Before the season started there was a blow for Sunderland. Tony Towers, who had enjoyed a very productive spell on Wearside left for pastures new, St Andrews and Birmingham City. Wilf Rostron arrived from Arsenal, along with Wayne Entwhistle. On the managerial front Ken Knighton took up a coaching position in July 1977. This would be a significant appointment.

By the end of the season Sunderland would finish in a respectable 6th position after an appalling start. Spurs, Southampton and Bolton all made the Promised Land, with the red and whites 12 points off the promotion pace.

The season kicked off with a trip to Boothferry Park and we were put to the sword 0 v 3 by Hull City. In fact the first 12 games yielded only one victory, and included elimination from the League cup at the hands of Middlesbrough.Then things started to get better; on the playing front.

Following the 8 October defeat at The Dell, Jackie Ashurst missed a penalty, viewed around the country on Match of the Day; we went 7 games without defeat. Then it was 3 pointless matches. From Boxing Day, and the 2 v 1 victory over Blackpool we suffered only 4 reverses in the remaining 18 games, but the crowd weren’t happy.

Jimmy Adamson complained that the spectre of fans choice Brian Clough for manager always hung heavy over him, and in truth he was the man every Sunderland fan craved for. His success at Derby and now forest just making it all the more "imperative".

An interesting game took place on 14 January 1978 at Brisbane Road the home of Leyton Orient.  The game ended 2 v 2 but there were some interesting talking points. Crowd trouble on the terraces, when West Ham United fans decided to "spectate" was followed by Sunderland goalkeeper Barry siddall being ordered to take his red top off, as it clashed with the home sides strip. Then a dog ran on the pitch and had to be "ushered off". The next incident was a famous one. Sunderland were awarded a penalty, and for the one and only "competitive" time in his career, Gary Rowell missed.

Although the crowd would average out at nearly 23,000 by the end of the campaign, the latter attendances were worrying. By mid March, with nothing seemingly to play for we witnessed such scenes as a virtually deserted Roker end against Fulham where only 11,951 hardy souls attended.

The FA cup had provided little light relief. A 0 v 1 home defeat by Bristol Rovers ending our participation at the first hurdle.

It had been a better season, but nothing really to write home about.