Sunderland – the end of a decade in the top flight

John Terry stole all of the headlines in Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Sunderland today, as the champion’s captain departed the pitch, and his Chelsea career, in controversial circumstances midway through the first half. Terry is the Premier League’s most successful player to not play for Manchester United, after he won his fifth winners medal this month. However, the match had much more statistical significance, with Chelsea claiming a record 30th Premier League win in the game, and being the last match of Sunderland’s decade long top flight spell – their longest since being elected to the Football League First Division in 1890 and remaining there for 68 years. […]