Sunderland’s best season in the Premier League

Sunderland’s best season in the Premier League

Of the 16 seasons the club spent in the top division of English football, the Black Cats’ most successful came back in the 1999/00 season under the guidance of Peter Reid.

Sunderland finished 7th that season with a total of 58 points, their joint-best finish in the Premier League, which was achieved the season after but with one less point, before Reid left the club in October 2002.

Kevin Phillips would win the Golden Boot that season ahead of Alan Shearer and Dwight Yorke, scoring 30 times for the Black Cats including three goals in the two games against fierce rivals Newcastle United.

The biggest win of that campaign would see them thump Derby County 5-0 at Pride Park, with Phillips scoring his only hat-trick of the season against the Rams, with Gavin McCann and Niall Quinn popping up with the other two goals.

The Irish striker would all-but one of Sunderland’s fixtures that season, making the joint-most appearances that season alongside goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen on 37.