I watched Sunderland's progress in the transfer window and had an inkling that Sunderland would at the very lest survive in the PL.
This first game vindicated my opinion. They were excellent with Xhaka pulling the strings.

I'm a lifelong Magpie but am delighted that the Mackems are back in the top league. It is good for the whole area.

Well done but, hey, I didn't mean that I wanted them to be above NUFC in the table at any stage in the season or to win when they first meet.