Sunderland freefall goes on

February 2, 2010

Sunderland failed to halt their slide towards the relegation quagmire after Stoke claimed a deserved point in an uninspiring goalless stalemate here on Monday.

The draw means Steve Bruce’s side, who started the season in such promising fashion they were being tipped as contenders for Europe, have now won only once in their last 14 league matches and they are just four points above the bottom three.

Stoke had the better of the chances, with former Sunderland player Dean Whitehead enjoying a couple of good chances, although the hosts could justifiably claim they had been denied a second-half penalty following an apparent handball by Robert Huth.

Whitehead had the best chance of a lacklustre opening period with less than three minutes on the clock.

The forward did well to get clear of the home side’s back line but his tame shot was comfortably smothered by Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Kenwyne Jones forced Thomas Sorensen into his first save of the evening in the 10th minute but the Trinidad and Tobago forward could not generate enough power in his shot after Michael Turner had headed down Andy Reid’s free-kick invitingly.

Steed Malbranque was narrowly off target and it required a smart clearance from Ryan Shawcross to prevent Darren Bent from opening the scoring.

Bent then created an opening for Malbranque with a cute dummy but the Frenchman’s shot did not seriously test Sorensen.

Whitehead was fortunate that referee Howard Webb appeared to be in a lenient mood, dispensing only a booking after the Stoke player kicked out at Lee Cattermole following a robust challenge from Sunderland’s midfield enforcer.

Sunderland had just about edged the first half on points, but Stoke should have taken the lead after generating two good chances in quick succession in the opening minutes of the second half.

Mamady Sidibe almost converted following a chipped Glenn Whelan free-kick, then Whitehead attempted to drill home the loose ball only for John Mensah to deflect it over the crossbar.

Sunderland had a strong penalty appeal turned down just after the hour mark when Huth appeared to stop Bent’s lofted pass with his arm.

But Stoke might easily have emerged with all three points after Ricardo Fuller was sent clear with nine minutes left. The striker had only Gordon to beat but the Scots stopper stood firm to deny him, ensuring a result which was probably just about right.

SUNDERLAND (AFP)

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Milner pushes Villa up to third

December 16, 2009

A James Milner-inspired Aston Villa followed up their weekend win at Manchester United with a 2-0 win at Sunderland that underlined the credibility of their challenge for a top four finish.

Milner made Villa’s opener for Emile Heskey then found the net from fully 30 yards to enable Villa to leapfrog Arsenal into third place in the table ahead of the Gunners’ trip to Burnley on Wednesday.

Unsurprisingly, Villa boss Martin O’Neill kept faith with the line-up that had secured victory at Old Trafford while his opposite number Steve Bruce restored winger Kieran Richardson to the side at the expense of Fraizer Campbell.

Sunderland started brightly and Villa were fortunate that Andy Reid’s second-minute corner cleared the goalmouth without anyone getting a touch.

Teenage midfielder Jordan Henderson then almost opened the scoring for the home side, snapping a shot inches wide from Darren Bent’s lay-off.

Sunderland were winning the early 50-50 balls, not always legally. Skipper Lorik Cana and George McCartney both picked up yellow cards, with the latter conceding a free-kick for a trip on Emile Heskey that resulted in Stewart Downing hitting the crossbar from the resulting free-kick.

That was a sign of Villa asserting themselves and the visitors took the lead midway through the opening period. A fine ball from Milner released Heskey into the Sunderland box and the England centre-forward beat Martin Fulop with a confident finish.

Sunderland had not generated a single clear chance by that stage and it was not until ten minutes before the break that they did, Kenwyne Jones heading wide after being picked out by a McCartney’s fine cross.

Reid finally got an effort on target with a right-foot volley two minutes later but Brad Friedel blocked with his legs.

Sunderland should have equalised four minutes after the restart, when Bent flicked McCartney’s long ball into the path of Reid, who sliced his attempted finish wide.

The home side continued to pile on the pressure but Villa, as ever, looked dangerous on the break and only the woodwork denied Ashley Young a goal four minutes before O’Neill’s men doubled their lead.

Sunderland lost possession from a throw-in and the ball fell to the outstanding Milner 30 yards out. The winger, operating in central midfield, steadied himself and unleashed a shot that found the top right corner of the net to seal the points for Villa.

Any chance of a late rally by the home side was extinguished with 13 minutes left when Cana was ordered off after receiving a second yellow card for a late challenge on Milner.

SUNDERLAND, England (AFP)

Tags: andy reid, aston villa, brad friedel, Campbell, crossbar, Darren Bent, Emile Heskey, England, foot volley, fraizer campbell, free kick, fulop, George McCartney, gunners, James Milner, James Milner-inspired, Jones, jordan, kenwyne jones, kieran richardson, Manchester, Martin Fulop, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, old trafford, opposite number, Reid, right foot, stewart downing, Sunderland, target, yellow cards

Ireland may come to regret Reid freeze-out

November 14, 2009

Giovanni Trapattoni may have cause to regret his decision to leave Sunderland playmaker Andy Reid out in the cold when Ireland face France on Saturday and next Wednesday in their two-legged World Cup play-off.

Reid has been in sparkling form for his club this season in the Premier League, notching some fantastic goals, notably from free-kicks — an area Ireland need to improve on with the exception of Glenn Whelan’s thunderbolts from long range.

He has a range of passing that can unlock the best defences in the world and Ireland will need somebody with that capability against the more-fancied French at Croke Park and Stade de France over the next week.

But the Dubliner has been overlooked by Trapattoni ever since he fell out with the wily, no-nonsense Italian a year ago in the team’s hotel bar in the German city of Wiesbaden after Ireland’s qualifier with Georgia.

Reid has apologised profusely for failing to go to bed before a 2am curfew and, unlike, say, Manchester City’s Stephen Ireland, he has reiterated on many occasions his commitment to play for his country.

But while Trapattoni and his backroom team continue to court Ireland, Reid remains in exile. Of course with a lack of creativity in Ireland’s central midfield, Ireland would be a welcome addition, but surely his absence only reinforces the need for Reid’s recall?

The former Tottenham player has knuckled down since his move to the north east of England, lost lots of weight, looks fitter than ever, and has become one of the most improved players in the best league in the world.

Is it time Trapattoni swallowed his pride?

PHOTO: Fans of Ireland’s soccer team attend France national soccer team’s training session at Clairefontaine south of Paris on November 11, 2009. France will face Ireland in Dublin on November 14, 2009 in a World Cup 2010 play off qualifying soccer match . REUTERS/Charles Platiau

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Tags: andy reid, central midfield, Charles Platiau, clairefontaine, Croke Park, defences, dubliner, face france, France, free kicks, Georgia, german city, giovanni trapattoni, hotel bar, manchester city, national soccer team, north east of england, PARIS, Reid, s central, Stade, stade de france, Stephen Ireland, thunderbolts, whelan

Burnley´s Nugent double stuns Sunderland

September 19, 2009

Burnley striker David Nugent marked his home debut with his first goals since February to give the Clarets a 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday.

Nugent joined Owen Coyle’s team in a six-month loan from Portsmouth on transfer deadline day and the England international made an immediate impact on his first appearance at Turf Moor.

The former Preston star hadn’t found the back of the net since scoring for Portsmouth against Liverpool last season, but he finally ended the drought in his 16th game since then to give Burnley a third home win in three attempts.

Coyle’s side, promoted via the play-offs last season, had taken the lead through a Graham Alexander penalty, but Darren Bent levelled before the break.

Then Nugent came off the bench just after the hour and turned the course of the game with two fine finishes.

Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell caused early panic in the Burnley defence with an incisive run and cross which was parried by Brian Jensen and hacked clear by Wade Elliott.

Steven Fletcher had Burnley’s first chance when he took Clarke Carlisle’s pass and drove a powerful shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

The Clarets were on the front foot again in the 12th minute and this time they got the breakthrough.

Anton Ferdinand needlessly tripped Elliott, who was running away from goal in the right corner of the penalty area and referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot.

Burnley captain Alexander stepped up to lash the penalty past Craig Gordon to open the scoring.

Steve Bruce’s team mounted an impressive response to that setback. Bent should have punished a mistake by Andre Bikey but shot straight at Jensen in the 21st minute.

Bent wouldn’t rue that miss for long. In the 39th minute Reid played a superb pass into the Burnley penalty area and Bent, cleverly timing his run to stay onside, slotted past Jensen for his fifth goal of the season.

Campbell almost put the visitors ahead in the 52nd minute when his low drive was blocked well at close range by Jensen after a neat lay-off by Steed Malbranque.

But with clear chances at a premium, Coyle sent on Nugent just past the hour.

It took just minutes for Nugent to make an impact as he met Elliott’s cross from the right and headed past Gordon.

Nugent scored just three goals in 34 league games for Portsmouth, but he had two for Burnley in less than half an hour after curling home a superb strike from long-range in the 86th minute.

BURNLEY, England (AFP)

Tags: andre bikey, anton ferdinand, back of the net, Brian Jensen, Campbell, captain alexander, Chris Foy, clarets, Clarke Carlisle, Craig Gordon, Darren Bent, david nugent, England, england international, fifth goal, first appearance, fraizer campbell, Gordon, Graham Alexander, home debut, impressive response, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Preston, Reid, s pass, Steve Bruce, Steven Fletcher, Sunderland, transfer deadline, turf moor, Wade Elliott

N´Zogbia snatches controversial Wigan win

March 15, 2009

SUNDERLAND, England (AFP) – Wigan midfielder Charles N’Zogbia snatched a controversial winner to secure a 2-1 victory at Sunderland on Saturday.

Steve Bruce’s side won for the first time in nine matches when N’Zogbia ran through to slot home while Sunderland’s players and fans appealed for the game to be stopped so Kenwyne Jones could receive treatment for a head injury.

Wigan had taken the lead through Ben Watson early on but Grant Leadbitter levelled for the hosts before N’Zogbia won it on the stroke of half-time.

With Lee Cattermole starting a four-match ban, Wigan boss Steve Bruce handed Watson a start as the visitors looked for a first league win in nine outings.

Sunderland looked out of sorts in the early stages as Djibril Cisse sliced a long-range effort well wide. Wigan sensed an opportunity to strike while the hosts found their feet and took the lead in the 12th minute.

Watson was allowed time and space on the edge of the box as the Sunderland defence backed away and he smashed a shot past Marton Fulop for his first goal since signing from Crystal Palace.

Sunderland had created little but they were almost back on terms with 17 minutes gone when Andy Reid’s shot took a wicked deflection and produced a fine save from Chris Kirkland, who recovered superbly to block Steed Malbranque’s follow up.

Cisse decided to shoot when a pass to Leadbitter would have been the better option and his effort failed to trouble Kirkland.

The Frenchman was looking the man most likely to create a chance for the hosts though and he crossed to Reid, whose shot straight at Kirkland.

Sunderland’s pressure paid off in the 41st minute. Cisse and then Kenwyne Jones helped on Fulop’s clearance and Leadbitter stabbed it past the Kirkland.

However, Wigan were back in front in controversial circumstances just four minutes later. With Jones down injured after suffering a head injury, the hosts appealed for play to stop but N’Zogbia ran from his own half to beat Fulop.

Sunderland appealed for penalty when Titus Bramble tangled with Jones but Dean waved away their protests.

Fulop was left exposed by Sunderland’s leaky defence when N’Zogbia played in Paul Scharner, only for the Austria international to see Fulop save well with his legs.

Watson came close to adding to his tally with 17 minutes remaining when he sent a dipping free-kick over the wall and saw Fulop pull off a good save to prevent it from nestling in the bottom corner.

Leadbitter thought he had levelled once again when he turned Daryl Murphy’s cross home, but an offside flag ruled out the strike.

Written by: AFP