Sunderland’s 2024 was a year full of ups and downs but had plenty of memorable moments that got fans off their seats.
It is difficult to think of a more contrasting year at Sunderland. It started off with Michael Beale who was quickly sacked before being replaced by Mike Dodds.
The Englishman failed to turn around the Black Cats’ fortunes as they finished in the bottom half of the Championship.
Yet, since Regis Le Bris took over Sunderland in the summer he has completely flipped the Black Cats’ form, with fans once again dreaming of Premier League football.
With the year now at a close, there are plenty of memorable moments to look back on.
Therefore, Sunderland AFC News has highlighted the Black Cats’ best games of 2024.
February 2024 – Sunderland 3-1 Plymouth
What looked to be the true beginning of the Beale era at Sunderland, the former Black Cats’ manager had an awful start at the Stadium of Light.
With just three victories to his name going into Plymouth, many were already losing faith in the Englishman.
Yet, against the Pilgrims, the club were extremely impressive. Despite going 1-0 down in a sub-par first half, the club came out fighting in the second period and overwhelmed the visitors.
Pierre Ekwah, Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham all got on the scoresheet in what turned out to be a dominant performance.
Unfortunately for Beale, this would be his last victory at Sunderland as back-to-back defeats would see him sacked just two games later.
April 2024 – West Brom 0-1 Sunderland
Fast forward to near the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Sunderland were in awful form. Since their victory over Plymouth, the club had only mustered one win in 11 matches with Dodds at the helm of the majority.
Sunderland’s season had completely petered out and the side were stuck in mid-table.
Few had any hope of a result as they travelled to the Hawthorns in April, yet, a gutsy performance saw them walk away with all three points.
Late in the first half, Ekwah smashed the ball into the net from a corner which proved to be the only goal of the game against the 10-man Baggies side.
While the result may have meant nothing in the grand scheme of things, it helped give a somewhat positive end to an awful campaign.
Read more: How every Sunderland player is performing out on loan.
August 2024 – Sunderland 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Going into the 2024/25 campaign, the Black Cats had a new man at the helm. Le Bris was appointed as the new Sunderland manager after months of speculation.
After a good 2-0 win away to Cardiff, the Frenchman finally had a chance to introduce himself to the Stadium of Light crowd when they hosted Sheffield Wednesday.
Here, Le Bris wowed the Sunderland faithful as his side easily dismantled the Owls in a 4-0 victory.
Dennis Cirkin and Eliezer Mayenda got the hosts off to the perfect start as the Black Cats went 2-0 up inside 15 minutes.
Luke O’Nien then made it 3-0 less than 10 minutes later before Mayenda got his second to round off the result at the start of the second half.
Reporters were blown away by Mayenda’s performance and the result sent a statement to the rest of the league that the Black Cats were going to be promotion challengers.
September 2024 – Sunderland 1-0 Middlesbrough
While the debate on whether Sunderland vs Middlesbrough is or isn’t a derby will go on, there was no doubt that it was a big game for both sides in September.
Both clubs are aiming for promotion by the end of the campaign and a result against a direct rival would undoubtedly help their chances.
It an extremely tight affair, it would take an excellent goal from Chris Rigg to separate the two sides.
The young midfielder managed to backheel the ball into the net in what proved to be the only goal of the game.
Rigg’s stunning goal received widespread praise and the victory helped cement Sunderland’s position amongst the promotion candidates.
December 2024 – Swansea 2-3 Sunderland
By December, Sunderland’s initial sensational form had dropped off. The club went six games without a victory until their 2-1 win over Stoke City at the start of the month.
Going into Swansea, Le Bris’ side were aiming to prove that their poor form was behind them and strengthen their position in the table.
However, it was the worst possible start for the visitors as Swansea went 2-0 up inside 17 minutes.
While Dan Ballard managed to get a goal back before half-time, all signs pointed to another winless game.
Yet, the Black Cats came out fighting and goals from Dan Neil and Bellingham turned the result completely on its head to ensure the visitors came away with all three points.
The game proved that Sunderland were determined to stay in the race for promotion no matter how the odds stacked against Le Bris’ side.