Lynden Gooch reveals what is “completely different” for Sunderland in Championship return | OneFootball

After gaining promotion to the Championship via the play-offs last season, Sunderland felt as though they were moving back towards where they belong.

However, after four years away in League One, there were bound to be worries about whether the Black Cats would have a seamless transition to life in the second tier.

That being said, with an experienced manager in Alex Neil at the helm, Sunderland have had a good start to life in the Championship picking up one win, two draws, and a loss so far.

The club’s longest-serving player Lynden Gooch was with Sunderland last time out in the Championship, a season that was disappointing and saw them relegated to League One.

However, despite facing their first loss of the season against Sheffield United on Wednesday, the 26-year-old feels differently this season as he told The Northern Echo: “It’s obviously a completely different feel.

“We have a great group who have achieved success and the last time we were in the division we were used to losing every week and not playing on the front foot. It’s completely different but I’m enjoying it, we’re playing some really good stuff.

“Obviously Saturday was tough to take, I thought we were brilliant, and even again tonight we lost but I thought we were outstanding.”

Furthermore, the player is backing his team to hold their own this season as he said: “Obviously we know we have gone up a level and you can see the standard. It’s much more clinical than in League One where you might get away with a couple more things.

“Even last season I said at times we are probably more suited to this league than we were in League One with the players that we’ve got. I think we have a really good side for this division and I think we are showing that.”

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The Verdict:

It’s no surprise that Gooch feels differently in this team compared to his last time in the Championship. At the time, the Black Cats had just come down from the top flight and were in a side that had low confidence.

However, after a successful season last year, under an experienced manager the club are now looking forward to progression and therefore have confidence in them.

Sunderland will be looking to aim for the top which, despite a good start to the season, may prove to be a bit too ambitious on their return to the second tier.

However, if the Black Cats can solidify their spot in the league then progress can be built upon that.