Sunderland beat Chelsea 1-0 at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, with Enzo Le Fée's first-half penalty the only goal of Premier League gameweek 10.
The result ended a run of five league games without a win for Sunderland, who had lost four and drawn one. Chelsea came into the game after a 3-0 defeat at Brentford.
The decisive moment
Le Fée scored from the penalty spot in the 36th minute. It was the only goal of the afternoon and the only time the scoreboard moved.
Le Fée arrived with three league goals from 3.83 expected goals (xG, the quality of chances created), according to expected goals data via Fantasy Premier League. This was another goal for him.
It also extended Sunderland's recent record against Chelsea. They won 2-1 in May 2026 and 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in October 2025, so Chelsea have now lost all three of the recent meetings.
Chelsea, who had averaged 1.9 goals a game before kick-off, could not find an equaliser. FPL had listed João Pedro, who has five goals this season, as injured with a thigh problem before the match.
What the numbers say
Chelsea had far more of the ball, with 69% possession to Sunderland's 31%. The shot count was much closer: Sunderland had nine attempts to Chelsea's 10.
Chelsea had more on target, four to two. Sunderland put six shots off target and Chelsea five, while each side had one shot blocked and won two corners.
It was a niggly game. Sunderland committed 17 fouls to Chelsea's eight, and there were nine yellow cards in all. Sunderland collected five: Jules Ahoka (21), Thomas Meunier (50), Brian Brobbey (53), Luke O'Nien (90) and Nilson Angulo (90+4). Chelsea had four: Levi Colwill (35), Pedro Neto (55), Moisés Caicedo (76) and Wesley Fofana (90+2).
Across the season, FPL's data has Sunderland creating 1.48 xG per game and conceding 1.75 over nine games with data. Chelsea's figures are 1.49 and 1.44. Sunderland's actual scoring average of 0.8 goals a game has been well below the chances they have made, and a goal from the spot did not change that picture on its own.
What it means in the table
The table supplied with this match lists Sunderland 18th on eight points from 10 games, with a goal difference of minus nine. That is one point above Crystal Palace, 20th on seven.
Chelsea are listed fifth on 16 points from 10 games, with five wins and a goal difference of plus three. Arsenal lead on 27 points after nine wins.
MFF's match model had predicted a 2-1 win for Chelsea, giving them a 45% chance, with 31% for a Sunderland win and 24% for a draw. It got this one wrong.
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