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?
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.
![Attendance: 19,892](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/08/13/10/GettyImages-1460285618%20%281%29.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Attendance: 20,410](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjVkYWI0ODgwLTBiZDktNDMxNi05MDMwLTAzN2UwZGM2MmRmNTpjOWNhMzViMS0zY2I5LTRjYWUtOTQ1NS05MDYxZTAwMGU4NzE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Attendance: 20,087](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/07/24/13/GettyImages-1467973028.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Attendance: 20,451](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBjNjkwYjIyLTIxZDMtNGEzYy1iNzJmLTgzNDUxMjA5MDU4ZjplYzIyNTE5MS03MWM4LTQyZDAtOGYzOC0zNGE1NjdmYTVmZDg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)