Darren Bent scores twice for Charlton against Sunderland in Premier League opener

On August 13, 2005, Sunderland faced Charlton Athletic in their Premier League opener at the Stadium of Light. After a slow start, Sunderland equalized through Andy Gray, but Darren Bent scored two goals for Charlton, including a late effort to seal their victory. Despite entering the match with some optimism, Sunderland struggled against Charlton, who controlled much of the game. The result marked a disappointing start for Sunderland and raised questions about their season ahead under manager Mick McCarthy.