The 2015-16 campaign delivered a dramatic and memorable great escape for Sunderland as The Black Cats finished a crucial 17th in the Premier League under the guidance of Sam Allardyce. Spearheading the survival charge was the talismanic striker Jermain Defoe, whose 15 crucial league goals (18 overall) proved the decisive factor and earned him the club's Player of the Season award. The season was immortalized by the triumphant 3-0 home victory over Everton, which not only secured top-flight status with a game to spare but also simultaneously confirmed the relegation of arch-rivals Newcastle United, providing a moment of sheer euphoria for the Stadium of Light faithful. Key January recruits, including Lamine Koné and Jan Kirchhoff, anchored the late surge in a desperate fight to cling onto their Premier League status.