CLASHES AGAINST PREMIER LEAGUE TOP DOGS WILL TEST BUOYANT CATS

YOU have to give Sunderland enormous credit for recording another win at home and making it 10 points from 12 at the Stadium of Light.

- By CLIVE YOULTON Football writer [e-mail]

Regis Le Bris has guided the Black Cats to an excellent start to the Premier League campaign.

His stock is rising and the Wearsiders are the talk of the Premier League.

It surely has to be factored in that Wolves were the perfect opponents to return against from the international break, following Sunderland's defeat at Old Trafford.

Frankly, it would have been a blow if Le Bris' side slipped up against a poor team who have mustered just two points from their opening eight games.

The Molineux outfit haven't won a Premier League match since April 26, against Leicester City, who were relegated.

And it seems remarkable that of the four Sunderland players who made the Sky Sports team of the week following the Wolves win, three of them are defenders, who were up against a side who have scored just five goals in the league in eight fixtures. Even one of those was an own goal.

It may be an alternative view but to me, it is a worrying sign that Trai Hume, Omar Alderete and Nordi Makiele should be required to play outstandingly well against the Premier League's most impotent attack.