Bournemouth end their wait for a league win

Bournemouth beat Sunderland 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, 18 October 2026, their first Premier League win of the season. The result gave Marco Rose his first three points as a Premier League manager and lifted the hosts off the bottom of the table. Both clubs had started the day in the relegation zone despite winning their opening two Europa League games. Sunderland have not won a league match since beating Fulham on 30 August, and this was their fourth straight Premier League defeat. They also remain without a league win on the road this season.

Danso's red card and two early goals

Sunderland's day went wrong early. Evanilson got beyond Kevin Danso in the sixth minute and fed Marcus Tavernier, who headed into an empty net for his fourth goal of the season. Eleven minutes later Evanilson was in on goal again when Danso pulled him down on the edge of the area, and referee Craig Pawson showed the defender a red card. Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs kept his side in the game, twice denying Rayan. Three minutes after the restart, an Omar Alderete back pass fell short, Evanilson rounded Roefs and slid the ball home in the 48th minute, his career century of goals.

Sunderland's slide and the coaching reaction

Sunderland are second from bottom after seven rounds, with four points from one win, one draw and five defeats. After the same number of games last season they had 11 points and sat ninth, before finishing seventh overall. Their European form has been better, with wins over AZ Alkmaar and Torreense, but Shay Given believes the squad may not be set up to handle the extra games. Given also said the club overachieved last season by reaching European competition, and he sees a route out of relegation trouble.

Last season, after seven games11

This season, after seven games4

Last season, after seven games

11 points

This season, after seven games

4 points

Data from the article text

Head coach Régis Le Bris used less harsh words than his defender but was clearly disappointed with the performance.

“It's very painful because we were not Sunderland and it's not acceptable.”

Nordi Mukiele gave a sharper verdict to Sky Sports, pointing to overconfidence as the likely cause of the slump.

“Maybe because we became arrogant, this is what I think.”

Off the pitch, a boardroom reshuffle has placed Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, the majority owner, in charge of day-to-day operations, and talk of a possible sale to new investors has not faded. Tottenham, currently last, could move above Sunderland on Monday, 19 October. Sunderland also have a European fixture in Poznan on the calendar.

A record crowd at a stadium in transition

Bournemouth set a new club Premier League attendance record of 12,004 at the Vitality Stadium during Sunday's win. The north-west and south-east corners opened for the first time on Thursday night, 15 October, when the Cherries beat Sturm Graz 3-0 in the Europa League, the first European home game at the ground. The new seating is part of an ongoing revitalisation project. Enabling works and piling operations continue behind the South Stand, which the club says is essential to its longer-term plans. Club chief Jim Frevola wrote in the matchday programme:

“I am excited about what lies ahead.”

Frevola also said some finishing touches and outstanding items remain to be addressed on the new corners.