Regis Le Bris has begun to tackle Sunderland's underlying attacking concerns from last season, with improved expected goals data emerging from their opening Premier League fixtures. The Black Cats earned a point in a 1-1 draw at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium this week, a result that leaves them 11th in the table with four points from three games.
Le Bris's side showed positive signs in West London. They dominated the first half, with Dan Ballard having a goal disallowed, Enzo Le Fee hitting the post, and Thomas Meunier seeing a shot cleared off the line. Brian Brobbey also made a vital block to deny Noah Sadiki. Brentford took the lead in the second half through Vitaly Janelt, but Sunderland secured a draw thanks to a late penalty from Enzo Le Fee.
The match statistics reveal a significant shift. Sunderland's expected goals (xG) against Brentford was 1.71, higher than the Bees' 1.21. This follows a pattern from their other games: a 2.02 xG in the win over Fulham and a lower 0.65 in the loss to Ipswich. Last season, the club finished with a total xG of just 38.9, ranking 18th in the league according to FotMob, despite scoring 42 actual goals. This early-season form has propelled them to eighth in the current Premier League table for expected goals created.
Le Bris was pleased with the performance. "I was really happy and pleased with our first half," the Sunderland manager said. "It was probably one of our best first halves in the Premier League so far because Brentford are a really good team at home."
Sunderland's dip in chance creation last campaign coincided with a difficult winter period. The team was dealing with key player absences due to the Africa Cup of Nations and a spate of injuries. While they still qualified for European football, their attacking output suffered during that spell. The summer saw the squad strengthened and Le Bris implement tactical tweaks to evolve the style of play, which appears to be bearing fruit.
Individual performances in the Brentford match were mixed. Granit Xhaka, while influential, lost possession 25 times. Youngsters Nilson Angulo impressed in the first half and Malick Fofana provided a bright cameo after coming on. The team's current form shows three goals scored and three conceded, leaving them with a neutral goal difference.
As of September 7, 2026, Sunderland's record reads one win, one draw, and one loss. They are five points behind early leaders Manchester City. The immediate focus now turns to a major test at the Stadium of Light. Their next fixture is a home match against Arsenal, who are third in the standings, scheduled for September 12. Fans can view the full schedule on the club's fixtures page.
The team has also matched a club record by scoring in each of their last five Premier League games, a run last achieved between December 2016 and January 2017. Maintaining this offensive consistency will be vital as they prepare to face Mikel Arteta's side. The squad's depth and current injury status can be monitored on the official squad list.
