Sunderland have endured a modest start to their second season back in the Premier League, collecting four points from their opening four games.
The Black Cats enjoyed a hugely successful return to the top flight last term, recording their joint-best Premier League finish of seventh place, while securing Europa League qualification.
Regis Le Bris’ side were quick out of the blocks in 2025/26, thumping West Ham United 3-0 on the opening day and collecting seven points from their first four matches.
That’s three more than at the same stage of this campaign, while they’ve also scored two fewer goals (three) than they did then (five).
However, it appears there’s no need to panic just yet at the Stadium of Light. Here’s a closer look at the cases in point, and things to potentially improve…
More opportunities but less of a clinical edge
Indeed, Sunderland are creating more chances in the Premier League than they did last season, they’re just not scoring as often.
There has been an increase in pretty much every underlying attacking measure, from shots per game (10.42 to 12.25) to Expected Goals (xG) per game (1.13 to 1.5).
If the Premier League table was based on xG, Sunderland would be in ninth place (6.01). However, they are joint-17th for goals scored (three), with the eight-place gap the widest among all sides to have found the net this term.
Crucially, too, the Black Cats boast a big-chance conversion rate of just 18%, having missed nine of the 11 they’ve fashioned in 2026/27, while just 15 of their 49 attempts on goal have hit the target (30.6%).
Brobbey misfiring
Brian Brobbey top-scored for Sunderland last season with seven goals, but is yet to get off the mark for this campaign.
The numbers show he’s shooting as often as he did during 2025/26. His xG is up from 1.68 to 1.74, while his touches in the opposing box per 90 minutes have increased from 4.33 to 5.79.
Brobbey got 18 of his 36 shots on target last season, but has only managed to hit the target once from six attempts, worth 0.73 xG, so far this term.
His lack of a clinical edge won’t be as surprising, though, when you learn he missed 12 big chances during the previous campaign, meaning he could have easily been into double figures.
Could his place in the starting XI be under threat…?
A chance for Isidor to shine?
Brobbey may have led Sunderland’s goalscoring charts last season, but Wilson Isidor was the Black Cats’ most efficient frontman.
The Haiti international scored six goals from an xG of 5.12 in 1,158 minutes of action. Despite starting just 11 times, he recorded totals of 0.47 goals and 3.34 shots per 90 minutes, while 39.5% of his attempts were on target.
Once again, Isidor has found himself utilised as an important player from the bench this season. Nevertheless, his 95 minutes on the pitch have yielded a goal, a 0.78 xG, five shots and 4.74 per 90 – by far the highest by any Sunderland player.
Despite playing over 200 fewer minutes as well, Isidor has registered more shots on target (two) than Brobbey (one), so he should be knocking on Le Bris’ door, desperate for a chance to lead the line.
Enzo Le Fee, another possible outlet, has also carried a greater goal threat for Sunderland this season. Despite being unsuccessful from the penalty spot against Arsenal last weekend, he made amends with the winner from 12 yards in the Europa League opener against AZ Alkmaar.
The midfielder’s key passes per 90 minutes have decreased from 1.63 to 0.77. However, his attacking output has certainly improved with his xG (0.09) and shots (1.1) per 90 minutes from last term steeply rising to 0.49 and 2.58 respectively.
