Sunderland beat Middlesbrough 2-0 away on 25 September 2005, ending a start of five defeats and a draw with their first win of the season and first Premier League victory since 2002. Tommy Miller scored after two minutes; Julio Arca sealed it with a second-half free-kick.
McCarthy said the win rewarded the team for sticking together and working hard. It did not become the turning point he hoped for: Sunderland continued to struggle for goals and results, waited a long time for another league win, and McCarthy had left by March.
