Should Sunderland fans be getting carried away? Too right they should!

Even as recently as 18 months ago, it's a scene that would have appeared too outlandish to feature even in the very wildest dreams of a Sunderland supporter.

- by Phil Smith

Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka in action against Nottingham Forest

Their squad lined up as one in front of them at the City Ground, soaking up the applause and adulation after sealing a topflight win that takes their team into the top four of the Premier League.

There must have been one or two in that away end pinching themselves, just to check that this is real life.

That Granit Xhaka, not so long ago winning the double with Bayer Leverkusen, is running the midfield.

That former PSG defender Nordi Mukiele is dominating defence, posting numbers the envy of any centre back in the division.

For years Sunderland were the butt of the joke and then they drifted towards the only thing harder to stomach: irrelevance.

Now the pundits are queuing up to praise their recruitment, their intent, their physicality and their togetherness.

Should Sunderland fans be getting carried away? Too right they should.

Those humiliating years of opposition taunts, the painstaking early days of a rebuild that was overdue but arduous, valuable lessons harshly learned.

This is the reward; the whole point fans kept coming back despite at times all logic and evidence suggesting it just wasn't worth it.

To have a team that runs and fights and doesn't quit and above all else, is good at what it does.