After a managerial change in October, Sunderland managed to net a total of 5 goals throughout the month and they were all contenders for the top 3. The matches against West Ham and Newcastle at home contained the 5 goals with a scoreless game for The Black Cats away at West Brom in-between them.
3rd Place – Steven Fletcher – Sunderland 2-2 West Ham
In a game what turned out to be Advocaat’s final match during his tenure at the Stadium of Light, a training ground routine from a set-piece opened up the scoring on a game that went on to end 2-2. Yann M’Vila was the provider as he passed an acute free kick into the feet of Steven Fletcher who emphatically struck a left-footed shot into the middle of the net past the diving Adriàn from 12 yards out.
2nd Place – Steven Fletcher – Sunderland 3-0 Newcastle
Another Steven Fletcher goal that broke into the top 3 was the goal that sealed the 3-0 victory against arch-rivals Newcastle on a day where Sunderland had to win. Sam Allardyce’s first home game ended in victory following an excellent volley from Fletcher in the final third of the game. The goal started courtesy of Younes Kaboul, who started the attack following an interception from Florian Thauvin. Kaboul stormed up the pitch, received a pass off M’Vila, and beautifully floated a cross into the path of Fletcher who clinically finished at the far post on the volley underneath Rob Elliot.
1st Place – Jeremain Lens – Sunderland 2-2 West Ham
In a game where the Dutchman went from Hero to Villain, Jeremain Lens put Sunderland 2-0 up in brilliant fashion after the summer signing lobbed the ball over the West Ham goalkeeper from 20 yards out. Lens received the ball from M’Vila, following a mistake from Payet, and delicately chipped the ball onto the underside of the crossbar with the ball ending up bouncing over the goal-line to put Sunderland fans into raptures.
