Sunderland’s fans have had to fight sleep more than any other supporters to catch their team on the main Match Of The Day programme 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.

Graphic showing which teams are  most often screened last on MOTD

The one time Black Cats fans did get to see their side in the prized opening slot so far was the 8-0 drubbing at Southampton on October 18. They also lost both times they were on second – at home to Arsenal on October 25 and away to Manchester City on New Year’s Day.

The BBC’s head of football, Mark Cole, thinks the statistic could in fact bode well for 16th-placed Sunderland.

He told Press Association Sport: “It’s 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.”

League leaders 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, December 28 and New Year’s Day.

Manchester City have been on first the second-most times (five) 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 QPR – but along with Tottenham have been on the main programme the fewest times – with only 11 appearances.

Graphic showing how often teams are shown first, second or third on MOTD

The running order for each week’s Match Of The Day is a hot topic among supporters and how it is decided is top on the list of ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ on the MOTD 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 BBC One slot. Then it’s constantly changing.

“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.”

Cole added: “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.”

So does your team top the bill every week, or do you have to wait until midnight to see all the action of yet another goalless draw?

Here’s how all the Premier League sides have fared so far this season.

Arsenal

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring against Liverpool
The camera loves you, Olivier (Jon Super/AP/AP)

Arsene’s entertainers have featured in the top three on nine occasions, and have never been on last.

Aston Villa

The Premier League’s lowest scorers have been bottom of the bill six times – once less 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

Sean Dyche’s men were first on in the last Saturday night highlights’ show on January 17 against Crystal Palace, with the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park bottom of the bill on September 13.

Chelsea

Jose Mourinho’s men are top of the league and top of the bill more than anyone else – seven first-place appearances so far.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace's Dwight Gale celebrates scoring against Burnley
Dwight Gale was the match-winner for Crystal Palace in their only headline appearance so far (Lynne Cameron/PA)

The Eagles’ win at Burnley on January 17 is their one and only appearance in top spot so far. They have been last on five times.

Everton

Top of the bill 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 haven’t been back in top spot since.

Hull

Three appearances in top spot for the Tigers – two in consecutive weekends on September 20 and 27 – but no wins. Three appearances in the bottom spot too.

Leicester

The Foxes may be bottom of the table but have strangely been third on more than any other side – five times in total.

Liverpool

The Reds finished second in the Premier League last season but their comparative struggles this time around are reflected by the fact that they have been on last three times.

Manchester City

Manchester City fans celebrate in the stands
These fans have seen some of the most entertaining games of the season, according to the MOTD running order (Dave Thompson/PA)

The Blues have featured first five times – second only to Chelsea – and in the top three 15 times, more than any other club.

Manchester United

Louis van Gaal’s men have only topped the bill twice, and have featured in the top three six times in their 11 appearances in the shows surveyed.

Newcasle

A very even spread for the Magpies – three times in top spot, including the day they ended Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season on December 6, 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 Premier League’s top two Chelsea and Manchester City. Only one appearance at the bottom of the bill.

Southampton

The Southampton scoreboard showing the result of their 8-0 win over Sunderland
This match unsurprisingly accounted for Southampton’s one appearance in the headline spot (Chris Ison/PA)

Saints’ appearance stats are rather odd. First on just once – the 8-0 hammering of Sunderland – and 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 bottom-of-the-bill showings for the Potters.

Sunderland

Appear to have drawn the short straw. Last on the programme a table-topping seven times, with one win and four defeats to show from their five top-three appearances, with one of those losses the pasting at St Mary’s.

Swansea

Garry Monk’s men may be irked to discover that they have been bottom of the bill more than any other side in the top half – five times in total. It all started so well – they were first on with their win at Old Trafford on the opening day.

Tottenham

Spurs’ appearances in the programmes covered by our survey have been limited to 11 this season, primarily by their Europa League involvement, but just four top-three appearances in total does still seem a rather slim return.

West Brom

Despite their struggles this season, the Baggies have not featured in the bottom spot once. They have been on first three times so far, but all three matches were defeats.

West Ham

Sam Allardyce watching West Ham v Aston Villa from the bench
Big Sam knows this one’s going last on Match Of The Day (Stephen Pond/PA)

The highest-placed side to feature at the bottom of the bill – their 0-0 draw with Villa at Upton Park on November 8.