Sunderland 2017–18 football season
The 2017–18 season was Sunderland 's 139th season in existence, and their first season in the Championship since 2006, after relegation from the Premier League in the previous season.[3] Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and EFL Cup . The season covered the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.
Simon Grayson began the season as Sunderland manager, following the departure of David Moyes in May 2017. However, he did not complete the full season, instead being sacked towards the end of October after only one win in his first fifteen league matches saw Sunderland rooted to the bottom of the table. He was replaced by former Wales manager Chris Coleman .
Sunderland suffered a second successive relegation on 21 April 2018, following a 1–2 home defeat to fellow struggling side Burton Albion , after they had led the match 1–0. Results elsewhere meant that the club would compete in League One in the following season.[4]
The events of the season formed the backdrop to the first series of the documentary programme Sunderland 'Til I Die , which was released on Netflix on 14 December 2018.
First team squad [ ]
Ages are as of 4 August 2017.
Squad No.
Name
Nationality
Position(s)
Age at Season Start
Contract Ends
Signed from
Goalkeepers
1
Jason Steele
GK
26
2021
Blackburn Rovers
12
Lee Camp
GK
32
2018
Cardiff City (loan)
25
Robbin Ruiter
GK
30
2019
Utrecht
32
Max Stryjek
GK
21
2019
Polonia Warsaw
Defenders
2
Billy Jones
RB
30
2018
West Bromwich Albion
3
Bryan Oviedo
LB
27
2020
Everton
4
Paddy McNair
CB
22
2020
Manchester United
15
Brendan Galloway
LB
21
2018
Everton (loan)
16
John O'Shea
CB
36
2018
Manchester United
18
Tyias Browning
RB
23
2018
Everton (loan)
21
Adam Matthews
RB
25
2019
Celtic
22
Donald Love
RB
22
2020
Manchester United
23
Lamine Koné
CB
28
2020
Lorient
35
Jake Clarke-Salter
CB
19
2018
Chelsea (loan)
36
Marc Wilson
CB
29
2018
Bournemouth
Midfielders
6
Lee Cattermole (C)
DM
29
2021
Wigan Athletic
7
Jonny Williams
CM
23
2018
Crystal Palace (loan)
8
Jack Rodwell
CM
26
2019
Manchester City
11
Kazenga LuaLua
LW
26
2018
Brighton & Hove Albion
13
Callum McManaman
LW
26
2019
West Bromwich Albion
14
Duncan Watmore
RW
23
2020
Altrincham
19
Aiden McGeady
LW
31
2020
Everton
24
Darron Gibson
CM
29
2018
Everton
26
George Honeyman
AM
22
2019
Academy
27
Lynden Gooch
AM
21
2019
Academy
28
Ethan Robson
CM
21
2018
Academy
40
Elliot Embleton
CM
18
2019
Academy
53
Ovie Ejaria
CM
19
2018
Liverpool (loan)
Forwards
9
Ashley Fletcher
ST
21
2018
Middlesbrough (loan)
20
Josh Maja
ST
18
2019
Manchester City
29
Joel Asoro
ST
18
2019
IF Brommapojkarna
New contracts [ ]
Transfers and loans [ ]
Transfers in [ ]
Date from
Position
Nationality
Name
From
Fee
Ref.
13 July 2017
LW
Aiden McGeady
Everton
£250,000
[7]
13 July 2017
ST
James Vaughan
Bury
£500,000
[7]
26 July 2017
GK
Jason Steele
Blackburn Rovers
£500,000
[8]
2 August 2017
GK
Robbin Ruiter
Utrecht
Free
[9]
31 August 2017
CB
Marc Wilson
Bournemouth
Free
[10]
31 August 2017
LW
Callum McManaman
West Bromwich Albion
Free
[11]
25 January 2018
LW
Kazenga LuaLua
Brighton & Hove Albion
Free
[12]
Loans in [ ]
Transfers out [ ]
Date from
Position
Nationality
Name
To
Fee
Ref.
1 July 2017
CB
Joleon Lescott
Free agent
Released
[20]
1 July 2017
DM
Jan Kirchhoff
Free agent
Released
[20]
1 July 2017
CM
Sebastian Larsson
Hull City
Free
[20]
1 July 2017
RW
Will Buckley
Bolton Wanderers
Free
[21]
1 July 2017
LW
Steven Pienaar
Bidvest Wits
Free
[20]
1 July 2017
ST
Victor Anichebe
Beijing Enterprises
Free
[22]
1 July 2017
GK
Jordan Pickford
Everton
£30,000,000
[23]
1 July 2017
ST
Jermain Defoe
Bournemouth
Free
[24]
19 July 2017
GK
Vito Mannone
Reading
£2,000,000
[25]
12 January 2018
GK
Mika
Free agent
Released
[26]
12 January 2018
FW
James Vaughan
Wigan Athletic
£300,000
[27]
Loans out [ ]
Pre-season friendlies [ ]
Sunderland announced eight pre-season friendlies against Bury ,[39] Hibernian ,[40] Livingston , Bradford City , Scunthorpe United ,[41] St Johnstone ,[42] Celtic [43] and Hartlepool United .[44]
Bury v Sunderland
7 July 2017 Bury 2–3 Sunderland show Bury 19:30 BST
Tutte 19' Reilly 27'
Report
Rodwell 37' Maja 77' , 86'
Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 2,110 Referee:
Hibernian v Sunderland
9 July 2017 Hibernian 2–2 Sunderland show Leith , Scotland 14:00 BST
Boyle 68' S. Murray 72'
Report
Khazri 42' Lens 54'
Stadium: Easter Road Attendance: 9,309 Referee:
Livingston v Sunderland
12 July 2017 Livingston 0–3 Sunderland show Livingston , Scotland 19:45 BST
Report
Khazri 25' Asoro 76' Lens 90'
Stadium: Almondvale Stadium Attendance: 1,119 Referee:
St Johnstone v Sunderland
15 July 2017 St Johnstone 3–0 Sunderland show Perth, Scotland 15:00 BST
MacLean 19' Wotherspoon 21' , 24'
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park Attendance: 2,032 Referee: Nick Walsh
Hartlepool United v Sunderland
Bradford City v Sunderland
22 July 2017 Bradford City 2–3 Sunderland show Bradford 15:00 BST
McMahon 65' (pen. ) Gibson 90'
Report
Maja 5' Lens 8' Jones 42'
Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 3,902 Referee:
Scunthorpe United v Sunderland
26 July 2017 Scunthorpe United 0–0 Sunderland show Scunthorpe 19:30 BST
Report
Stadium: Glanford Park Attendance: 2,794 Referee: Darren Drysdale
Sunderland v Celtic
29 July 2017 Sunderland 0–5 Celtic show Sunderland 15:00 BST
Report
McGregor 5' , 15' , 57' (pen. ) Hayes 39' Armstrong 70'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: Not announced Referee: Tony Harrington
Competitions [ ]
Championship [ ]
League table [ ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion, qualification or relegation
20
Reading
46
10
14
22
48
70
−22
44
21
Bolton Wanderers
46
10
13
23
39
74
−35
43
22
Barnsley (R)
46
9
14
23
48
72
−24
41
Relegation to EFL League One
23
Burton Albion (R)
46
10
11
25
38
81
−43
41
24
Sunderland (R)
46
7
16
23
52
80
−28
37
Source:
English Football League Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(R) Relegated
Result summary [ ]
Overall
Home
Away
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
46
7
16
23
52
80
−28
37
3
7
13
23
39
−16
4
9
10
29
41
−12
Last updated: 13 January 2019.
Source:[citation needed ]
Results by matchday [ ]
Matchday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Ground H A A H A H H A H A A H A H H A H A A H A H H A A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H Result D W D L L L L D L L D D D L D L D L W L D W D L W L L W L L D L L D D L L L W L D D D L L W Position 15 6 6 12 19 20 20 21 22 23 23 23 23 23 22 24 24 24 22 23 23 21 22 22 21 24 24 22 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 24 24 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24
Source:
11v11.com A = Away;
H = Home;
W = Win;
D = Draw;
L = Loss
Matches [ ]
The fixtures for the 2017–18 season were released on 21 June 2017.[45]
Sunderland v Derby County
4 August 2017 1 Sunderland 1–1 Derby County show Sunderland 19:45 BST
Grabban 42' (pen. ) Vaughan 89'
Report
Johnson 11'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 29,578 Referee: Oliver Langford
Norwich City v Sunderland
13 August 2017 2 Norwich City 1–3 Sunderland show Norwich 13:30 BST
Grabban 79' (o.g. )
Report
Grabban 27' , 72' Vaughan 53' McGeady 60'
Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 26,343 Referee: Andrew Madley
Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland
16 August 2017 3 Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Sunderland show Owlerton 19:45 BST
Jones 70'
Report
Honeyman 4' Galloway 77'
Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium Attendance: 27,631 Referee:
Sunderland v Leeds United
19 August 2017 4 Sunderland 0–2 Leeds United show Sunderland 17:30 BST
Galloway 36' Koné 69' Ndong 82'
Report
Sáiz 21' Dallas 76' Wiedewald 68'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 31,237 Referee: Andy Davies
Sunderland v Sheffield United
9 September 2017 6 Sunderland 1–2 Sheffield United show Sunderland 16:00 BST
Wilson 48' Rodwell 90+4'
Report
Donaldson 21' , 77' Coutts 48' Lundstram 90+4'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 29,579 Referee: Jeremy Simpson
Sunderland v Nottingham Forest
12 September 2017 7 Sunderland 0–1 Nottingham Forest show Sunderland 19:45 BST
Cattermole 48'
Report
Murphy 86' Cummings 90'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 26,021 Referee: Simon Hooper
Hull City v Sunderland
15 September 2017 8 Hull City 1–1 Sunderland show Kingston upon Hull 15:00 BST
Grosicki 43' Meyler 82' Tomori 90'
Report
Vaughan 17' Williams 74' Oviedo 75' Rodwell 77' Gooch 90'
Stadium: KCOM Stadium Attendance: 16,597 Referee: Darren England
Ipswich Town v Sunderland
Preston North End v Sunderland
Sunderland v Queens Park Rangers
14 October 2017 12 Sunderland 1–1 Queens Park Rangers show Sunderland 15:00 BST
McGeady 61'
Report
Sylla 37'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 26,066 Referee:
Sunderland v Bristol City
28 October 2017 14 Sunderland 1–2 Bristol City show Sunderland 15:00 BST
Ndong 27' Grabban 45+2' Jones 64'
Report
Reid 28' , 83' Đurić 73' Pack 86'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 27,317 Referee:
Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers
31 October 2017 15 Sunderland 3–3 Bolton Wanderers show Sunderland 19:45 GMT
Grabban 45' , 57' , 85' McNair 79'
Report
Ameobi 32' Madine 60' Henry 67'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 26,395 Referee:
Middlesbrough v Sunderland
5 November 2017 16 Middlesbrough 1–0 Sunderland show Middlesbrough 12:00 GMT
Tavernier 6' Christie 63'
Report
Jones 17' Cattermole 45' McGeady 60' Wilson 75'
Stadium: Riverside Stadium Attendance: 29,277 Referee:
Aston Villa v Sunderland
22 November 2017 18 Aston Villa 2–1 Sunderland show Birmingham 19:45 GMT
Adomah 10' Onomah 49'
Report
Grabban 72'
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 27,662 Referee:
Burton Albion v Sunderland
Sunderland v Reading
2 December 2017 20 Sunderland 1–3 Reading show Sunderland 15:00 GMT
McManaman 15' 45+3' Cattermole 35' Oviedo 43' Grabban 76' (pen. )
Report
McShane 16' Edwards 53' Barrow 68' , 71'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 27,386 Referee: Keith Stroud
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sunderland
Sunderland v Fulham
16 December 2017 22 Sunderland 1–0 Fulham show Sunderland 15:00 GMT
Gooch 62' Maja 77'
Report
Ojo 60' Fredericks 90'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 25,904 Referee: Steve Martin
Sunderland v Birmingham City
23 December 2017 23 Sunderland 1–1 Birmingham City show Sunderland 15:00 GMT
Grabban 21'
Report
Gallagher 16' , 56' 67' Kieftenbeld 64' Dean 80' Grounds 90+3'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 29,312 Referee: Oliver Langford
Sheffield United v Sunderland
Nottingham Forest v Sunderland
30 December 2017 25 Nottingham Forest 0–1 Sunderland show West Bridgford 15:00 GMT
Traoré 82'
Report
McGeady 40'
Stadium: The City Ground Attendance: 26,830 Referee:
Sunderland v Barnsley
1 January 2018 26 Sunderland 0–1 Barnsley show Sunderland 15:00 GMT
Love 61'
Report
Potts 11' Pinnock 47' Lindsay 50' Davies 67' Bradshaw 80' Fryers 90+1'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 28,311 Referee: Robert Jones
Cardiff City v Sunderland
13 January 2018 27 Cardiff City 4–0 Sunderland show Cardiff 12:30 GMT
Paterson 46' , 80' Ralls 55' Morrison 85' Pilkington 90+4'
Report
Oviedo 41' Gooch 45+1' Ndong 49'
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 17,703 Referee: Andrew Madley Note: Live on Sky
Sunderland v Hull City
20 January 2018 28 Sunderland 1–0 Hull City show Sunderland 15:00 GMT
Asoro 20' , 78' Browning 58' Gooch 90' Cattermole 90+2'
Report
Dawson 74' Larsson 81'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 27,437 Referee: Keith Stroud
Birmingham City v Sunderland
30 January 2018 29 Birmingham City 3–1 Sunderland show Birmingham 19:45 GMT
Davis 28' Boga 44' Gallagher 54'
Report
Oviedo 83'
Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 19,601 Referee: Darren Bond
Sunderland v Ipswich Town
3 February 2018 30 Sunderland 0–2 Ipswich Town show Sunderland 15:00 GMT
Asoro 19'
Report
Garner 35' , 54' Matthews 45+1' (o.g. )
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 27,909 Referee: Darren England
Bristol City v Sunderland
Sunderland v Brentford
17 February 2018 32 Sunderland 0–2 Brentford show Sunderland 15:00 GMT
Jones 36' Fletcher 65' McGeady 74'
Report
Mokotjo 13' Maupay 28'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 27,702 Referee: John Brooks
Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland
20 February 2018 33 Bolton Wanderers 1–0 Sunderland show Bolton 20:00 GMT
Clough 17' Wheater 65' Henry 67' Morais 90+2' Ameobi 90+5'
Report
Stadium: Macron Stadium Attendance: 14,915 Referee: David Coote
Sunderland v Middlesbrough
Millwall v Sunderland
3 March 2018 35 Millwall 1–1 Sunderland show Bermondsey , London15:00 GMT
Hutchinson 69' Saville 80' Morison 90+6'
Report
Oviedo 29' Steele 90+2'
Stadium: The Den Attendance: 14,358 Referee: Andy Davies
Sunderland v Aston Villa
6 March 2018 36 Sunderland 0–3 Aston Villa show Sunderland 19:45 GMT
Love 23' Oviedo 55'
Report
Grabban 34' Chester 35' Chester 45+3' Oviedo 66' (og)
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 26,081 Referee: Andy Madley
Queens Park Rangers v Sunderland
10 March 2018 37 Queens Park Rangers 1–0 Sunderland show Shepherd's Bush , London15:00 GMT
Freeman 61' Eze 62' Onuoha 74'
Report
Steele 49' O'Shea 70'
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 14,216 Referee: Robert Jones
Sunderland v Preston North End
17 March 2018 38 Sunderland 0–2 Preston North End show Sunderland 15:00 GMT
Clarke-Salter 34' 60'
Report
Maguire 50' Robinson 63' Earl 81'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 28,543 Referee: Darren Bond
Derby County v Sunderland
Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday
2 April 2018 40 Sunderland 1–3 Sheffield Wednesday show Sunderland 15:00 BST
McGeady 50' Honeyman 61'
Report
Bannan 40' Lucas João 59' Lees 68' Nuhiu 75'
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 29,786 Referee: Simon Hooper
Leeds United v Sunderland
Sunderland v Norwich City
Reading v Sunderland
14 April 2018 43 Reading 2–2 Sunderland show Reading 15:00 BST
Kelly 20' (pen. ) Kermorgant 79' Swift 85'
Report
McNair 47' Cattermole 66' Love 90+4'
Stadium: Madejski Stadium Attendance: 17,348 Referee: Steve Martin
Sunderland v Burton Albion
Sunderland v Wolverhampton Wanderers
6 May 2018 46 Sunderland 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers show Sunderland 12:30 BST
Ejaria 19' Fletcher 45' McNair 66'
Report
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 28,452 Referee: Jeremy Simpson
FA Cup [ ]
In the FA Cup , Sunderland entered the competition in the third round and were drawn away to Middlesbrough .[46]
Middlesbrough v Sunderland
EFL Cup [ ]
On 16 June 2017, Sunderland were drawn away to Bury in the first round.[47] [48] A trip to Carlisle United was announced for the second round.[49] A third away trip in the competition against Everton was drawn for the third round.[50]
Carlisle United v Sunderland
22 August 2017 Second round Carlisle United 1–2 Sunderland show Carlisle 19:45 BST
Grainger 60'
Report
Love 25' Khazri 57' Djilobodji 59' Ndong 64' Gooch 80' Vaughan 90+6'
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 8,187 Referee: Darren Bond
Squad statistics [ ]
Top scorers [ ]
The list is sorted by league goals and then shirt number when total goals are equal.
= Player left club mid-season
Last updated on 30 May 2018.
Appearances and goals [ ]
Last updated on 7 May 2018. [51] [52] [53]
Total
Championship
FA Cup
EFL Cup
1
GK
Jason Steele
18
0
15
0
1
0
2
0
2
DF
Billy Jones
24
1
19+3
1
1
0
1
0
3
DF
Bryan Oviedo
36
2
31+3
2
1
0
1
0
4
DF
Paddy McNair
16
5
12+4
5
0
0
0
0
6
MF
Lee Cattermole
35
1
34+1
1
0
0
0
0
7
MF
Jonny Williams
13
1
7+5
1
0+1
0
0
0
8
MF
Jack Rodwell
3
1
1+1
1
1
0
0
0
9
FW
Ashley Fletcher
16
2
15+1
2
0
0
0
0
11
MF
Kazenga LuaLua
6
0
0+6
0
0
0
0
0
12
GK
Lee Camp
12
0
11+1
0
0
0
0
0
13
MF
Callum McManaman
26
1
13+11
1
0+1
0
1
0
14
MF
Duncan Watmore
6
0
4+2
0
0
0
0
0
15
DF
Brendan Galloway
8
0
5+2
0
1
0
0
0
16
DF
John O'Shea
40
1
34+3
1
2
0
1
0
18
DF
Tyias Browning
29
0
26+1
0
1
0
1
0
19
MF
Aiden McGeady
37
7
28+7
7
1+1
0
0
0
20
FW
Josh Maja
18
1
6+11
1
0
0
1
0
21
DF
Adam Matthews
37
1
25+9
1
3
0
0
0
22
DF
Donald Love
14
1
11
0
2
1
1
0
23
DF
Lamine Koné
26
0
24
0
1+1
0
0
0
25
GK
Robbin Ruiter
21
0
20
0
1
0
0
0
26
MF
George Honeyman
45
7
37+5
6
2
1
1
0
27
MF
Lynden Gooch
27
2
12+12
1
2+1
1
0
0
28
MF
Ethan Robson
11
0
6+3
0
0+1
0
1
0
29
FW
Joel Asoro
29
3
11+15
3
1+1
0
0+1
0
35
DF
Jake Clarke-Salter
11
0
8+3
0
0
0
0
0
36
DF
Marc Wilson
22
0
20+1
0
0
0
1
0
37
MF
Bali Mumba
1
0
0+1
0
0
0
0
0
40
MF
Elliot Embleton
3
0
0+2
0
0
0
0+1
0
41
DF
Denver Hume
1
0
0+1
0
0
0
0
0
52
MF
Luke Molyneux
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
53
MF
Ovie Ejaria
11
1
9+2
1
0
0
0
0
Players who have played for Sunderland this season but are currently out on loan:
5
DF
Papy Djilobodji
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
10
MF
Wahbi Khazri
5
0
0+3
0
2
0
0
0
17
MF
Didier N'Dong
21
0
16+2
0
3
0
0
0
Players who have played for Sunderland this season but have left the club:
9
FW
James Vaughan
27
2
15+8
2
1+2
0
0+1
0
11
FW
Lewis Grabban
20
12
18+1
12
1
0
0
0
24
MF
Darron Gibson
18
0
12+3
0
3
0
0
0
Disciplinary record [ ]
As of 30 September 2017
References [ ]
show National teams
League competitions
Level 1 Levels 2–4 Levels 5–6 Levels 7–8 Levels 9–10
Combined Counties League (Premier , One )
East Midlands Counties League (level 10 only )
Eastern Counties League (Premier , One )
Essex Senior League (level 9 only )
Hellenic League (Premier , One East , One West )
Midland League (Premier , One )
Northern Counties East League (Premier , One )
Northern League (One , Two )
North West Counties League (Premier , One )
Southern Combination League (Premier , One )
Southern Counties East League (Premier , One )
South West Peninsula League Premier Division (level 10 only )
Spartan South Midlands League (Premier , One )
United Counties League (Premier , One )
Wessex League (Premier , One )
Western League (Premier , One )
West Midlands (Regional) League (level 10 only )
Cup competitions
Youth competitions