“Black Cats And Red Devils”

April 2017 was the last time Manchester United visited Wearside, leaving the Stadium of Light that day after a comfortable 0-3 win over ten-man, almost-relegated Sunderland.

This was our twenty first defeat in thirty one games that season, and we would go on to lose a further five during a dismal campaign. David Moyes was in our dugout whilst United were led by Jose Mourinho, and the poor performance summed up the toothless, pathetic attitude we had during the season.

We’ve had to wait a while this season, but it feels as though welcoming United to Wearside is the last of the “We’re back in the big time” games we have to play this season.

When the fixtures came out, our final two home games against Manchester United and Chelsea looked slightly daunting — especially given the prospect of needing points to stave off the drop at the end of a relegation battle that many of us were expecting.

It’s been said a lot this season but the fact we’re heading into these two games (plus the trip to Everton) within reach of fifty points and a top-half finish goes to show how fantastic our return to the Premier League has been. The hard work of making sure we extend our stay is complete and we’ve now got three games where we can hopefully open up a bit more and attack sides without any overwhelming pressure.

United some to Wearside having secured Champions League football but they’ll know they’re in for a tricky afternoon, and it’s up to our lads to make sure they get exactly that.

Home games against United have rarely brought much joy for Sunderland, with a 2-1 win in 2016 being our only league win over the Red Devils at the Stadium of Light, the most recent before that coming during their last visit to Roker Park in March 1997.