'Potent strike force' - EFL pundit praises Sunderland following win over Bristol City in Championship

Sunderland took the lead inside four minutes when debutant Ellis Simms opened the scoring. The hosts drew level six-minutes later before the Robins went ahead 2-1.

Simms then added a second, allowing Ross Stewart to head home the winner 18 minutes from time after a superb assist from Alex Pritchard.

"They have had a good start to life back in the Championship. I think Alex Neil deserves credit today for sticking Ellis Simms up front,” McAnuff told ITV.

“He wasn’t involved last week but up with Ross Stewart, they seemed to have formed a real potent strike force and it is Pritchard dropping back into that number 10 position where, for me, he is a lot more effective. A natural player in that position.

“And again, certainly from Sunderland’s point of view, they should be really excited to see that front three.”