The 3-0 triumph at the DW Stadium could be worth a lot more than just the three points for Sunderland.
They may be still some way from automatic promotion, but Saturday’s results shows they can compete with the best in the division and will hope this sets them in good stead as they approach the business end of the season.
But what did that result do to their own promotion ambitions and how has this win at the weekend impacted the rest of their promotion rivals?
Well, here, using data provided by FiveThirtyEight, we take a look at how the rest of the 2021/22 League One season may look and where Sunderland have been predicted to finish under new boss Alex Neil:
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17. 8th: Wycombe Wanderers
The 'data experts' don't believe that Wycombe will make their return straight back to the Championship. Predicted points: 75 (+15 GD) - Probability of playoff place: 34% - Probability of promotion: 7% - Probability of finishing 8th: 17% Photo: Alex Burstow
18. 7th: Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth have spent all season in and around the playoff picture but the experts are predicting that they will fall just short this season. Predicted points: 75 (+16 GD) - Probability of playoff place: 32% - Probability of promotion: 7% - Probability of finishing 7th: 14% Photo: Bryn Lennon
19. 6th: Sunderland
Their victory against Wigan means that the Black Cats are being predicted to sneak into the playoffs this season - highlighting just how important every game is at the minute. Predicted points: 77 (+19 GD) - Probability of playoff place: 50% - Probability of promotion: 12% - Probability of finishing 6th: 18% Photo: Alex Burstow
20. 5th: Oxford United
Oxford remain one of the sides to fear recently and their good form of late shows that they will be a dangerous side to face in the playoffs. Predicted points: 79 (+26 GD) - Probability of playoff place: 66% - Probability of promotion: 20% - Probability of finishing 5th: 21% Photo: Richard Heathcote