# 2017–18 Sunderland A.F.C. season

The 2017–18 season was Sunderland's 139th season in existence, and their first season in the Championship since 2006, after relegation from the Premier League in the previous season. Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and EFL Cup. The season covered the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.
Simon Grayson began the season as Sunderland manager, following the departure of David Moyes in May 2017. However, he did not complete the full season, instead being sacked towards the end of October after only one win in his first fifteen league matches saw Sunderland rooted to the bottom of the table. He was replaced by former Wales manager Chris Coleman.
Sunderland suffered a second successive relegation on 21 April 2018, following a 1–2 home defeat to fellow struggling side Burton Albion, after they had led the match 1–0. Results elsewhere meant that the club competed in League One in the following season.
The events of the season formed the backdrop to the first series of the documentary programme Sunderland 'Til I Die, which was released on Netflix on 14 December 2018.

## First team squad

Ages are as of 4 August 2017.
| Squad No. | Name | Position(s) | Age at Season Start | Contract Ends | Signed from |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| 1 | Jason Steele | GK | 26 | 2021 | Blackburn Rovers |
| 12 | Lee Camp | GK | 32 | 2018 | Cardiff City (loan) |
| 25 | Robbin Ruiter | GK | 30 | 2019 | Utrecht |
| 32 | Max Stryjek | GK | 21 | 2019 | Polonia Warsaw |
| Defenders |||||||
| 2 | Billy Jones | RB | 30 | 2018 | West Bromwich Albion |
| 3 | Bryan Oviedo | LB | 27 | 2020 | Everton |
| 4 | Paddy McNair | CB | 22 | 2020 | Manchester United |
| 15 | Brendan Galloway | LB | 21 | 2018 | Everton (loan) |
| 16 | John O'Shea | CB | 36 | 2018 | Manchester United |
| 18 | Tyias Browning | RB | 23 | 2018 | Everton (loan) |
| 21 | Adam Matthews | RB | 25 | 2019 | Celtic |
| 22 | Donald Love | RB | 22 | 2020 | Manchester United |
| 23 | Lamine Koné | CB | 28 | 2020 | Lorient |
| 35 | Jake Clarke-Salter | CB | 19 | 2018 | Chelsea (loan) |
| 36 | Marc Wilson | CB | 29 | 2018 | Bournemouth |
| Midfielders |||||||
| 6 | Lee Cattermole (C) | DM | 29 | 2021 | Wigan Athletic |
| 7 | Jonny Williams | CM | 23 | 2018 | Crystal Palace (loan) |
| 8 | Jack Rodwell | CM | 26 | 2019 | Manchester City |
| 11 | Kazenga LuaLua | LW | 26 | 2018 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 13 | Callum McManaman | LW | 26 | 2019 | West Bromwich Albion |
| 14 | Duncan Watmore | RW | 23 | 2020 | Altrincham |
| 19 | Aiden McGeady | LW | 31 | 2020 | Everton |
| 24 | Darron Gibson | CM | 29 | 2018 | Everton |
| 26 | George Honeyman | AM | 22 | 2019 | Academy |
| 27 | Lynden Gooch | AM | 21 | 2019 | Academy |
| 28 | Ethan Robson | CM | 21 | 2018 | Academy |
| 40 | Elliot Embleton | CM | 18 | 2019 | Academy |
| 53 | Ovie Ejaria | CM | 19 | 2018 | Liverpool (loan) |
| Forwards |||||||
| 9 | Ashley Fletcher | ST | 21 | 2018 | Middlesbrough (loan) |
| 20 | Josh Maja | ST | 18 | 2019 | Manchester City |
| 29 | Joel Asoro | ST | 18 | 2019 | IF Brommapojkarna |

### New contracts

| No. | Pos | Player | Until | Source |
| 26 | Midfielder | George Honeyman | June 2019 | |
| 16 | Defender | John O'Shea | June 2018 | |

## Transfers and loans
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 13 July 2017 | LW | Aiden McGeady | Everton | £250,000 |
| 13 July 2017 | ST | James Vaughan | Bury | £500,000 |
| 26 July 2017 | GK | Jason Steele | Blackburn Rovers | £500,000 |
| 2 August 2017 | GK | Robbin Ruiter | Utrecht | Free |
| 31 August 2017 | CB | Marc Wilson | Bournemouth | Free |
| 31 August 2017 | LW | Callum McManaman | West Bromwich Albion | Free |
| 25 January 2018 | LW | Kazenga LuaLua | Brighton & Hove Albion | Free |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Until |
| 5 July 2017 | LB | Brendan Galloway | Everton | 30 June 2018 |
| 8 July 2017 | RB | Tyias Browning | Everton | 30 June 2018 |
| 26 July 2017 | ST | Lewis Grabban | Bournemouth | 5 January 2018 |
| 31 August 2017 | AM | Jonny Williams | Crystal Palace | 30 June 2018 |
| 8 January 2018 | CB | Jake Clarke-Salter | Chelsea | 30 June 2018 |
| 31 January 2018 | CM | Ovie Ejaria | Liverpool | 30 June 2018 |
| 31 January 2018 | ST | Ashley Fletcher | Middlesbrough | 30 June 2018 |
| 31 January 2018 | GK | Lee Camp | Cardiff City | 30 June 2018 |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 July 2017 | CB | Joleon Lescott | Free agent | Released |
| 1 July 2017 | DM | Jan Kirchhoff | Free agent | Released |
| 1 July 2017 | CM | Sebastian Larsson | Hull City | Free |
| 1 July 2017 | RW | Will Buckley | Bolton Wanderers | Free |
| 1 July 2017 | LW | Steven Pienaar | Bidvest Wits | Free |
| 1 July 2017 | ST | Victor Anichebe | Beijing Enterprises | Free |
| 1 July 2017 | GK | Jordan Pickford | Everton | £30,000,000 |
| 1 July 2017 | ST | Jermain Defoe | Bournemouth | Free |
| 19 July 2017 | GK | Vito Mannone | Reading | £2,000,000 |
| 12 January 2018 | GK | Mika | Free agent | Released |
| 12 January 2018 | FW | James Vaughan | Wigan Athletic | £300,000 |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Name | To | Until |
| 1 July 2017 | LW | Fabio Borini | Milan | 30 June 2018 |
| 7 August 2017 | RW | Jeremain Lens | Beşiktaş | 30 June 2018 |
| 30 August 2017 | CB | Michael Ledger | Hartlepool United | 30 June 2018 |
| 31 August 2017 | GK | Max Stryjek | Accrington Stanley | 18 January 2018 |
| 31 August 2017 | CB | Papy Djilobodji | Dijon | 30 June 2018 |
| 31 August 2017 | AM | Wahbi Khazri | Rennes | 30 June 2018 |
| 20 October 2017 | ST | Andrew Nelson | Harrogate Town | 17 November 2017 |
| 2 January 2018 | ST | Andrew Nelson | Falkirk | End of season |
| 7 December 2017 | GK | James Talbot | Darlington | 30 June 2018 |
| 20 January 2018 | DF | Tom Beadling | Dunfermline Athletic | 30 June 2018 |
| 31 January 2018 | MF | Didier Ndong | Watford | 30 June 2018 |

## Pre-season friendlies

Sunderland announced eight pre-season friendlies against Bury, Hibernian, Livingston, Bradford City, Scunthorpe United, St Johnstone, Celtic and Hartlepool United.

## Competitions
### Championship
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 20 | Reading | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 48 | 70 | −22 | 44 | |
| 21 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 39 | 74 | −35 | 43 | |
| 22 | Barnsley (R) | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 48 | 72 | −24 | 41 | Relegation to EFL League One |
| 23 | Burton Albion (R) | 46 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 38 | 81 | −43 | 41 | Relegation to EFL League One |
| 24 | Sunderland (R) | 46 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 52 | 80 | −28 | 37 | Relegation to EFL League One |

#### Result summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 13 January 2019. Source:

#### Results by matchday

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | D | W | D | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | D | D | D | L | D | L | D | L | W | L | D | W | D | L | W | L | L | W | L | L | D | L | L | D | D | L | L | L | W | L | D | D | D | L | L | W |
| Position | 15 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Points | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 37 |

#### Matches

The fixtures for the 2017–18 season were released on 21 June 2017.

### FA Cup

In the FA Cup, Sunderland entered the competition in the third round and were drawn away to Middlesbrough.

### EFL Cup

On 16 June 2017, Sunderland were drawn away to Bury in the first round. A trip to Carlisle United was announced for the second round. A third away trip in the competition against Everton was drawn for the third round.

## Squad statistics
### Top scorers

The list is sorted by league goals and then shirt number when total goals are equal.
* = Player left club mid-season
Last updated on 30 May 2018.
| Rnk | Pos | No. | Player | Championship | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | 11 | Lewis Grabban | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2 | MF | 19 | Aiden McGeady | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | MF | 26 | George Honeyman | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | MF | 4 | Paddy McNair | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | FW | 29 | Joel Asoro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | DF | 3 | Bryan Oviedo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | FW | 9 | James Vaughan* | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | FW | 9 | Ashley Fletcher | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | MF | 27 | Lynden Gooch | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 10 | DF | 2 | Billy Jones | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 6 | Lee Cattermole | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 7 | Jonny Williams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 8 | Jack Rodwell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 13 | Callum McManaman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | 16 | John O'Shea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | 20 | Josh Maja | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | 21 | Adam Matthews | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 53 | Ovie Ejaria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | DF | 22 | Donald Love | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 52 | 0 | 3 | 55 |

### Appearances and goals

    Last updated on 7 May 2018.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Jason Steele | 18 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Billy Jones | 24 | 1 | 19+3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | CRC | Bryan Oviedo | 36 | 2 | 31+3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | NIR | Paddy McNair | 16 | 5 | 12+4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Lee Cattermole | 35 | 1 | 34+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | WAL | Jonny Williams | 13 | 1 | 7+5 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Jack Rodwell | 3 | 1 | 1+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Ashley Fletcher | 16 | 2 | 15+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | COD | Kazenga LuaLua | 6 | 0 | 0+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | GK | NIR | Lee Camp | 12 | 0 | 11+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | ENG | Callum McManaman | 26 | 1 | 13+11 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Duncan Watmore | 6 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Brendan Galloway | 8 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | IRL | John O'Shea | 40 | 1 | 34+3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Tyias Browning | 29 | 0 | 26+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | IRL | Aiden McGeady | 37 | 7 | 28+7 | 7 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Josh Maja | 18 | 1 | 6+11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | WAL | Adam Matthews | 37 | 1 | 25+9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | SCO | Donald Love | 14 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | CIV | Lamine Koné | 26 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | GK | NED | Robbin Ruiter | 21 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | George Honeyman | 45 | 7 | 37+5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | USA | Lynden Gooch | 27 | 2 | 12+12 | 1 | 2+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Ethan Robson | 11 | 0 | 6+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | SWE | Joel Asoro | 29 | 3 | 11+15 | 3 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 35 | DF | ENG | Jake Clarke-Salter | 11 | 0 | 8+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | DF | IRL | Marc Wilson | 22 | 0 | 20+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 37 | MF | ENG | Bali Mumba | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | MF | ENG | Elliot Embleton | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 41 | DF | ENG | Denver Hume | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 52 | MF | ENG | Luke Molyneux | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 53 | MF | ENG | Ovie Ejaria | 11 | 1 | 9+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who have played for Sunderland this season but are currently out on loan: ||||||||||||
| 5 | DF | SEN | Papy Djilobodji | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | TUN | Wahbi Khazri | 5 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | GAB | Didier N'Dong | 21 | 0 | 16+2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who have played for Sunderland this season but have left the club: ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | ENG | James Vaughan | 27 | 2 | 15+8 | 2 | 1+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Lewis Grabban | 20 | 12 | 18+1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | IRL | Darron Gibson | 18 | 0 | 12+3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of 30 September 2017
| No. | Pos. | Name | Championship | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Jason Steele | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 3 | DF | Bryan Oviedo | 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 5 | DF | Papy Djilobodji | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 6 | MF | Lee Cattermole | 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 7 | MF | Jonny Williams | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 8 | MF | Jack Rodwell | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 9 | FW | James Vaughan | 3 | | | | | | 1 | | | 4 | | |
| 10 | MF | Wahbi Khazri | 1 | | | | | | 2 | | | 3 | | |
| 15 | DF | Brendan Galloway | 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 17 | MF | Didier N'Dong | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | 2 | | |
| 18 | DF | Tyias Browning | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | 2 | | |
| 19 | RW | Aiden McGeady | 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 23 | DF | Lamine Koné | 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 24 | MF | Darron Gibson | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 27 | MF | Lynden Gooch | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 36 | DF | Marc Wilson | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 |