, with O’Neill’s side coming out on top 3-1 thanks to goals from Nicklas Bentner, James McClean and Stephane Sessegnon. Taye Taiwo netted for Rangers.

Sunderland: Mignolet, O’Shea (Campbell 27), Bridge (Meyler 70), Colback, Kyrgiakos, Turner, Gardner, Vaughan, Bendtner (Elmohamady 82), Sessegnon, McClean. Subs not used: Gordon, Kilgallon, Ji Dong-won, Wickham.

Sunderland were also home winners in the 2006/7 season when tey ended up as Championship champions under Roy Keane.

John Gregory was in the Rangers dugout and saw his side lose 2-1 after home goals from Dean Whitehead and Grant Leadbitter, either side of a goal from Martin Rowlands.