Sunderland need major improvement to survive

First there was the Great Escape, then last season an almost equally implausible sequel.

They have made a habit of the Houdini, but Sunderland know the risks are too high to entertain a trilogy when it comes to their franchise in cheating the Championship.

Given their wretched start to the season, seven goals conceded in defeats to two sides they were confident of beating, to even be in with an outside hope of salvation in May is a plot already lost on many of those fans who joined the exodus when Nathan Redmond dispatched Norwich City’s third goal with more than half an hour remaining.