Sunderland continued their hugely impressive start to the Championship season with a 1-0 win over rivals Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.

Here are the talking points to emerge from the game:

SUNDERLAND MAKE RIVALS SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE

Like the Burnley win back in August, this is a victory that will make Sunderland’s Championship rivals sit up and take notice.

It is, of course, early days but at this stage they look every inch contenders rather than merely the early pace-setters. Not only do they have the weapons to hurt teams in attack – they’ve averaged more than two goals a game so far – they’re built on solid foundations. Excluding the second half at Plymouth, Sunderland have conceded just one goal in five-and-a-half games.

The setback at Home Park meant for the first time this season we would see how the Black Cats responded to defeat. This was an excellent response. There was an element of good fortune to the Boro victory, which we’ll get to, but this was also a display of maturity from Sunderland’s youngsters.

SAME OLD STORY FOR BORO - AND CLASS MAKES LACK OF CUTTING EDGE PAY

As for Boro, only last week Michael Carrick talked about the need to find a cutting edge to “kill teams off”. The message hasn’t hit home yet – because Boro were once again made to pay for failing to take opportunities in the first half at the Stadium of Light.

Tommy Conway has enjoyed an impressive start to life on Teesside and built on that with a lively opening on Saturday but the Scotland international should have done better when he hit the bar with a free header after being picked out by Jones. Jones himself failed to make the most of a three-on-two counter early in the game. And Matt Clarke, clinical in the opposition box in the early stages of the season, should have at least hit the target with his header from Finn Azaz’s corner.

It was from the goal-kick that followed that missed chance that Sunderland took the lead. And it was a moment of confident class to make Boro pay for their lack of cutting edge. The goal was gaping for Chris Rigg after George Edmundson’s block from Patrick Roberts’ shot turned the ball in the direction of the midfielder but he still showed immense awareness and composure to calmly back-heel the ball into an empty net.

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EARLY SUNDERLAND FORTUNE

Referee Simon Hooper was booed off at the break by the home supporters who felt Sunderland should have had a penalty on the stroke of half-time for an Ayling push on Mundle. It would have been soft.

And in actual fact, it was the Boro fans who should have perhaps felt aggrieved – for Trai Hume was fortunate to just get a yellow card rather than a red for a crunching early challenge on Emmanuel Latte Lath. With VAR, Hume’s afternoon would likely have ended early.

LE BRIS PROVED RIGHT ON BORO

In his press conference this week, Le Bris said of Boro: “They're very narrow and very interesting. They don't have random ranges of different attack, so we know exactly how they can beat us which means we know exactly how we solve the problem.”

In short, he was suggesting Boro are predictable. And Saturday proved Sunderland's boss right.

For all Boro had the better of the early opportunities before the opening goal, once Carrick’s side fell behind they rarely looked like forcing a leveller. Like Preston last week, Sunderland comfortable contained Boro in the second half. Despite chasing the game, Boro didn’t manage a single shot on target after the break.

That is a big concern for Boro, who need to find a way to hurt teams who are happy to invite them on. There was one occasion in the second half when Boro worked the ball into a promising position on the edge of the box but instead of having a go, moved it to the left then back to their deepest player. Le Bris backed up his pre-match claim and Sunderland did a job on Boro.

PATRICK ROBERTS

It feels an eternity ago that Patrick Roberts was wearing the red of Middlesbrough rather than the red and white of Sunderland.

Back then the winger tended to show what he was capable of in flashes rather than consistently – which was also the case last season in what was a disappointing campaign for the former Manchester City youngster.

But he’s stepped up again this term and shone against Boro. Le Bris will have perhaps identified Boro’s left side as a weakness, with new signing Neto Borges still settling in. And the Brazilian struggled against the winger, who has the tricks but is this season bringing the substance to go with the style. Only an excellent George Edmundson tackle denied Roberts after a jinking run from the right and it was the winger’s shot that was only half blocked by Boro’s centre-half that led to the opening goal.

Just six minutes into the second half, Roberts isolated Borges in a one-on-one, cut inside and let fly with a curling shot that flashed just wide.