Sunderland supporters are backing the Black Cats superbly well upon their return to the Championship. 

After four years in League One, Sunderland are back in the Championship and the fanbase are revelling in that with an average attendance over 38,000 at the Stadium of Light.

Of course, the size of Sunderland’s ground means that is nowhere near close to a capacity crowd, with the Stadium of Light seating 48,707, a Premier League stadium in all-but name right now.

Naturally, because of that, Sunderland’s capacity is streets ahead of anything else we’ve got in the Championship right now.

Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium is second to that with a capacity of 33,746, with that one of six other stadiums with more than 30,000 seats. The others are the Cardiff City Stadium, Bramall Lane, Coventry Building Society Arena, Ewood Park and bet365 Stadium.

13 stadiums in the Championship have a capacity between 20,000 and 30,000, ranging from St Andrew’s in Birmingham at 29,409 to Millwall’s New Den at 20,146.

The range of stadia in the Championship then sees four grounds dip below the 20,000 mark. Queens Park Rangers are the first with a capacity of 18,360, whilst Blackpool (16,220) and Rotherham United (12,000) are slightly further back.

In the Championship, the smallest capacity is at Kenilworth Road where 10,226 Luton Town fans often pack themselves in. That’s some 38,481 seats less than the Stadium of Light and, interestingly, a difference matching the ballpark in which Sunderland’s average attendance is this season in the Championship.

The beauty of the division, though, is that it means absolutely nothing when it comes to matters on the pitch. Luton punched above their weight in the Championship last season and reached the play-offs.

Sunderland, at that point, were working their way out of League One and trying to end a four-year stay in the third-tier.

They’ve played their football in a Premier League stadium, but at League One level. However, things are moving in the right direction and shades of what Tony Mowbray is now trying to do has been impressive.

Supporters appreciate that and are backing Sunderland in their numbers.

Still, there’s more to come.