Whisper it quietly, Roy Keane's Sunderland are looking increasingly capable of returning to the Barclays Premiership at the first attempt after a 2-0 away win at Plymouth.
Teenager Anthony Stokes came off the bench and scored with his first touch in the 69th minute and David Connolly netted two minutes later to seal another precious Coca-Cola Championship victory today.
This was the Wearsiders' fifth win in six league encounters and lifted them level on points with fifth-placed Southampton. Significantly, it further encouraged hopes Keane's men can not only make the play-offs, but possibly even claim an automatic promotion spot.
Last August, Keane inherited the worst team in the history of the Premiership, who were heading towards League One at pace. The Irishman first stopped the rot and recreated belief before a significant spending spree gave him a squad capable of pushing hard for an immediate return to the top flight.
Sunderland were far from fluid at Home Park, but they showed enough grit and determination to suggest they will be right in the thick of promotion shake-up.
The return of striker Connolly, a £1.4million signing from Wigan last August, was a major boost to their cause. Connolly suffered a horrific facial injury in training, which forced him to miss last weekend's 2-0 victory against Coventry, but he was given the all-clear to return to action in Devon.
In the sixth minute, an inswinging corner from the left by Carlos Edwards was greeted by his Trinidad and Tobago international team-mate Dwight Yorke. The former Manchester United man connected sweetly enough but a brave block by Argyle defender Krisztian Timar averted the danger.
Neither side could establish a firm foothold on proceedings during a scrappy opening, but the hosts came close to breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute. Kiwi forward Rory Fallon produced a delightful dipping volley from 25 yards which forced stand-in goalkeeper Marton Fulop into a smart stop.
Shortly before the half-hour mark, Yorke met Tobias Hysen's header, drawing a fine save from Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick. Ten minutes before the break, Fallon fired over from 30 yards and David Norris saw his shot from 12 yards blocked by Nyron Nosworthy.
Sunderland continued to probe and captain Dean Whitehead narrowly missed the target in the 59th minute with a ferocious shot from 18 yards. Moments later, Connolly went close with a fierce shot which drew another fine reflex save from McCormick.
But the Plymouth goalkeeper was helpless to prevent Sunderland taking the lead with 21 minutes remaining.
Stokes, a £2million recruit from Arsenal last month, replaced Hysen in the 66th minute and within three minutes he netted his first goal for the club. Whitehead played in a neat delivery from the left flank and Stokes was on hand to stroke a superb right-foot shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Two minutes later, the points were in the bag as Stern John provided a neat lay-off to Connolly, who buried a low shot from 12 yards to seal victory.
