Sunderland’s fans have had to stay up late to catch their team on the main Match of the Day programme more than fans of any other Premier League club so far this season.
Gus Poyet’s team have occupied the bottom slot – which usually airs close to or just after midnight – seven times, once more than goal-shy Aston Villa and twice more than Crystal Palace and Swansea.
The one occasion Sunderland fans did get to see their side in the prized opening slot so far was the 8-0 drubbing at Southampton on 18 October. They also lost both times they were on second – at home to Arsenal on 25 October and at Manchester City on New Year’s Day.
The BBC’s head of football, Mark Cole, said the trend was: “not personal … we’ve got a couple of Sunderland fans in the office and the chap who does all our stats is a Sunderland fan so he’s keeping a particular eye on it.
“If they’re on last by the end of the season the most, then it means they’ll still be in the Premier League, because they won’t be drawn into those big relegation battles that feature highly in the programme.”
Chelsea have been on first the most so far – seven times – when looking at every Saturday night Match of the Day Premier League highlights programme since the start of the season, plus the three festive editions on Boxing Day, 28 December and New Year’s Day.
The running order for each week’s Match of the Day is a hot topic among fans, and how it is decided is top on the list of frequently asked questions on the Match of the Day website.
Explaining the process, Cole said: “At the start of the week the editor will have a plan of how he expects it to pan out and the length of each individual match to make sure you can fit it in that BBC1 slot. Then it’s constantly changing.
“At half-time you’ll perhaps have another look, and then at full-time. There’s also the added complication of a 5.30pm game most Saturdays so you’ll have a plan and then it can be thrown out of the window by what happens in that game.
“It’s a collective operation but essentially it’s the editor’s decision, so he’ll make that decision after talking to the presenter, the pundits, some of the match directors. What you’re trying to look at in a nutshell is what game do people sat at home at 10.30pm on a Saturday night want to watch most?
“There’s a combination of factors that go into that. People want to see the teams at the top, there’s interest in relegation battles, but also what the game’s been like. Goals do have a massive impact in where you are in the running order for Match of the Day.”
The order is now announced on Twitter ahead of the programme on a Saturday evening and flagged up throughout the broadcast, which fuels the debate.
Cole said: “Certainly the advent of Twitter and social media has made it even more hotly contested and fans aren’t backward in coming forward to let us know their views. But all we try and do is be honest and say that we’re looking at it from people at home’s point of view and what games they want to watch.
“We think it’s important we take each programme on its merits. Across the course of the season, each team should have their time in the spotlight, certainly if they score some goals. Last season 19 out of the 20 clubs led the programme, and this season 18 have halfway through it.
“It’s great to have people talking about your programme and we love social media. You have got to be careful not to take some of the comments personally. Match of the Day is an institution and it’s absolutely phenomenal the way people still watch a highlights programme. It’s when people aren’t talking about you that you get worried.”
Manchester City have been on first the second-most often, and have appeared in the top three games more than any other side – 15 times in total to Chelsea’s 13. Manchester United have been first on only twice – two times fewer than second-bottom Queens Park Rangers – but along with Tottenham have been on the main programme the least, with only 11 appearances.
How does your club fare?
Arsenal: Top three on nine occasions, and have never been on last.
Aston Villa: Bottom six times, one fewer than Sunderland. They have not featured in the top match all season – only Stoke can match that – but have been in the top three five times.
Burnley: First on in the last Saturday night highlights show on 17 January against Crystal Palace, with the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park bottom of the bill on 13 September.
Chelsea: Top of the bill more than anyone else – seven first-place appearances so far.
Crystal Palace: The win at Burnley on 17 January was their only top spot so far. They have been last on five times.
Everton: Top twice in as many weeks in late August with a 2-2 draw against Arsenal and a 6-3 defeat against Chelsea, both at Goodison Park. They have not been back in the top spot since.
Hull: Three appearances in top spot –two in consecutive weekends on 20 and 27 September – but no wins. Three appearances in the bottom spot, too.
Leicester: Third on more than any other side – five times in total.
Liverpool: After a high-profile campaign last season, they have been on last three times this season.
Manchester City: First five times – second only to Chelsea – and in the top three 15 times, more than any other club.
Manchester United: Only top twice, and in the top three six times in their 11 appearances in the shows surveyed.
Newcastle: An even spread: three times in top spot, including the day they ended Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season on 6 December, twice second, twice third and twice last.
QPR: They may be 19th but their four appearances in the top slot is second only to the league’s top two, Chelsea and Manchester City. Only one appearance at the bottom.
Southampton: First on just once – the 8-0 hammering of Sunderland – and have made only two further appearances in the top three, despite being third in the league.
Stoke: Along with Villa the only side yet to feature in the top match. Six top-three appearances and three at the bottom.
Sunderland: Last on seven times, with one win and four defeats from their five top-three appearances.
Swansea: Bottom of the bill more than any other side in the top half – five times in total.
Tottenham: Spurs’ appearances in the programmes covered by this survey have been limited to 11 this season, primarily caused by their Europa League involvement. They have had just four top-three appearances.
West Brom: Despite their struggles, they have not been in the bottom spot once. They have been on first three times.
West Ham: The highest-placed side to feature at the bottom of the bill - their 0-0 draw with Villa on 8 November.
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