This time last year, Sunderland were dreaming of promotion to the Premier League after going top of the Championship table by beating Luton Town.
Fast forward 12 months and the Black Cats have just beaten Club World Cup champions Chelsea to move to within two points of leaders Arsenal in the Premier League table.
To describe Sunderland's start merely as a dream would be to do it a disservice.
With 17 points from nine matches, they have not only bucked the recent trend of newly promoted sides struggling in the Premier League but they have defied critics that accused them of making too many signings.