Overview
- Sunderland have 17 points from nine matches and sit fourth after a 2-1 win at Chelsea.
- Regis Le Bris has overseen a rapid rebuild with 15 summer signings and a youth-focused recruitment plan.
- Opta’s model shifted from predicting 20th to forecasting 14th with about 46 points and sharply lower relegation odds.
- The club returned to the top flight via last season’s play-offs, defying bookmakers who made them favorites to go down.
- Analysts note extrapolated totals such as 71 points are speculative given the small sample, even as belief grows under Le Bris.