Division One: 1995-96
Sunderland sealed promotion the Premier League in 1996 when they went up as champions of Division One.
Despite winning just one of their opening five fixtures, Peter Reid’s side turned it around by September and climbed their way up the table, going on an 11-game unbeaten run.
That came to end at Stoke City but the Lads bounced back and won their next three matches which included an emphatic 6-0 victory over Millwall.
Things looked shaky for the next few weeks as the Black Cats picked up three points just once in their next nine matches, but Reid worked his magic and inspired the Lads to win nine consecutive matches between the end of February through to April.
That saw the Black Cats move to the summit of the league and while victories dried up - as they won just two of their remaining eight fixtures - the Lads did stretch their unbeaten run to 18 games before they suffered defeat on the final game of the season at Tranmere Rovers.
But Reid’s side weren’t to be moved from top spot and secured promotion to the Premier League as champions.