Jack Rodwell had been assured it was a fresh start, a new beginning. Sunderland supporters clearly had not received the memo and quickly turned on the man who has specialised in failure during his wretched spell on Wearside.
Making a first senior start since May, Rodwell swiftly found himself in the eye of a storm of protest from the stands as Simon Grayson’s side slid to a third league defeat in a row.
During their 138-year history, the Black Cats have never experienced back-to-back relegations, but after this shambles that is the only way they look like escaping the Championship.