Hannover 96 0-1 Sunderland
Jeremain Lens’ sensational 20-yard strike ensured Sunderland ended pre-season on a high with a 1-0 win over Hannover 96.
The Dutchman was once again the standout performer following an impressive debut against Doncaster Rovers, and he capped off an exciting display with a sweeping finish that rooted goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler to the spot.
And there was further drama late on as the home side were awarded a late penalty, but Costel Pantilimon refused to be beaten and a superb double save ensured victory for Sunderland.
Leicester City 4-2 Sunderland
Sunderland’s opening fixture of the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League season ended in disappointment as Dick Advocaat’s side fell to a 4-2 defeat at Leicester City.
The Black Cats made a positive start at the King Power Stadium with Jermain Defoe, Younes Kaboul and Seb Coates testing Kasper Schmeichel, but a 14-minute spell saw the home side race into a 3-0 lead.
Jamie Vardy’s deft header opened the floodgates before Riyad Mahrez added a quickfire double, and the shell-shocked Black Cats never recovered despite goals from Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher either side of Marc Albrighton’s well-taken strike.
Sunderland 1-3 Norwich City
Sunderland's opening home game of the campaign ended in a home defeat on a disappointing afternoon on Wearside.
A bright start by the hosts faded as Russell Martin bundled home from a corner to give City a 26th-minute lead before Steven Whittaker doubled the advantage.
Nathan Redmond's goal in the early stages of the second half wrapped things up for the Canaries, who bounced back from defeat to Crystal Palace on the opening day.
One bright spot for the home side was a goal for Duncan Watmore on his Barclays Premier League debut three minutes from time – a moment the youngster will always remember.
Sunderland 1-1 Swansea City
Jermain Defoe's leveller earned Sunderland a first point of the season as the Black Cats produced a much-improved display.
Bafetimbi Gomis opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, but Dick Advocaat's side deserved something from the game and they got it courtesy of a flowing counter-attacking move, expertly finished by Defoe just after the hour.
Advocaat had called for a response after defeats to Leicester and Norwich, and the Dutchman saw his side deliver as they more than matched a Swansea side in fine form.
Sunderland 6-3 Exeter City (Capital One Cup)
Sunderland were given a scare by Exeter, but three unanswered second-half goals saw the Black Cats safely through to the third round of the Capital One Cup.
Jermain Defoe bagged a treble – taking his personal tally for the season to five – while Jack Rodwell's double got him on the board for the season.
Duncan Watmore impressed again as a substitute and the winger netted his second goal for the club on the day he was called up for England's Under-21 side for the first time.
Aston Villa 2-2 Sunderland
A dream start at Villa Park faltered but Sunderland fought back with a gritty second-half performance to seal a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.
Yann M’Vila’s sublime free-kick opened the scoring with just eight minutes played, but two minutes later, the hosts levelled from the penalty spot as Scott Sinclair converted after Lee Cattermole's error.
The former Chelsea forward added a simple second five minutes before but a double change at the break heralded a new dawn for the Black Cats, as new signing Ola Toivonen engineered Jeremain Lens’ well-taken equaliser with 51 minutes played to extend Sunderland’s unbeaten run to three.
