Quite a lot of players mate. With Sunderland I've found you need pace up top and on the wings, and at centre half. Ricky Alvarez is a good player, and a CM triangle of Lee Cattermole, Jack Rodwell and Lucas Romero is pretty good though.
Endorsing my own tactic here (I'm sorry!) but my Liverpool tactics have worked wonders with lower league teams (like in a save I've got with Leeds now) and if you get the right players in your going in the right direction.