Alex Neil’s side left it very, very late on Saturday but Nathan Broadhead’s strike gave the Black Cats a very welcome three points on home turf.
It was a win that lifted not just spirits on Wearside, but one that took Sunderland back into the playoff places.
31,619 people were in attendance at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, but where does that attendance rank across the whole country?
An almost full round of Premier League and Championship fixtures took place with many of the country's biggest sides in action.
Here, we take a look at which stadiums saw the highest attendances this weekend and where the attendance figure for Sunderland’s win against Gillingham ranks among the country’s elite:
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. Sunderland players celebrating Nathan Broadhead’s goal. Safc 1-0 Gtfc Efl1 Stadium of Light 02-04-2022. Picture by FRANK REID
Where does Sunderland's attendance against Gillingham rank compared to attendances across the country this weekend? (Picture by FRANK REID) Photo: Frank Reid
. Portman Road - 26,515
26,515 people witnessed Ipswich’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cambridge United on Saturday. An own goal from Dominic Thompson ten minutes into the second-half did the damage. Photo: Paul Harding
9. Anfield - 53,104
53,104 people watched on as Liverpool secured their 10th successive league win with a 2-0 victory over Watford. A late Fabinho penalty made sure of the three points after Diogo Jota’s first-half opener. Photo: Clive Brunskill
10. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - 57,553
57,553 attended Tottenham’s 5-1 demolition of Newcastle United. Despite going 1-0 down, Spurs fought back, equalised immediately and then asserted their dominance to defeat a dispirited Magpies side. Photo: Mike Hewitt
11. London Stadium - 59,953
59,953 people witnessed West Ham’s 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday. Goals from Aaron Cresswell and Jarrod Bowen either side of Mason Holgate’s equaliser was enough for the Hammers to secure all three points. Photo: Julian Finney
12. Old Trafford - 73,444
Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City was watched by 73,444 people on Saturday evening. Leicester were denied a late winner when it was judged that Kelechi Iheanacho had fouled Raphael Varane in the build-up to James Maddison’s strike. Photo: Ash Donelon