Black Cats claw their way up the table

FEARLESS Sunderland are enjoying the best start to a season by a promoted team in more than a decade after Saturday’s shock 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge catapulted them briefly into second spot in the English Premier League.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

The away win - capped by a stoppage-time strike from substitute Chemsdine Talbi after they had fallen behind to an early Alejandro Garnacho goal for the Blues - has sent shockwaves through the division.

It has also made a mockery of preseason predictions that all three promoted teams would drop straight back down to the Championship, as had been the case in the past two seasons.

Fellow promoted side Burnley are in 16th place after their dramatic 3-2 win over bottom club Wolves yesterday, courtesy of a late winner by Bafana star Lyle Foster, while Leeds are one spot above them on their return to the English top flight.