The 2001-02 campaign was a season of dramatic, last-gasp survival for Sunderland as The Black Cats, despite standing a respectable 9th on Boxing Day, endured a spectacular slump to finish a perilous 17th in the Premier League. Leading the line was the talismanic striker Kevin Phillips, whose 11 league goals were crucial in a campaign built on defensive grit, as they finished the lowest-scoring team in the top flight. They secured their status on the final day against already-relegated Derby County, marking a nervy, unforgettable year that clinched their place in the top division by the skin of their teeth.