Phil Parkinson has paid respect to Wycombe Wanderers’ rise and believes they are exactly where they deserve to be.
The Chairboys sit second in League One, with 23 points from their opening 12 games.
Having lost just once in the league too, Gareth Ainsworth’s side have put themselves in the early season running for promotion after taking points off Portsmouth and Peterborough United.
Speaking to the media in his first press conference as Sunderland manager, Parkinson has admitted with five games in 14 days there’s an opportunity to climb the league quickly and results must start this weekend at Adams Park.
“Wycombe have had a great start to the season and they are probably the surprise package,” he said.
"They deserve to be respected and I think teams have maybe underestimated them at times.
"It is at a stage of the season now where they deserve to be respected.
"When I first met the Sunderland board then in your mind you have to prepare for it.
"When you are an interview process you watch as many games and get to know the squad as much as you can because the minute you get employed you have to get into action very quickly,” he continued.
"The games are coming around very quickly so I have watched a lot of the previous games, a lot of the individual players, obviously prepare for the opposition and I am looking forward to preparing a Sunderland team this weekend that is going to go down there and get the three points."
