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Sunderland remain in the hunt for automatic promotion in League One, sitting four points off second with a game in hand.

While a couple of bad results have left them short of second placed Barnsley, Jack Ross' men are still in where they need to be following last season's Championship relegation, and they might well bounce back at the first attempt with a bit of luck.

As well as luck though, you need to put the performances in to go alongside, and there has been times this term when the Black Cats have really turned it on.

The loss of Josh Maja in January was a bitter blow to the club, but the money was swiftly reinvested in striker Will Grigg, and Sunderland fans will be hoping he is the man to fire them back to the second tier.

Their form over the course of the season got us here at FLW thinking, and with that, we've looked into THREE of the best performances from Sunderland so far this season...

[snack_break title="Barnsley at home"]

A first half blitz saw Sunderland smash three past their promotion rivals before the break, before a second half comeback had Ross' men on the rocks.

However, a fourth goal to seal the points proved enough, and it was a showing of real intent from the Black Cats.

Beating a promotion rival is never easy, but Sunderland showed what they can do in this one.

[snack_break title="Rochdale at home"]

A 4-1 hammering in Septemer of visiting Rochdale really got the tails wagging at the Stadium of Light, with it being the first show of real dominance at this level from the club.

Josh Maja bagged two alongside Lynden Gooch, in a successful day for the homegrown talent at the club.

It's performances like this which are going to get Sunderland back up to the Championship.

[snack_break title="Gillingham at home"]

A most recent result but a good one, and significant one in that Will Grigg got off the mark for his new club.

The 4-2 scoreline suggests a closer game than was on display, but in truth, Sunderland could have had more.

They attacked with purpose and intent, and this display will give them real confidence heading into the final few months.

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