Sunderland 2016/17 Season

League Position: 20th - relegated from Premier League (17th in the Premier League)

Average home attendance: 41,287 (2015/16: 43,071)

Top league goalscorer: Jermain Defoe (15)

After flirting with relegation a year earlier, Sunderland finally dropped out of the Premier League last season after spending a decade at England's top table. The Black Cats finished bottom and had confirmed their drop with four games remaining on 29 April.

Despite the best efforts from top marksman Jermain Defoe, only five other members of the squad contributed a total of nine goals in the league. Manager David Moyes found it hard going in a league that had last saw him sacked as Manchester United manager in 2014. Sunderland didn't even pick up a win until early November, and by then they found themselves five points from safety at the foot of the table.

They only won six games, three at home and three away, drawing six as well. Of the other 26 defeats, 18 were suffered without scoring a goal in reply. Their FA Cup run was ended by Burnley in the Third Round, while they were sent home from the EFL Cup by Southampton in the Fourth Round. Overall, it was a disappointing season for those in red stripes from the North East.

The Ground

The Stadium of Light

Sunderland

Tyne and Wear

SR5 1SU

Click here for directions to The Stadium of Light

The Manager

Sunderland are currently without a manager for the start of the 2017/18 season. Their last boss was David Moyes, who resigned on 22 May after just 10 months in charge.

The Club had been given permission to talk to Aberdeen Manager Derek McInnes about taking over but the Scottish team announced that McInnes had decided to stay in the Granite City earlier this month (June).

Last Time Round

Head to Head

Brentford wins: 5

Draws: 3

Sunderland wins: 9