10 Things We Learned From Darlington Vs. Sunderland

6. Nobody Got Injured

While the ultimate aim of pre-season is to rebuild fitness, the ultimate goal is to come through it unscathed. One game down, and there are no reports of any injuries whatsoever. There'll be some tight legs around camp now, but that's part of the process. As long as all limbs are attached and functioning, it's a plus for Sunderland. Billy Jones and Giaccherini are two players who should benefit immensely from a full pre-season, so Advocaat will be hoping they overcome the obstacles in front of them, with both players vying for starting slots in 2015/16.