Last night saw Sunderland begin a new chapter in the club’s history, with Simon Grayson managing his first competitive game for the Black Cats, who were returning to the Sky Bet Championship for the first time since 2007.

It has been a difficult summer for all at the Stadium of Light, but Grayson’s side put in a spirited performance against Derby County on the opening day of the season to clinch a 1-1 draw, with Lee Cattermole putting in a commanding display for Sunderland.

Stat guru, @Champstat, showed just how impressive the midfielder was over 90 minutes, by breaking down the 29-year-old’s performance.

The midfielder completed 50 touches of the ball, with a pass success rate of over 80%, which included two key passes for teammates.

Cattermole also had three shots during the 90 minutes, forcing a brilliant save from Scott Carson, which denied a certain goal.

However, Cattermole’s role at Sunderland isn’t in attack, with the experienced midfielder putting in an impressive defensive performance, making 100% of his attempted tackles.

Despite standing at just 1,77m and coming up against the likes of Tom Huddlestone and Bradley Johnson, Cattermole also won 100% of his headers, whilst also making two clearances.

The Verdict

Not many were expecting the level of performance Sunderland produced last night, with Simon Grayson’s side playing some nice football in spells.

Cattermole was key to everything the Black Cats did well last night, with his defensive work setting an example to the rest of his teammates.

Despite a positive opening day result, the 2017/18 campaign still looks like it will be difficult for Sunderland, but if Cattermole can keep that level of performance up, the Black Cats could surprise a few this season.

Sunderland fans… Let us know your thoughts!