There were fears that the campaign could be derailed when Alex Neil left for Stoke City, but Tony Mowbray’s arrival steadied the ship and with his young side he would go on to play some of the best football many supporters can remember. Though they fell short of a shock promotion, their style and resilience convinced many that they are firmly on an upward trajectory.
Here, we tell the tale of how one of the most exciting Sunderland teams in recent history came together, through ten of the most important games in their development. The good, and occasionally the not so good, which all offer some big clues and insight as to what lies ahead for this exciting group next time around…
![Mowbray watched on in horror for the opening exchanges of this game, his side seemingly paralysed by tension after the return of Alex Neil created an unusually intense build up to the game.
By his own admission, selecting Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts in midfield contributed to a devastating defeat, Stoke enjoying a huge physical superiority in midfield and running riot on the break. This was the most extreme example of the problems Sunderland’s injuries in defence and up front continued to cause on home turf. Teams found it too easy to sit in a midblock and break in numbers, Sunderland with little choice to try and play dangerously through the press.
It forced a shift in approach in the weeks that followed, and the hugely impressive response in the weeks that followed means this could come to be seen as an immensely painful but entirely necessary learning experience.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjUyOWY4NjM1LTM4NDQtNDU0Zi04NjE0LWFhMTIyYTMyY2RkZDoyOWYzMzU4MC1lNmYxLTRlOTEtOTFiMC0xMjY5MmI5NTFiYjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
9. v Stoke City (H) March 4th, 2023
Mowbray watched on in horror for the opening exchanges of this game, his side seemingly paralysed by tension after the return of Alex Neil created an unusually intense build up to the game. By his own admission, selecting Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts in midfield contributed to a devastating defeat, Stoke enjoying a huge physical superiority in midfield and running riot on the break. This was the most extreme example of the problems Sunderland’s injuries in defence and up front continued to cause on home turf. Teams found it too easy to sit in a midblock and break in numbers, Sunderland with little choice to try and play dangerously through the press. It forced a shift in approach in the weeks that followed, and the hugely impressive response in the weeks that followed means this could come to be seen as an immensely painful but entirely necessary learning experience. Photo: Frank Reid
![We knew Mowbray’s side could play, but we didn’t know if they were able to really suffer.
They had produced an excellent win away against a Norwich side struggling for confidence weeks previous but Vincent Kompany’s freewheeling leaders were a different beast altogether, as seen in their four-goal surge at the Stadium of Light earlier in the campaign.
Lynden Gooch at left back led a hugely spirited display, Sunderland surrendering most of the ball but competing tenaciously to seal a 0-0 draw that just about kept their play-off dream alive as others faltered.
Sunderland showed a different side of their game here, a young team maturing.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjEzZTRmZGRiLWYzOTEtNDkyMS04ZTM4LTRjN2QwZmIyZDdhYzo5YmY5NjQyZC0yODQ4LTQ2YmYtOWY1ZC0xNjE4MjIwYzhkNDU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
10. v Burnley (A) March 31st, 2023
We knew Mowbray’s side could play, but we didn’t know if they were able to really suffer. They had produced an excellent win away against a Norwich side struggling for confidence weeks previous but Vincent Kompany’s freewheeling leaders were a different beast altogether, as seen in their four-goal surge at the Stadium of Light earlier in the campaign. Lynden Gooch at left back led a hugely spirited display, Sunderland surrendering most of the ball but competing tenaciously to seal a 0-0 draw that just about kept their play-off dream alive as others faltered. Sunderland showed a different side of their game here, a young team maturing. Photo: Frank Reid
![Sunderland’s season would eventually end in the play-offs at Luton but despite that aggregate defeat, this was an afternoon that will live long in the memory.
Mowbray’s side blitzed the hosts in a glorious display of counter-attacking football, and then the scenes of jubilation after the final whistle underlined how tight the bond between players, supporters and staff had become.
The win also featured a coming-of-age performance from Pierre Ekwah, who was utterly dominant in midfield. His rise had understandably been a steady one, arriving without a senior appearance and with Mowbray regularly urging him in those first months to use his physicality better. The best player on the pitch by a distance, it was here that he emerged as a lock for a key role next season.
His blend of aggression and technical quality makes him vital to the evolution of Mowbray’s side.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmRlOGU0ZjY1LTM3ZGQtNDg2OC1iNGZmLTBlYjRiYzcyMWUwNTpiNzdkYWU1My03YzhkLTRjZmYtODM3Yy05NWE1ODg1ZTc4Nzg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
11. v Preston North End (A) May 8th, 2023
Sunderland’s season would eventually end in the play-offs at Luton but despite that aggregate defeat, this was an afternoon that will live long in the memory. Mowbray’s side blitzed the hosts in a glorious display of counter-attacking football, and then the scenes of jubilation after the final whistle underlined how tight the bond between players, supporters and staff had become. The win also featured a coming-of-age performance from Pierre Ekwah, who was utterly dominant in midfield. His rise had understandably been a steady one, arriving without a senior appearance and with Mowbray regularly urging him in those first months to use his physicality better. The best player on the pitch by a distance, it was here that he emerged as a lock for a key role next season. His blend of aggression and technical quality makes him vital to the evolution of Mowbray’s side. Photo: Frank Reid