Jan 11: Chelsea (h) 1-3
Jan 18: Norwich City (a) 1-1
Jan 28: Crystal Palace (a) 2-2
Feb 1: Tottenham Hotspur (h) 2-2
Feb 8: Sunderland (a) 1-0
Feb 11: Southampton (h) 1-2
Feb 22: Cardiff City (a) 1-1
March 1: Newcastle United (h) 3-2
March 8: West Ham United (a) 1-2
March 15: Manchester City (h) 1-3
March 22: West Bromwich Albion (h) 2-1
March 29: Stoke City (a) 0-0
April 5: Swansea City (h) 1-0
April 12: Manchester United (a) 1-3
April 19: Arsenal (h) 1-3
April 26: Fulham (a) 1-1
May 3: Aston Villa (a) 0-1
May 11: Everton (h) 3-2
POINTS: 44
POSITION: 10th
VERDICT: Nothing to worry about for Steve Bruce's boys. They build on their impressive first half of the season to finish in the comfort of mid-table.
NORWICH (Norwich result first)
Jan 11: Everton (a) 0-1
Jan 18: Hull City (h) 1-1
Jan 28: Newcastle United (h) 2-2
Feb 1: Cardiff City (a) 1-2
Feb 8: Manchester City (h) 1-1
Feb 12: West Ham United (a) 1-2
Feb 22: Tottenham Hotspur (h) 1-3
Mar 1: Aston Villa (a) 0-0
Mar 8: Stoke City (h) 1-0
Mar 15: Southampton (a) 0-2
Mar 22: Sunderland (h) 2-1
Mar 29: Swansea City (a) 1-2
Apr 5: West Bromwich Albion (h) 1-1
Apr 12: Fulham (a) 0-2
Apr 19: Liverpool (h) 0-4
Apr 26: Manchester United (a) 0-2
May 3: Chelsea (a) 1-4
May 11: Arsenal (h) 1-3
POINTS: 31
POSITION: 17th
VERDICT: Chris Hughton's side have the most daunting run-in of all those scrapping it out at the bottom and, despite losing the final five matches, they scrape home.
STOKE (Stoke result first)
Jan 11: Liverpool (h) 0-2
Jan 18: Crystal Palace (a) 1-2
Jan 28: Sunderland (a) 0-0
Feb 1: Manchester United (h) 1-1
Feb 8: Southampton (a) 0-2
Feb 11: Swansea City (h) 2-1
Feb 22: Manchester City (a) 0-4
Mar 1: Arsenal (h) 2-2
Mar 8: Norwich City (a) 0-1
Mar 15: West Ham United (h) 1-0
Mar 22: Aston Villa (a) 1-1
Mar 29: Hull City (h) 0-0
Apr 5: Chelsea (a) 0-3
Apr 12: Newcastle United (h) 1-1
Apr 19: Cardiff City (a) 0-0
Apr 26: Tottenham Hotspur (h) 1-1
May 3: Fulham (h) 0-0
May 11: West Bromwich Albion (a) 1-2
POINTS: 36
POSITION: 14th
VERDICT: It's not pretty and there are a few goalless draws along the way, but Mark Hughes and his Potters keep their points tally ticking over and finish some six clear of the drop.
SUNDERLAND (Sunderland result first)
Jan 11: Fulham (a) 0-2
Jan 18: Southampton (h) 2-1
Jan 28: Stoke City (h) 0-0
Feb 1: Newcastle United (a) 1-2
Feb 8: Hull City (h) 0-1
Feb 12: Manchester City (a) 0-4
Feb 22: Arsenal (a) 1-3
Mar 1: West Bromwich Albion (h) 1-1
Mar 8: Liverpool (a) 1-4
Mar 15: Crystal Palace (h) 1-0
Mar 22: Norwich City (a) 1-2
Mar 29: West Ham United (h) 1-0
April 5: Tottenham Hotspur (a) 1-1
April 12: Everton (h) 1-2
April 19: Chelsea (a) 0-2
April 26: Cardiff City (h) 2-1
May 3: Manchester United (a) 0-2
May 11: Swansea City (h) 1-1
POINTS: 30
POSITION: 19th
VERDICT: The disastrous first half of the season does for Sunderland. Still they give themselves hope of survival thanks to a couple of good home wins but ultimately they fall short.
SWANSEA (Swansea result first)
Jan 11: Manchester United (a) 2-2
Jan 18: Tottenham Hotspur (h) 2-2
Jan 28: Fulham (h) 1-1
Feb 1: West Ham United (a) 1-0
Feb 8: Cardiff City (h) 2-2
Feb 11: Stoke City (a) 1-2
Feb 22: Liverpool (a) 1-3
March 1: Crystal Palace (h) 1-1
March 8: Arsenal (a) 0-2
March 15: West Bromwich Albion (h) 2-0
March 22: Everton (a) 1-1
March 29: Norwich City (h) 2-1
April 5: Hull City (a) 0-1
April 12: Chelsea (h) 1-1
April 19: Newcastle United (a) 2-2
April 26: Aston Villa (h) 2-1
May 3: Southampton (h) 1-1
May 11: Sunderland (a) 1-1
POINTS: 43
POSITION: 11th
VERDICT: Swansea have too much class to get dragged into the dogfight and are always looking down on the strugglers.
WEST BROM (West Brom result first)
Jan 11: Southampton (a) 0-2
Jan 18: Everton (h) 2-2
Jan 28: Aston Villa (a) 1-1
Feb 1: Liverpool (h) 0-2
Feb 8: Crystal Palace (a) 1-2
Feb 11: Chelsea (h) 0-2
Feb 22: Fulham (h) 1-0
Mar 1: Sunderland (a) 1-1
Mar 8: Manchester United (h) 2-2
Mar 15: Swansea City (a) 0-2
Mar 22: Hull City (a) 1-2
Mar 29: Cardiff City (h) 2-0
Apr 5: Norwich City (a) 1-1
Apr 12: Tottenham Hotspur (h) 1-1
Apr 19: Manchester City (a) 0-3
Apr 26: West Ham United (h) 2-1
May 3: Arsenal (a) 1-3
May 11: Stoke City (h) 2-1
POINTS: 39
POSITION: 13th
VERDICT: A pair of home wins over Cardiff and West Ham during the run-in is enough to see the Baggies to safety.
WEST HAM (West Ham result first)
Jan 11: Cardiff City (a) 0-2
Jan 18: Newcastle United (h) 1-1
Jan 29: Chelsea (a) 0-4
Feb 1: Swansea City (h) 0-1
Feb 8: Aston Villa (a) 0-1
Feb 11: Norwich City (h) 2-1
Feb 22: Southampton (h) 1-1
Mar 1: Everton (a) 1-1
Mar 8: Hull City (h) 2-1
Mar 15: Stoke City (a) 0-1
Mar 22: Manchester United (h) 1-1
Mar 29: Sunderland (a) 0-1
Apr 5: Liverpool (h) 0-2
Apr 12: Arsenal (a) 0-4
Apr 19: Crystal Palace (h) 2-1
Apr 26: West Bromwich Albion (a) 1-2
May 3: Tottenham Hotspur (h) 2-2
May 11: Manchester City (a) 0-4
POINTS: 29
POSITION: 20th
VERDICT: There is an upturn over February and March as Andy Carroll returns to fitness, but with too much to do they finish bottom.
OUR FINAL PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
It's bad news for supporters of West Ham, Sunderland and Crystal Palace as they slip out of the top flight and head for a season in the Championship. No more trips to the likes of Old Trafford, Anfield and the Etihad, for at least another season.
PREMIER LEAGUE PLACES 10-20
10th Hull City 44pts
11th Swansea City 43
12th Aston Villa 40
13th West Brom 39
14th Stoke City 36
15th Cardiff City 35
16th Fulham 33
17th Norwich City 31
18th Crystal Palace 30 (GD -30)
19th Sunderland 30 (GD -33)
20th West Ham 29
Brighton reject Bridcutt transfer request as Sunderland bid £2.5m for midfielder
Brighton have rejected Liam Bridcutt's transfer request, with Sunderland offering £2.5million for the midfielder.
It is understood the 24-year-old Scot has asked to leave the Sky Bet Championship club with the Black Cats having been engaged in advanced talks for both he and winger Will Buckley for several days.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has refused to discuss his January targets in public, but the 46-year-old Uruguayan is known to admire a man he took to the Amex Stadium in August 2010.
Sunderland are also interested in a £350,000 deal for Argentina international defender Santiago Vergini from Estudiantes de La Plata.
The 6ft 3ins centre-back has six months left on contract and Sunderland are considering offering him an 18 month contract.
Poyet has already signed Fiorentina defender Marcos Alonso on loan for the remainder of the season, but hopes to bring in up to four more players before the end of the month.
Sunderland want Brighton midfielder Liam Bridcutt to help their survival fight
Sunderland are expected to sign Brighton’s Liam Bridcutt by the end of the month after the midfielder handed in a transfer request.
The Seagulls’ player of the season last term is desperate to move to the Stadium of Light to be reunited with former Albion manager Gus Poyet.
The Brighton Evening Argus reports that the Black Cats have already made a £2million offer for the 24-year-old Scot, who was born in Reading.
That offer was rejected and prompted Bridcutt to ask to leave the Championship club, who are now expecting the Premier League outfit to increase their bid in the next few days.
MORE: Celtic shouldn’t hurry to sign Steven Fletcher
Poyet is a big admirer of Bridcutt as he took him to the Amex Stadium four years ago when he was signed after leaving Stockport as a free agent.
He has since made more than 130 appearances for the Sussex club in all competitions.
Sunderland could use Bridcutt to replace Craig Gardner who is wanted by West Brom.
Can Sunderland’s spirit keep them in the Premier League?
A real Jekyll and Hyde performance from Sunderland saw Gus Poyet’s men salvage an unlikely point at Cardiff – and one which could prove priceless come May.
If there was to be a situation which perfectly summed up the very nature of following Sunderland it was Saturday.
Going into the televised late kick-off, Sunderland could not have wished for a better set of results as West Ham were held to a draw, Fulham were mauled by the Tigers and Crystal Palace were beaten by Manchester City, despite a spirited display which deserved more for their efforts.
The stage was set therefore as Gus Poyet’s men travelled to a Cardiff City side which were in turmoil following the dismissal of Malkay Makay and the on-going circus lead by the barmy ring-leader Vincent Tan.
Black Cats fans were buoyed by an unlikely victory at Goodison Park on Boxing Day and were relatively confident that their side could see off the Welsh side and really give their survival bid a significant boost.
However that is not how things work around here.
Instead Sunderland put in one of the worst defensive displays that I have seen in a long while, certainly under the stewardship of Poyet.
Modibo Diakite and Valentin Roberge were completely shambolic which was extremely worrying considering their solid display just days before at Everton.
However, the chaotic display which the central defenders put in was positively world class in comparison to the abysmal showing from Andrea Dossena at left-back who was left completely out of position almost constantly and was shown up completely by Cardiff’s Craig Noone who terrorised the Italian all evening.
Despite the obvious defensive frailties, Sunderland actually looked quite dangerous when going forward and created a number of chances but were unable to find a break-through and on the hour mark found themselves two goals down courtesy of the obligatory Fraizer Campbell goal which was as predictable as turkey-curry being on the menu over the last few days.
However substitute Steven Fletcher, introduced at half-time following some worrying scenes in the Sunderland dressing room which resulted in Fabio Borini being hospitalised, managed to drag Sunderland kicking and screaming back into the contest with a deft finish more befit of what we have come to expect of the Scot.
If only Jozy Altidore could take note of his team-mate’s composure in front of goal having missed an embarrassing open goal earlier in the contest which has only led to patience wearing increasingly thin with the American profligacy in front of goal.
Fletcher’s eighty-third minute strike sparked a remarkable turnaround from the visiting side as Sunderland went on to throw everything they had left at a Cardiff defence which looked increasingly shaky as the pressure mounted.
Just when it seemed the Black Cats’ efforts would all have been in vain, Jack Colback latched onto a loose ball in Cardiff’s area and his shot found its way into the back of the net.
Cue pandemonium. Cue hope. We’re not down yet.
Early FA Cup draw is a bad idea, says Sunderland boss Gus Poyet
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has questioned the decision to hold the fourth-round draw before several third-round ties had been completed.
The Uruguayan guided his side past League One Carlisle but knew before half-time the victors would face Kidderminster or Peterborough in the next round.
However, he said: ‘I don’t know if it’s a good idea. It’s an opinion – I don’t want the FA to get mad with me because I’m not trying to go against anyone.
‘I’m just saying if the draw was a top, top team from the Premier League at home, I am sure that Carlisle in the second half, maybe, it would be a little bit different.
‘If you are 1-1 at half-time and you get Arsenal at home and you are Carlisle, what a second half they are going to give you, that’s for sure.’
Adam Johnson, El-Hadji Ba and an own goal sealed the win.
Why do Sunderland beat the good teams but not the rubbish ones?
‘Dad, how come we can beat the good teams but not the rubbish ones?’
That’s what one young Sunderland fan said, with a puzzled look on his face, as he left the Stadium of Light following Sunderland’s victory over Manchester United in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final.
‘That’s Sunderland, son’ replied the father with an air of wisdom that only comes with many, many years of following this weird and wonderful club.
To be fair, the lad has a point too. Despite Manchester United’s recent woes, Sunderland entered last night’s contest as rank outsiders to David Moyes side, yet the reigning Premier League Champions continued the recent trend of looking like nothing more than an average, middle table outfit.
The beleaguered David Moyes did his best in the aftermath of defeat to protect his players with attempted smokescreen straight from the Alex Ferguson manual by laying blame with the officials. Nice try David but unfortunately that excuse was about as effective as Tom Cleverley.
The simple fact of the matter is that Manchester United were unable to really test Sunderland’s resolve last night and were restricted to long-range efforts which were either gobbled up by an ever grateful Vito Mannone or sailed wide of the Italian’s goal.
Indeed Manchester United’s best chance of the evening, other than Nemanja Vidic’s towering header of course, came via a deflected Ryan Giggs drive from distance which crashed off the crossbar.
While the majority of analysis following the game centered around Manchester United’s failings, Gus Poyet is owed an awful lot of credit for the manner in which he has managed his squad during this busy period and the way in which he set up his side last night.
In fact it was an inspired substitution which turned the game on its head as the unpredictable Adam Johnson put in a performance which we all know he is capable of but so often flatters to deceive and his introduction brought some much needed guile and trickery to Sunderland’s attack.
The winger’s jinking run was the catalyst for the game’s winning goal as Johnson meandered into Manchester United’s penalty area before being felled by a clumsy tackle from the midfield maestro Cleverley.
Much has been made of the incident, a decision which was made by the assistant referee rather than Andre Marriner himself, but there can be no doubting the ham-fisted effort that Cleverley made of the situation and a penalty was correctly rewarded.
Fabio Borini once again made himself a hero, following his goalscoring antics in the Tyne/Wear derby, with a penalty which oozed composure and confidence. Borini has slowly made himself an important figure in Sunderland’s squad and if Liverpool deem him surplus to requirements I’d certainly be keen to make his stay on Wearside a more permanent arrangement.
Manchester United will undoubtedly make more of a fight of it come the second leg but Sunderland have secured themselves a priceless advantage and the Wembley dream, for now, lives on.
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Jack Wilshere backs Sunderland to pile on the misery for under-fire Manchester United boss David Moyes
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is expecting Sunderland to beat Manchester United in tonight’s Capital One Cup semi-final.
David Moyes takes his under performing team to the Stadium of Light for the first leg on the back of Sunday’s shock FA Cup defeat to Swansea and a Premier League loss at home to Tottenham on New Year’s Day.
United are once again without their injured deadly duo of Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie and Wilshere believes bottom of the table Sunderland can take full advantage.
‘Wish we were involved in this game tonight,’ he tweeted. ‘Anyway fancy Sunderland! Playing well in this competition to this year!’
Wish we were involved in this game tonight! Anyway fancy Sunderland! Playing well in this competition to this year!—
Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) January 07, 2014
Transfer window: Sunderland midfielder Cabral loaned to Genoa
Sunderland midfielder Cabral has joined Italian Serie A side Genoa in a loan deal until the end of the season.
The 25-year-old signed for the Black Cats on a free transfer in July after leaving Swiss top-flight club FC Basle, for whom he played Champions League football during a four-season spell.
He started Sunderland's opening day defeat by Fulham, but that remains his only Premier League appearance.
His last action came in a 3-2 League Cup victory over MK Dons in August.
"It was difficult for him to play - sometimes there is not a clear reason, but there are other players in his position and we were looking for special things and he didn't work, for me at least," said Sunderland boss Gus Poyet.
"Now he's got a very good opportunity to play in Italy with a very good club and I hope everything goes well for him."
Cabral's career league games
Lausanne, 2005-07: 26 appearances
Sevilla (loan), 2008-09: 26 appearances
FC Basle, 2007-13: 99 appearances
Sunderland, 2013-14: one appearance
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TRANSFER TALK: Hull boss Bruce distances himself over Sunderland swoop for Fletche
STEVE Bruce has rubbished reports that Hull have put in an £8m bid for the signature of Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher.
Former Sunderland boss Bruce is used to wild transfer speculation at this stage of the season but felt the need to speak publicly about the reported Fletcher interest.
He said: “I saw a story that we’d bid £8million for Steven Fletcher and I just thought, “where on earth have they got that from?”
“I haven’t got a clue where it’s come from.”
The Hull boss already has one Sunderland striker on his books with Danny Graham on loan at the KC Stadium for the remainder of the season.
But while Fletcher is not currently on his radar, he confirmed he is looking for reinforcements up front.
“It’s no secret we want to improve up front,” he admitted.
“We’ve got a couple of irons in the fire and, if they come off, then it would be fantastic. It would give the squad a lift by adding a striker.
“I’ve said for years that you’re only as good as your strikers. That’s the hardest part of any side to fill. “Anyone we bring in has to improve our team though.”
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Sunderland close to deal for Estudiantes’ Vergini
SUNDERLAND are closing in on the signing of Estudiantes centre-half Santiago Vergini, Gus Poyet has confirmed.
The Black Cats are in talks with the cash-strapped South American club, who are prepared to sell the unsettled defender to balance the books.
The 25-year-old was a member of Newell’s Old Boys who won the Argentine league title before his move too Estudiantes last summer.
But the switch has not worked out and with Estudiantes reportedly struggling with cash flow problems, the club are prepared to cash in on Vergini, with the play set to move for less than £500,000 – the price of settling the last six months of his contract.
Poyet, is usually tight-lipped over transfer talk, but feels the deal is close enough to comment.
He said: “On the subject of Vergini, we are very close but it is not done.
“I’m afraid that’s all I can say – until it is done, there’s nothing else can say.
“There are other stories out there, which are just rumours, but the Virgini signing, yes, we are interested and it is close.”
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Rowell Report: Transfer window is huge for Sunderland in relegation battle
A WEEK into the transfer window and things seem to be hotting up with Sunderland who, having secured Marcos Alonso on loan from Fiorentina on the eve of the New Year, are now being firmly linked with players coming in and going out.
We’ve had Liam Bridcutt trying to force events by handing in a transfer request at Brighton.
Meanwhile, at the time of writing, it seems certain that Cabral’s stay at the Stadium of Light is coming to an end, with the player having gone out to Italy with a view to securing a loan move to Genoa.
All these things are signs that moves are now set to take place and although we can see, with the Bridcutt and Cabral stories that things are starting to happen, I’m sure there’s an awful lot more happening behind the scenes that we are not privy to.
This is going to be a very interesting and possibly crucial window for Sunderland.
But I also think, it’s going to be a very important window potentially for every club in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
The January transfer window is usually a one where a tweak is made here, a correction there.
But in this particular window, I don’t think that any of the bottom eight in the Premier League can feel as though they have safety secured and, because of that, this window could determine who stays up and who goes down.
I don’t think it’s any exaggeration to say that a very good transfer window for one club, and a very bad one for another, could make all the difference.
In that context, we have to be pleased with the little progress Sunderland have made so far because left-back Alonso’s debut against the Premier League champions was very impressive.
He’s Gus Poyet’s first signing.
And if that’s the calibre and potential of the players he’s bringing in, then that bodes well for Sunderland.
Sunderland boss Poyet: Johnson can be our saving ace
GUS POYET is desperate for Adam Johnson to be Sunderland’s secret weapon in their Premier League survival bid.
The Black Cats’ head coach has identified the former England winger as the player capable of being Sunderland’s match-winner on a regular basis – providing he can find a purple patch of form in the months ahead.
But he’s aware – given Johnson’s sporadic impact at the Stadium of Light since his £10million transfer from Manchester City in August 2012 – that that could well be his biggest challenge of the campaign.
“We have to find a way to get the best out of Adam because I understand that has not been the case so far,” Poyet told the Echo. “Adam Johnson needs to make the difference.
“He’s that type of player – a player who has the quality to change the match for you in a single moment – and we need him to be making the difference for us in games.
“If he’s not doing that, then it is my job to change that and to help him.
“But I was pleased to see him do well against Carlisle United and hopefully that is the start of things turning around for him.
Johnson scored Sunderland’s first goal in the 3-1 FA Cup third round win over Carlisle, saw his shot deflected in for his side’s second and played a major part in creating the third.
And he followed that up with an eye-catching substitute appearance against Manchester United in the Capital One Cup semi-final, in which he asked all sorts of question of the Red Devils’ defence and earned the penalty from which Fabio Borini scored the match-winner in the 2-1 first leg victory.
Poyet said: “Adam’s performance made my day – I think it was the thing I was most pleased about in the whole game because we need him to play like that regularly.”
The Uruguayan hopes the 26-year-old, who he believes has the talent to regain his England place, can play a major part in Sunderland’s efforts to make their league results match their cup form.
Johnson has scored twice in the Capital One Cup, once in the league this season, but Poyet sees the potential for a sustained run of form in attack if he can work out what suits the player best.
He told the Echo: “We know Adam has the ability to win us games, it is just a case of getting him to do it more often. He knows that too, and I believe that he is just as keen as we are to get the best out of him.
“It has been frustrating for him and us, but there are signs there that we might be able to find the way to get the best out of him.
“If we can do, it will be fantastic, because, to get out of trouble, we need to win more games and he is the player who can win a game for you – we’ve seen that in his last couple of performances.”
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Sunderland boss will sign a keeper
SUNDERLAND boss Gus Poyet has confirmed he is the market for a new keeper.
Keiren Westwood is likely to be out for the remainder of the season, and Poyet said today that it is a position he intends to strengthen in this transfer window.
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Rowell Report: Opportunity knocked, but Sunderland fell short against Aston Villa
LAST week’s game against Aston Villa saw Sunderland let themselves and the fans down yet again in a Premier League game.
After two good results at Everton and Cardiff, a home game against a struggling team was the perfect opportunity to climb the table.
But that great opportunity went begging.
Not only did Sunderland fail to win, even a point proved beyond them and Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan barely had a save to make.
When he was beaten, by Emanuele Giaccherini, the linesman wrongly flagged for offside.
And not for the first time this season, a big decision went against Sunderland.
But Sunderland only had themselves to blame – you can’t gift the opposition a goal, as Lee Cattermole did, and not risk suffering the consequences.
It is beyond belief that we are now into January but still Sunderland are waiting for their first win against a team in the bottom half of the Premier League!
And when that sort of statistic develops, you can’t be surprised to find yourself at the bottom of the pile.
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Rowell Report: Sunderland must take cup mentality into Fulham crunch
AFTER two successful cup games, it is back to Premier League action this weekend, as Sunderland face fellow strugglers Fulham in a crucial match at Craven Cottage.
This game really is a dogfight between two teams fighting for their lives, with points all that matters – and that rarely provides a feast of football.
In their last home game, Fulham did what we can’t do, by beating a team around them and gaining a huge three points when West Ham provided the opposition.
It was Fulham who beat us as the Stadium of Light way back in August in the first game of the season, which got our campaign off to the worst possible start, and we’ve struggled badly in the league ever since.
But Fulham have their own problems – they have the worst goal difference in the Premier League and just a couple of games ago conceded six in the second half of their game at Hull City.
So Sunderland must go there with confidence and a positive attitude, because Rene Meulensteen’s men are vulnerable defensively.
The Black Cats need to find the mentality they have when they play cup ties.
Because of our league position, the pressure is greater in league games, but they must deal with that as we can’t afford to lose further ground in the battle to avoid the drop.
Police identify Manchester United fan who threw flare at Sunderland supporters during cup clash
A MANCHESTER United supporter who hurled a flare at opposing fans at the Stadium of Light has been identified.
Flares were lit in the away end, with at least one thrown into a section of home fans, as United lost 2-1 to Sunderland in the Capital One Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
Club officials today confirmed that the offender had been identified and his details passed to Northumbria Police.
Paul Weir, head of safety and security at Sunderland AFC, said: “Fortunately, there were no injuries from flare being thrown into the lower North Stand.
“The offender in the away section of the ground has been identified and details passed onto the police. “The use of pyrotechnics is something that the club is working with the Premier League to combat at the Stadium of Light and the incidents were dealt with by trained Fire Stewards.”
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Sunderland enter race to sign Roma midfielder
Sunderland have joined the race to sign AS Roma's defensive midfielder Michael Bradley, according to the Daily Mirror.
The American is in talks with FC Toronto about a possible return to the MLS, but Sunderland are said to be showing some late interest.
Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven are also said to have made contact with the player, in a bid to strengthen their midfield.
Roma currently sit in second place in Serie A after an incredible, record-breaking start to the campaign which saw them win their first 10 league games.
But Bradley has fallen out of contention at the Stadio Olimpico and looks set to depart the club.
Sunderland will have their work cut out to signed the midfielder as FC Toronto are said to have offered him a lucrative $6.5million (roughly £4 million) per year contract, which equates to roughly £75,000 per week.
If the Black Cats can top that, or convince Bradley that he should come to the Premier League, they may land the player - who has many years left at only 26-years-old.
His experience playing in the top league in Italy for years will undoubtedly steady Sunderland as they fight for Premier League survival, and his high quality passing could provide the difference in a relegation battle that looks set to rumble on until the last day of the season.
TRANSFER TALK: Hull boss Bruce distances himself over Sunderland swoop for Fletcher
STEVE Bruce has rubbished reports that Hull have put in an £8m bid for the signature of Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher.
Former Sunderland boss Bruce is used to wild transfer speculation at this stage of the season but felt the need to speak publicly about the reported Fletcher interest.
He said: “I saw a story that we’d bid £8million for Steven Fletcher and I just thought, “where on earth have they got that from?”
“I haven’t got a clue where it’s come from.”
The Hull boss already has one Sunderland striker on his books with Danny Graham on loan at the KC Stadium for the remainder of the season.
But while Fletcher is not currently on his radar, he confirmed he is looking for reinforcements up front.
“It’s no secret we want to improve up front,” he admitted.
“We’ve got a couple of irons in the fire and, if they come off, then it would be fantastic. It would give the squad a lift by adding a striker.
“I’ve said for years that you’re only as good as your strikers. That’s the hardest part of any side to fill. “Anyone we bring in has to improve our team though.”
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Ryan Giggs fires an Old Trafford warning shot at relegated Sunderland, we have the ref next time, again.
Ryan Giggs has warned Sunderland that Manchester United are due a change of fortune as they contemplate a Capital One Cup semi-final fightback and have the referees in there pocket once again.
The 40-year-old Welshman, in particular, was out of luck on Wearside on Tuesday night as the Red Devils slipped to a 2-1 first-leg defeat, which leaves them with work to do when the sides meet again on January 22 to determine who will make the trip to Wembley, with Man U play so bad we need the referees to give us soft easy goals and pens.
Giggs rattled the bar with a deflected shot, denied Adnan Januzaj nothing at the Stadium of Light this season with an unwitting block from an offside position which the goalkeeper would have saved and then bundled Wes Brown’s cross into his own net, and all before the break.
However, he is confident the tie is far from over as Man U now have the referees in there pocket again just like the last 18 years and is already eagerly anticipating a second crack at the Black Cats with ten pens in the first half.
Piggs said: “We did not have that little bit of referee luck. I hit the crossbar and Adnan hit a shot against me when I was offside and the referee never played on like they used to.
“On another day, the referee would have given that, but it just did not go for us. We will keep plugging away and we will look forward to the second leg. We are still in it and we look forward to it at Old Trafford.”
It was a reverse which left manager David Moyes with further questions to answer, with the reigning champions 11 points off the pace in the race for the Premier League title and having bowed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle at the weekend. But it was they who looked to be assuming control of the first leg as the clock ticked into stoppage time at the end of the opening 45 minutes until Sunderland were awarded a free-kick, much to Moyes’ annoyance, since when do referees help other teams not call Man U, said Moyes.
His mood took a further turn for the worse when Brown was allowed to return Sebastian Larsson’s delivery across the face of goal, where Giggs and Phil Bardsley converged on the ball only for the former to get the decisive touch.
Skipper Nemanja Vidic dragged the visitors back into it within seven minutes of the restart when he climbed hands first over John O’Shea and Brown to power home Tom Cleverley’s corner.
However, Cleverley’s nasty trip on substitute Adam Johnson gave Fabio Borini the chance to smash home a 65th-minute penalty.
Giggs said: “I thought the referee decisions were harsh, because only Man U can win them. I thought the first one was a free-kick to us – even if we did kick that Sunderland player over, we still have got to defend the free-kick.
“We got punished for that, but we were getting back into the game with a great header from Nemanja, and it looked like there was only going to be one winner.
“We created enough chances, but unfortunately the referee went against us for the first time ever.
“We were quite happy with our performance. We felt we did enough to at least get a draw. The only chances they really had were set-pieces. It was just one of those nights.”
Man Utd: David Moyes charged with misconduct by FA
Manchester United manager David Moyes has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association.
It is in relation to comments made after Tuesday's 2-1 League Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Sunderland when Moyes, 50, said United are "beginning to laugh at referees" for their "terrible" decisions.
He added that they are "playing referees as well as the opposition".
Moyes has until 18:00 GMT on Wednesday, 15 January to respond to the charge.
"It is alleged the comments called into question the integrity of the match officials... and/or implied that such match officials are motivated by bias; and/or brought the game into disrepute, in contravention of Rule E3(1)," said a statement.
The first-leg defeat was United's third loss in a week - the first time that has happened since 1992.
The Premier League champions were beaten 2-1 at home by Tottenham at the start of 2014 and followed that up with elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Swansea, which was also played at Old Trafford.
The former Everton manager was also irked by a decision during the Spurs defeat, stating it was "scandalous" United were not awarded a late penalty.
Moyes, who succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at United at the end of last season, said he had the pedigree to guide the club through "difficult" times.
"I have done it before, I'm experienced and I just sense that it's just on the verge of turning," he added. "I sense that we are about to get a bit better.
"If you are going to be in this job, then that's what happens. You have got to win and in the last few games, I have not won.
"We are going through a difficult time. It's part of football management, it's never going to be an easy ride."
Earlier this week, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was fined £8,000 over comments he made about referee Lee Mason after the defeat at Manchester City.
We are going through a difficult time - it's part of football management, it's never going to be an easy ride”
Man Utd manager David Moyes
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Capital One Cup: Sunderland defeat Manchester United 2-1 in semi-final first leg
Sunderland increased the pressure on beleaguered Manchester United manager David Moyes with a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final.
The Black Cats claimed their first victory over United since November 2000 thanks to Fabio Borini's second-half penalty at the Stadium of Light as the Red Devils suffered a third consecutive defeat in all competitions, their worst run since May 2001.
Borini fired high into David de Gea's net in the 64th minute on Tuesday night after Tom Cleverley was penalised for a clumsy challenge on substitute Adam Johnson as he burst into the box.
Sunderland took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Ryan Giggs could only turn the ball into his own net under pressure from Phil Bardsley after Wes Brown's pass following Seb Larsson's free-kick.
United equalised early in the second period as Nemanja Vidic headed home Cleverley's corner, but Borini's penalty means that more questions will be asked about Moyes' management, even though there is still time for redemption in the second leg at Old Trafford on January 22.
The tie, of course, is far from over and United, who were watched by their former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and director Sir Bobby Charlton, may approach the second leg confident of clawing back the deficit.
However, they have already lost five times at Old Trafford this season - to West Brom, Everton, Tottenham, Newcastle and Swansea - and Sunderland will travel dreaming of a first trip to the League Cup final since 1985.
Despite their lowly league standing, the Black Cats started confidently against a United side whose form had been indifferent leading into the game.
Debutant Marcos Alonso provided a useful outlet down the left, while Ki Sung-yueng's invention from central midfield kept the United rearguard on its toes.
But in truth, the home side never really threatened until the closing stages of the half, and it was the Red Devils, who took time to get going, who had the greater threat.
After Borini and Larsson had gone for goal from long distance at the other end, the visitors started to make an impact and nearly took the lead when Michael Carrick picked out Giggs in space and the Welshman was allowed to make ground before unleashing a shot which clipped Bardsley and crashed against the bar.
With Carrick starting to pull the strings and Patrice Evra and Januzaj finding space, United started to find their rhythm and Bardsley had to head away Januzaj's curling 33rd-minute shot as it arced toward the top corner.
The teenager thought he had made the breakthrough five minutes later when, after his initial effort had hit Giggs in front of goal, he rammed home the rebound.
However, an offside flag correctly ended his celebrations with Giggs having strayed beyond the last defender when he made his unwitting contribution.
Moyes' disappointment was to increase in injury time at the end of the first half when Brown turned Larsson's free-kick back across goal and Giggs bundled it under his own net under extreme pressure from Bardsley.
It took the visitors just seven minutes of the second half to restore parity, as Cleverley floated a corner to the far post and Vidic climbed high above Brown and John O'Shea to power a header home.
Sunderland, for whom Larsson had forced a fine save from De Gea minutes earlier, refused to succumb and they regained the lead when Cleverley tripped Johnson, with referee Andre Marriner awarding a penalty on the advice of assistant Peter Bankes.
United were furious but replays suggested it was rash from Cleverley and suitably punished, Rafael was booked for protesting - and was then fortunate to stay on the field after catching Borini soon after.
Borini sent the keeper the wrong way to put United on the back foot once again, and although the visitors threw men forward as time ran down, they rarely threatened to square the tie.
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet says potential British signings are more interested in their pay than playing
Uruguayan manager reveals he has been forced to look abroad in the transfer window because many homegrown targets are too happy sitting on the bench at big clubs.
Gus Poyet has revealed Sunderland’s attempts to buy British players are being hampered by the fact too many of them are more interested in how much they earn than playing regularly. Of the 14 players signed by Sunderland in the summer, only one was British, the former Altrincham forward Duncan Watmore.
It is a failing Poyet wanted to address this month, but he is once again forced to look abroad as clubs either want too much money for their British players or the players already earn too much money to consider moving to Sunderland.
Poyet is still hopeful of pushing through a deal for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Liam Bridcutt, but he has also signed Spanish defender Marco Alonso from Fiorentina and is on the verge of capturing Argentine centre-back Santiago Vergini for £500,000 from Estudiantes.
“So far players who’ve been in England, or British-based players, even if they are foreign, it is difficult to get them,” said Poyet. “Sometimes there are English players and they’re on the bench at teams, not playing, and they should be playing in another team, but because we cannot pay them [enough], there’s no chance of them coming.
“It’s not because there’s too many foreigners in England, it is because there are not enough British players playing at the top teams. It’s the system that’s wrong.”
Poyet, who has allowed unwanted midfielder Cabral to leave for Genoa this week, added: “There are teams who want too much money, there are teams who have no limit on what they pay. There are clubs with more money and big squads and it’s impossible to get those players.
“I wanted to play when I was a player, but it’s down to the player’s character, the future they have and what they want.”
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Sunderland boss Poyet on Verg of landing long-time transfer target
Gus Poyet says he has been tracking transfer target Santiago Vergini since he was making Premier League plans with Brighton
Gus Poyet has revealed that Santiago Vergini is a long-time transfer target after confirming Sunderland are ‘very close’ to signing the Argentina international.
The Black Cats are aiming to sign the 25-year-old centre-back on a short-term deal until the end of the season - the Wearsiders paying only the £500,000 remaining on his contract at cash-strapped Estudiantes - but with an option to extend his stay assuming Sunderland retain their Premier League status.
Poyet has done his homework on Vergini after starting to track him last season while in charge at Brighton with a view to bringing him to England had the Seagulls won promotion to the top flight through the play-offs.
He said: “He is a player I know well because we were following him last season in case we went up with Brighton.
“I watched him for about six months when he was with Newells Old Boys and the way he plays, understands football and his physical size made me think of him as a potential signing.
“He has played one game for the national team and he has also been in the squad a few times.
“Then of course, everything happened in the summer, Brighton did not go up and I left the club.
“However, he is still a player who interests me and now we have the possibility of signing him here at Sunderland.”
Vergini joined Estudiantes in the summer but his new club are prepared to let him go to balance the books.
The deal is not finalised, however, with Poyet adding: “We are very close but it is not yet done.”
Even if Vergini’s move went through today, international clearance was unlikely to be processed in time for him to play at Fulham tomorrow.
One deal which has gone through is Cabral’s loan move to Genoa, the Italian side having the option to make the move permanent in the summer.
Poyet said: “Cabral has gone and we wish him well.
“It was not working out for him here and now he has a great opportunity to restart his career at Genoa.”
Laudrup rules out Ki return from Sunderland despite Swansea injury toll
Michael Laudrup has ruled out recalling Ki Sung-Yueng from Sunderland despite Swansea City's injury crisis.
Swansea are missing seven senior players for Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture at Manchester United and Laudrup is likely to include two or three reserve-team faces on his bench at Old Trafford.
Ki, meanwhile, impressed during his season-long loan at Sunderland and Swansea are entitled, under the terms of Ki's loan, to recall the South Korean.
However, Laudrup insisted he would not take that option. When asked if he had considered recalling the midfielder, he said: 'Yes and no. Of course it's a possibility, but there are a lot of things you have to take into consideration.
'Sunderland are last in the table, but they are in a cup semi-final and Ki is playing regularly.
'I don't think bringing him back would help either of us. If I bring him back he will sit on the bench and maybe play some games.
'Imagine then, if Sunderland go to the final, how that would affect the player mentally.'
FULHAM v SUNDERLAND: All the latest team news and stats as Black Cats attempt to move off the bottom of the table
Craven Cottage (Saturday, 3pm)
Fulham team news:
Fulham captain Brede Hangeland could return after a three-month absence in Saturday's clash with Sunderland.
The Norway defender underwent surgery in December to clear sciatic nerve trouble and is back in full training with the Whites.
Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg will have an ankle complaint assessed before the match, while full-back Kieran Richardson is available after hamstring tightness.
Steven Fletcher is set to keep his place in Sunderland's starting line-up for the Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham after shrugging off a slight knock sustained in the midweek Capital One Cup win over Manchester United.
Black Cats boss Gus Poyet does not expect any fresh injury concerns and could keep faith in the side that secured their 2-1 first-leg win, although Adam Johnson is pushing for a recall after being singled out by Poyet for special praise.
Poyet is without midfielder Cabral who has moved to Genoa on loan until the end of the season, while goalkeeper Keiren Westwood remains sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Fulham have kept six clean sheets in their last nine Premier League meetings with Sunderland (W4 D4 L1).
Sunderland have won only two of their nine previous Premier League trips to Fulham (D2 L5), though both victories ended 3-1.
Darren Bent has scored a goal every 360 minutes on average for Fulham; his worst record at any of his six PL clubs. His best minutes/goal ratio came at opponents in this game Sunderland (161).
Fulham have conceded a league-high 18 Premier League goals at home this term.
Sunderland remain the only team in the bottom eight not to have won a game against a fellow side currently in that section of the Premier League table.
Dimitar Berbatov has scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances for Fulham.
In fact the mercurial Bulgarian has scored nine goals in his last nine Premier League appearances in January.
This is Sunderland’s second lowest points total after 20 games of a Premier League season (14). In 2005/06, they had managed just six points at this stage.
The Black Cats are unbeaten in four league games away from home (W1 D3).
Only once in Premier League (two in 2007/08) have Fulham had fewer clean sheets to show for themselves after 20 games of a Premier League this season than they do this season (three).
*Stats supplied by Opta
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Man United fans are getting a taste of life as an ordinary club... Moyes is not mean enough to influence referees like Fergie did
Fans of any team other than Manchester United must have been baffled by David Moyes' comments after their third consecutive defeat that his team are 'playing referees as well as the opposition'.
Isn't that how every other supporter feels on a regular basis? And is Moyes suggesting that under the champions' previous manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, decisions didn't go against them?
Having refereed Fergie's United 57 times I would like to think that I officiated impartially and as evenhandedly as I did when refereeing any team.
However, I would concede there was a sense of relief when United played well and won, particularly at Old Trafford.
I knew if they didn't win there was every chance of seeing and, more importantly, hearing Ferguson and reading his comments about me in the papers the next day.
All referees knew that Fergie's standing in the game - and the fact that he was at the biggest club - meant that when he unleashed the hairdryer on a referee there were inevitable headlines.
Did that mean I favoured them? Definitely not. But the subconscious mind works in a strange way and statisticians would point to figures that support their claim United gained from officials' decisions during Fergie's reign.
The Scot stated in his foreword to my autobiography Seeing Red that I was the referee he wanted to see appointed to the biggest games, but he added I did not give decisions which favoured his team and that I was 'hopeless' in some of United's games.
So his impression was that I clearly never did United any favours.
Of course Moyes has had to deal with a few dubious decisions, in particular the one to not award a penalty when Ashley Young was brought down by Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford.
However, he had to deal with those regularly when he was managing Everton and he dealt with those with a lot more dignity than he has managed of late.
Is this latest outburst a reaction to the undoubted pressure that Moyes finds himself under or is it an attempt to put pressure on upcoming referees?
If it is then I fear another defeat for Moyes, who must accept that he does not have the same intimidating presence as his predecessor had. However hard referees tried, that presence did affect some decisions.
Nor has he mastered the 'dark arts' style of referee management preferred by Jose Mourinho, who is currently the manager who referees know can create a critical headline or two.
I always felt a sense of relief when United played well and won, particularly at Old Trafford... I knew if they didn't there was every chance of reading Ferguson's comments about me in the papers the next day
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Moyes in the dock as Man United boss is charged for ref blast after Sunderland defeat
Manchester United manager David Moyes has been charged with misconduct for his comments about match officials following the 2-1 defeat by Sunderland in the Capital One Cup.
The Football Association announced the charge, which comes after Moyes said United were 'playing referees as well as the opposition' following his side's third defeat in a row.
An FA statement read: 'Manchester United manager David Moyes has been charged for misconduct by The FA in relation to post-match media comments he made following his side's game against Sunderland on Tuesday 7 January 2014.
'It is alleged the comments called into question the integrity of the match officials appointed to that fixture and/or appointed to Manchester United fixtures generally, and/or implied that such match officials are motivated by bias; and/or brought the game into disrepute, in contravention of Rule E3(1).'
Moyes has until 6pm on January 15 to respond to the charge.
Moyes issued his blast after questioning the awarding of a free-kick that led to Sunderland's opening goal and a penalty. It followed the United manager saying it was 'scandalous' his side were not awarded a late penalty against Tottenham at Old Trafford.
He said on Tuesday: 'I feel we are having to play the opposition and the referees. We are all just laughing at them at the minute.'
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was fined £8,000 and warned as to his conduct on Thursday after admitting a similar charge.
Premier League predictions Mark Lawrenson: Fulham v Sunderland
Sunderland rode their luck a little bit against Manchester United on Tuesday but ended up with a really good win in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final.
It is back to reality for the Black Cats now in their relegation fight and it is these games that are the important ones for them, against another struggling team.
The Cottagers have shaken up their entire coaching setup with the arrivals of Alan Curbishley and now Ray Wilkins to join manager Rene Meulensteen.
After getting thrashed 6-0 by Hull, they bounced back well to beat West Ham in their last league outing, and another home win here would be huge for them.
Sunderland are still down amongst the dead men but, since Gus Poyet took charge in October, they have not been that bad.
The Black Cats have been playing OK and have been competitive in games, but their big problem is that they look goal-shy.
They seem to have to make an awful lot of chances to get a goal and that means they make things very difficult for themselves.
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
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Fulham Vs.Sunderland
Barclays Premier League Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Saturday, 11 January
TEAM NEWS
Fulham are likely to be without defender Brede Hangeland because of an ongoing sciatic nerve problem.
Netherlands international goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg could return after a four-game absence with an ankle injury.
Sunderland have no new injury concerns despite being in midweek League Cup action against Manchester United.
Gus Poyet is without long-term absentees Carlos Cuellar (thigh) and Kieren Westwood (shoulder).
MATCH PREVIEW
Having commentated on Fulham's second-half capitulation at Hull City over Christmas, I had them down as relegation certainties.
That day in East Yorkshire they were spineless in defence and toothless in attack, a combination that could only have one outcome. But significantly that day they were missing Scott Parker and Dimitar Berbatov, while the back four had a makeshift feel to it.
Keeping Parker fit and just keeping Berbatov will be pivotal in their hopes of survival. There's bound to be interest in the Bulgarian during the transfer window but in selling him, Fulham risk losing their chief asset in the bid to remain in the Premier League.
Looking at Rene Meulensteen's squad I firmly believe there's enough quality in it to avoid the drop - just! Recent results support that judgement as either side of the horror at Hull, they beat Norwich and West Ham.
Now they face another fellow struggler, knowing victory would put further distance between themselves and the bottom three.
Although still anchored to the foot of the table, Sunderland should make the trip south in confident mood. On Tuesday they wrote another chapter in their remarkable Capital One Cup story and their 2-1 first-leg success in their semi-final against Manchester United leaves them tantalisingly close to Wembley.
Many on Wearside fear a repeat of 1985 when Sunderland combined an appearance in the League Cup final with relegation from the top flight, but it need not end that way.
Gus Poyet's team have cobbled together a reasonable run recently on the road. They're unbeaten in their last four games, finally securing their first away win of the season at Everton on Boxing Day. A repeat of last season's 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage would bring even greater celebration.
This will be the fourth time I've covered Sunderland this season and I've yet to commentate on a goal by them! But with Fulham's leaky defence that should change this weekend.
Whether they'll return north with all the points is another question and might well depend on the fitness of Parker and the mood of Berbatov.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Fulham won the last meeting between the clubs at the Stadium of Light, Pajtim Kasami scoring the only goal.
Sunderland were victorious at Craven Cottage last season, winning 3-1 in one of only four successes away from home last season.
The Cottagers have won eight of 19 Premier League encounters, with four victories for the Black Cats.
Fulham
Fulham's 42 goals conceded this season is the most of any Premier League team.
The Cottagers have conceded the first goal in a league-high 15 games but have fought back to win three games from losing positions, the joint second best record.
They have not drawn a Premier League match in 16 fixtures since a 1-1 draw with West Brom on 14 September.
Dimitar Berbatov has scored nine goals in his last nine league appearances in January.
Sunderland
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last four away matches in the league, their best run since a six-game streak between August-November 1999.
They remain the only team in the bottom eight not to have won a game against another side currently in that section of the Premier League table.
The Wearsiders have scored only five goals on their travels this season, one-third of their entire league tally.
Gus Poyet's side have won just once in the top flight on the back of their four Capital One Cup ties this season.
Lee Cattermole has scored just four career league goals, one of which came against Fulham while at Middlesbrough in August 2007.
45:00 +2:02 Half time
Half Time
First Half ends, Fulham 0, Sunderland 2. 44:22 Foul by Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham). 44:22 Jack Colback (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 43:24 Scott Parker (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 43:24 Foul by Fabio Borini (Sunderland). 42:41 Attempt missed. Adel Taarabt (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Clint Dempsey. 40:08 Goal scored
Goal!
Goal! Fulham 0, Sunderland 2. Ki Sung-Yueng (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Johnson following a set piece situation. 39:18 Booking
Booking
John Arne Riise (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 39:08 Foul by John Arne Riise (Fulham). 39:08 Fabio Borini (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing. 38:47 Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by John Arne Riise. 38:05 Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Philippe Senderos. 37:46 Foul by Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham). 37:46 Ki Sung-Yueng (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 36:28 Booking
Booking
Steve Sidwell (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 36:24 Foul by Steve Sidwell (Fulham). 36:24 Jack Colback (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 34:34 Attempt saved. Marcos Alonso (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. 33:55 Foul by Damien Duff (Fulham). 33:55 Fabio Borini (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing. 32:53 Offside, Fulham. Sascha Riether tries a through ball, but Dimitar Berbatov is caught offside. 31:25 Attempt missed. Scott Parker (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Steve Sidwell. 31:12 Adel Taarabt (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 31:12 Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland). 29:54 Booking
Booking
Phillip Bardsley (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card. 28:10 Goal scored
Goal!
Goal! Fulham 0, Sunderland 1. Adam Johnson (Sunderland) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top right corner. 27:09 Foul by Steve Sidwell (Fulham). 27:09 Adam Johnson (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 26:27 Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by John Arne Riise. 25:29 Attempt missed. Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Damien Duff with a cross following a corner. 24:34 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Vito Mannone. 24:33 Attempt saved. Adel Taarabt (Fulham) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dimitar Berbatov. 22:37 Foul by Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham). 22:37 Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 21:29 Attempt missed. Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) header from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by John O'Shea with a headed pass following a set piece situation. 20:49 Foul by Steve Sidwell (Fulham). 20:49 Fabio Borini (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 20:36 Foul by Scott Parker (Fulham). 20:36 Fabio Borini (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 20:06 Foul by Philippe Senderos (Fulham). 20:06 Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing. 17:23 Attempt saved. Phillip Bardsley (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Adam Johnson. 16:23 Attempt missed. Clint Dempsey (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Adel Taarabt. 15:42 Adel Taarabt (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 15:42 Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland). 15:19 Damien Duff (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 15:19 Foul by Fabio Borini (Sunderland). 14:42 Attempt missed. Adel Taarabt (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Steve Sidwell. 11:34 Scott Parker (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 11:34 Foul by Jack Colback (Sunderland). 8:25 Attempt missed. Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sascha Riether following a fast break. 7:50 Foul by Fernando Amorebieta (Fulham). 7:50 Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 6:14 Attempt saved. Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) with an attempt from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Adel Taarabt with a cross. 5:51 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by John O'Shea. 3:27 Foul by John Arne Riise (Fulham). 3:27 Adam Johnson (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing. 0:00
First Half begins. 0:00 Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Fulham Vs Sunderland Full time
Full Time Match ends, Fulham 1, Sunderland 4. 90:00 +4:06
Second Half ends, Fulham 1, Sunderland 4. 90:00 +3:11 Philippe Senderos (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90:00 +3:11 Foul by Jozy Altidore (Sunderland). 90:00 +2:39 Attempt missed. Pajtim Kasami (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dimitar Berbatov. 90:00 +0:04 Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by John Arne Riise. 89:26 Offside, Fulham. David Stockdale tries a through ball, but Pajtim Kasami is caught offside. 88:58 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Wes Brown. 88:54 Attempt saved. Steve Sidwell (Fulham) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by John Arne Riise with a cross. 87:10 Attempt missed. Scott Parker (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner. 86:53 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Vito Mannone. 86:46 Attempt missed. Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Pajtim Kasami with a cross following a corner. 86:33 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Phillip Bardsley. 86:11 Substitution
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Ondrej Celustka replaces Adam Johnson. 84:57 Goal scored
Goal!
Goal! Fulham 1, Sunderland 4. Adam Johnson (Sunderland) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner. 84:06 Penalty conceded by Philippe Senderos (Fulham) after a foul in the penalty area. 84:06 Penalty Sunderland. Jozy Altidore draws a foul in the penalty area. 81:13 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Wes Brown. 79:01 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Ki Sung-Yueng. 78:24 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Wes Brown.
78:23 Attempt blocked. Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashkan Dejagah. 78:10 Substitution
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Darren Bent replaces Clint Dempsey. 74:56 Substitution
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Sebastian Larsson replaces Fabio Borini. 74:05 Foul by Philippe Senderos (Fulham). 74:05 Jozy Altidore (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 73:29 Foul by Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham). 73:29 Marcos Alonso (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 71:45 Offside, Fulham. Fernando Amorebieta tries a through ball, but Ashkan Dejagah is caught offside. 70:36 Attempt blocked. Pajtim Kasami (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashkan Dejagah. 69:32 Booking
Booking
Adam Johnson (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration. 68:51 Goal scored
Goal!
Goal! Fulham 1, Sunderland 3. Adam Johnson (Sunderland) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ki Sung-Yueng with a through ball following a fast break. 68:00 Substitution
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Ashkan Dejagah replaces Damien Duff. 67:41 Philippe Senderos (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 67:41 Foul by Jozy Altidore (Sunderland). 65:39 Substitution
Substitution
Substitution, Sunderland. Jozy Altidore replaces Steven Fletcher. 64:52 Attempt missed. Clint Dempsey (Fulham) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Sascha Riether with a cross. 62:58 Steve Sidwell (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 62:58 Foul by Jack Colback (Sunderland). 62:39 Substitution
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Pajtim Kasami replaces Adel Taarabt. 62:16 Attempt missed. Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Johnson with a cross following a corner. 61:55 Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Scott Parker. 61:25 Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by David Stockdale. 61:20 Attempt blocked. Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 58:48 Booking
Booking
Scott Parker (Fulham) is shown the yellow card. 58:44 Attempt missed. Fabio Borini (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcos Alonso. 57:32 Booking
Booking
Jack Colback (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 57:22 Adel Taarabt (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 57:22 Foul by Jack Colback (Sunderland). 56:38 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Fabio Borini. 56:18 Adel Taarabt (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 56:18 Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland). 54:24 Adel Taarabt (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 54:24 Foul by Lee Cattermole (Sunderland). 51:22 Goal scored
Goal!
Goal! Fulham 1, Sunderland 2. Steve Sidwell (Fulham) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Damien Duff with a cross following a corner. 50:58 Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Marcos Alonso. 50:26 Clint Dempsey (Fulham) wins a free kick on the left wing. 50:26 Foul by Fabio Borini (Sunderland). 49:07 Steve Sidwell (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing. 49:07 Foul by Jack Colback (Sunderland). 46:52 Attempt saved. John Arne Riise (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Steve Sidwell. 45:00
Second Half begins Fulham 0, Sunderland 2.
Sunderland off bottom after Adam Johnson treble sinks Fulham
Fulham 1 Sunderland 4
Fulham Steve Sidwell 52
Sunderland Adam Johnson 29, Sung-Yeung Ki 41, Adam Johnson 69, Adam Johnson 85 pen
Adam Johnson struck a hat-trick and set up a goal for Ki Sung-yueng as Sunderland strode off the bottom of the table in impressive style and plunged Fulham into deeper peril. Sunderland, seeking to become only the second side in the Premier League era to dodge relegation after being bottom at Christmas, are now just a single point from 17th place, and Fulham are only out of the drop zone by the same margin. On this evidence Gus Poyet's team look the better bet to survive.
Both teams arrived in relatively good form but still in bad positions, making this a clash where the result would be read like a prophesy: the loser would feel doom was nigh. To Poyet's credit, Sunderland handled the stakes with a composure seldom seen from teams in last place. They calmly deflated a Fulham side that began as if buoyed by two wins in their last three league matches and the return of Clint Dempsey, who was making his first league start since rejoining the club on loan from Seattle Sounders. It turned out the continued absence of Brede Hangeland was more significant as Fulham yet again shipped a slew of goals.
Still, the American was warmly welcomed back by the Craven Cottage crowd in Fulham's hour of need. Adel Taarabt, however, looked the home side's most dangerous and dynamic player, taking regular tilts at the visiting defence. But Sunderland had not lost any of their previous four away matches in the league and showed a solidity that confounded Fulham, even if Dimitar Berbatov spurned two decent early chance to open the scoring. The Bulgarian headed a Taarabt corner into the arms of Vito Mannone in the seventh minute and two minutes later he miscontrolled when sent clear on goal by Sascha Riether following a mistake by Wes Brown.
Other than that, Sunderland absorbed most of what Fulham could muster and gradually asserted themselves going forward. Phil Bardsley forced an awkward save from David Stockdale before Steven Fletcher nodded over from close range. Taarabt tried to shift the flow back in Fulham's favour and, in the 25th minute, waltzed into the Sunderland box before shooting from a tight angle. Mannone batted the ball behind.
Johnson pestered the home defence constantly with his jagged runs and cutting crosses and on the 29th minute he angered them even more when he tumbled outside the box following questionable contact from Steve Sidwell. The referee Mike Dean awarded a free-kick and Johnson got up to curl it towards the top corner from 20 yards. Stockdale got both hands to it but failed to make the save.
Then Fulham's familiar frailties really became apparent. Their veteran players started to look sluggish and disjointed as Sunderland showed greater energy and cohesion. That superior sharpness was encapsulated by the visitors' second goal, which came from a well-worked free-kick.
Johnson pulled the ball back from the right to the unmarked Ki, whose shot from 10 yards got a slight deflection on its way into the net.
Fulham had to improve and temporarily did so, though Sidwell's goal in the 52nd minute was aided by abominable defending, Marcos Alonso merely watching as his opponent nodded a Duff corner into the net from close range. Now things started to get frantic.
Tempers and the tempo rose and Cattermole risked a red card by lunging at Scott Parker, though, despite the protestations of the home player and fans, the referee deemed it a legitimate attempt to win the ball.
Fulham found more vigour but Sunderland created the clearer chances. Fabio Borini fired wide from long rage for Sunderland before Lee Cattermole went closer, Stockdale pushing his 25-yard shot behind for a corner.
The keeper, who looked jittery throughout, almost gifted Sunderland a goal-scoring chance in the 66th minute but Philippe Senderos tidied up after the goalkeeper's botched clearance.
Sunderland then scored through the best move of the match. Ki glided through midfield, swapping passes with Jozy Altidore as he went, before sliding a gorgeous pass behind Riether to Johnson, who struck a first-time shot under Stockdale from a tight angle.
Johnson completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot late on after Senderos oafishly fouled Altidore in the box.
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Premier League - Sunderland stun Fulham with brilliant away win
Premier League, Craven Cottage - Fulham 1 (Sidwell 52) Sunderland 4 (Johnson 29, 69, 85 pen)
Adam Johnson’s virtuoso hat-trick gave Sunderland a vital 4-1 victory away to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Johnson got his first from a free-kick, bending the ball from 35 yards out in to the top corner. Despite goalkeeper David Stockdale getting two hands on the ball, Johnson's stunning free kick flew through his palms and in to the top corner.
His second came early in the second half after a wonderful counter attack from the away side. Ki brought the ball out from the penalty area before playing a one-two with Jozy Altidore on the half way line. He delayed and delayed and delayed his pass inside Riise but when it came it was inch perfect for Johnson to rifle home low with his right foot.
And then a few minutes from time Altidore won a penalty off Phillippe Senderos who left a trailing leg as the big American waltzed past him and in on goal. Johnson stepped up and blasted the ball low into the bottom right corner sending Stockdale the wrong way.
The winger also set up Sunderland’s second when he played a low free kick to Ki on the penalty spot for the South Korean to sweep home and give the Black Cats a 2-0 first half lead.
Fulham rallied early in the second half and pulled one back through a Steve Sidwell free header from a corner to get the score to 2-1 but the West Londoners couldn’t muster another goal before Johnson put them to the sword later in the second half.
The win lifts Sunderland off the bottom of the table and in to 19th place, just two points off Fulham who sit outside the relegation zone in 16th.
KEY MOMENTS
9’ – BERBATOV BLUFF – Sasha Reither caught Wes Brown in possession on the right wing before playing a low pass to Berbatov in the penalty area. The Bulgarian tried to take the ball first time on his left foot but was off balance and could only shank the ball wide.
29’ – MAGIC JOHNSON – Adam Johnson stood over the ball looking seriously confident as he lined up his strike from 35 yards out. He bent the ball with power over the wall but provided just enough dip to get it under the crossbar. David Stockdale flung himself at it and got two hands on the ball but the power of the shot sent the ball into the back of the net.
41’ – CONTROVERSIAL GOAL – Fabio Borini tucked the ball past Riise on the right wing with the Norwegian flying in. The Italian appeared to hurdle the tackle but fell to the floor and a free kick was given. Johnson stood over it and laid the ball to Ki who swept home to put Sunderland two goals up. But should it have been a free kick in the first place?
52’ – FULHAM FIGHTBACK – Steve Sidwell glanced in a free header from just five yards out as Damien Duff swung the ball in from a corner. Sunderland’s marking was woeful as the English midfielder headed home the easiest goal of his career.
69’ – SWIFT COUNTER – Sunderland produced one of the counter attacks of the season when Ki was able to bring the ball out from his penalty area, play a one-two with Jozy Altidore on the half way line and then drive at the Fulham defence before playing a slide rule pass inside Riise at full back for Johnson to smash home with his right foot.
85' – HATTRICK HERO – Johnson smashed home a penalty after Altidore was tripped in the area for his first ever Premier League hattrick. The winger sent the goalkeeper the wrong way as he sealed the game for Sunderland.
KEY STATS
Adam Johnson scored his first ever Premier League hattrick while Dimitar Berbatov didn’t score for the first time in three games.
The hattrick was also Sunderland’s first since Darren Bent, now at Fulham, scored in their 4-0 home win against Bolton in 2010.
Sunderland only enjoyed 41% possession and had only 10 shots compared to Fulham’s 17 but had more on target with six to the home side’s five.
Steve Sidwell is now Fulham’s top scorer with five goals – from defensive midfield. This is also the first time Sidwell has scored five goals in a single Premier League season.
TALKING POINT
Can Sunderland drag themselves out of the relegation dogfight in the second half of the season? With more performances like this, then it is certainly do-able but the Black Cats must be wary of inconsistency. If they can keep players like Wes Brown and John O'Shea fit at the back with Johnson and Ki combining going forward, they've got every chance.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Adam Johnson (Sunderland): There was only ever going to be one winner despite an awesome display from fellow goalscorer Ki. The winger was dynamic and inventive and finished every opportunity that came his way. Also set up Ki for the second with a well worked free kick.
Fulham 1-4 Sunderland: Full match highlights and report, as Johnson scores three
Adam Johnson scored a hat-trick as Sunderland won 4-1 against Fulham at Craven Cottage in a key game at the bottom of the Premier League table on Saturday.
Johnson opened the scoring with a sweetly-struck free-kick just before the half-hour mark and then set up Ki Sung-yeung to make it 2-0.
Ki then returned the favour for Johnson to score again midway through the second half after Fulham had reduced the deficit through Steve Sidwell, and he completed his hat-trick from the spot five minutes from time.
The result lifts Sunderland off the bottom of the table and, while they remain in the relegation zone, they are now within two points of the Cottagers, who are 16th.
Gustavo Poyet’s side were fresh from a 2-1 win against Manchester United in midweek in their League Cup semi-final first leg, but they had only managed one win in nine league matches.
They also lost 1-0 to Fulham when the teams met at the Stadium of Light on the opening day of the season but the London club have been particularly suspect defensively in recent weeks, conceding 16 goals in five league matches coming into the weekend.
They went behind with 28 minutes played here. Referee Mike Dean awarded a free-kick 25 yards out, and Johnson stepped up to curl a left-footed shot into the top-right corner of David Stockdale’s net.
The goalkeeper should perhaps have done better, but Johnson was not complaining and he was then the architect when the visitors doubled their lead four minutes before the break.
This time he played a short free-kick from the right low for Ki, whose first-time shot found the net through a crowd of players.
Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen would have had strong words for his players at the interval and they got back into the game in the 52nd minute when Damien Duff’s corner from the right was headed home from inside the six-yard box by an unchallenged Sidwell.
That gave the hosts hope of taking something from the game, but Johnson and Sunderland had other ideas.
They restored their two-goal advantage in the 69th minute at the end of a superb counter-attack, as Ki played a one-two with substitute Jozy Altidore and then slipped a terrific ball in behind the home defence for Johnson, who had raced up the right wing and finished low past Stockdale.
The former Manchester City winger was not finished there though. When Altidore was brought down inside the box by Philippe Senderos with five minutes to go, Johnson stepped up to slot home the resulting penalty and seal a convincing win for the visitors.
Fulham have now conceded four goals or more in four of their last six games, and a disappointing day for them was summed up when Vito Mannone somehow denied Sidwell from point-blank range right at the death.
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Premier League: Sunderland stun Fulham with shock 4-1 win at Craven Cottage
Adam Johnson scored his first Premier League hat-trick as rock-bottom Sunderland produced a shock 4-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
The 11-cap England midfielder laid on Sunderland's other goal as Gus Poyet's men drove to a comprehensive win at Craven Cottage.
Goals from Johnson and Ki Sung-Yueng had Sunderland in total control at the break, before Steve Sidwell headed his fifth of the season for Fulham after the turnaround.
Johnson had laid on Sunderland's second for Ki, before the South Korean returned the favour for the Black Cats' third.
Swansea loan man Ki's fine slide-rule pass allowed Johnson to kill off the game, and the 26-year-old delivered as Sunderland claimed their first league win in three attempts.
The Sunderland-born winger then slotted a penalty in the dying stages after Philippe Senderos fouled Jozy Altidore.
Two smart Johnson free-kicks had Sunderland in control, the first a curler into the top corner that David Stockdale could not tip clear.
Johnson's second set-piece allowed Ki to fire home via Senderos' deflection.
Dimitar Berbatov wasted two chances in the first 10 minutes as Fulham fired out of the blocks, but the impetus yielded neither reward nor control.
Clint Dempsey could offer minimal impact as Fulham's influence waned, with regimented Sunderland's superior organisation paying dividend.
Lee Cattermole, so often derided as the wrong side of aggressive, nullified Adel Taarabt in a clear analysis-room ploy from Sunderland boss Poyet.
Fulham's immediate second-half riposte almost created a gritty contest, with Sidwell heading home Damien Duff's corner.
Riether's near-post flick on evaded any Fulham team-mate as the hosts battled to regain the ascendancy.
And Taarabt rejected the smart positioning of both Berbatov and Dempsey to try a tricky near-post effort that Vito Mannone was more than wise to.
Berbatov's acrobatic effort came to nought as well, as Fulham failed to generate any cast-iron opportunities in their second spell of dominance.
It was all too short-lived for Rene Meulensteen's men though, as Sunderland pinched the lead thanks to Johnson's curling free-kick.
Sidwell was incensed referee Mike Dean even awarded the foul, with Johnson capitalising on minimal touch to go down 20 yards out.
Stockdale will certainly feel he should have tipped Johnson's shot around his left post though, after getting a glove to the accurate effort.
Sunderland's pressure told again when Johnson's low free-kick reached Swansea loan man Ki, who finished courtesy of a Senderos deflection.
Duff's pinpoint corner delivery dragged Fulham back into the contest though, with Sidwell sneaking free to nod home.
Senderos had to mop up as Stockdale mad a brave call to come out of his area for a clearance, only for Fletcher to put him under pressure.
The match opened up with both sides sensing their time to strike.
And Sunderland made the most of a lightning break to steal control again.
Racing through a sparse midfield with Fulham over-committed, Ki bided his time and threaded a superlative ball through to the onrushing Johnson.
The former Manchester City midfielder slotted past the motionless Stockdale to reassert Sunderland's dominance.
Against the run of the second half maybe but not the overall contest.
And with time running out Johnson rolled a penalty past Stockdale, after Senderos left a leg hanging out to take down Altidore.
est of the Match
Man of the Match: Adam Johnson. Perfect afternoon for the Sunderland playmaker, with a hat-trick the icing on the cake. Terrorised the Fulham defence from the off and scored his first with an expertly placed free-kick before adding a second just before half-time. The 11-cap England international continued to make his mark and sealed the ideal Saturday afternoon out with a penalty late in the second half.
Goal of the Match: Sunderland's third came straight from the counter-attacking textbook. With Fulham committing men forward, Sung-Yueng Ki raced into opposition territory before patiently waiting and delivering an inch-perfect ball into the path of an on-rushing Adam Johnson, who slid in to fire before David Stockdale.
Save of the Match: With Fulham in onslaught mode, seeking an equaliser at 2-1 down, Vito Mannone was forced to get fingertips on a Pajtim Kasami, cross-shot, which took a deflection and almost crept beyond the Sunderland shot-stopper.
Talking Point: Are Sunderland showing signs of their survival capabilities? The week started with a surprising 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final and a fantastic, free-flowing display to down Fulham away from home will give much hope to manager Gus Poyet. Sunderland have been trenched in the bottom three since the opening day of the season, can Poyet now orchestrate the mother of all comebacks?
Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Fulham and Sunderland at Craven Cottage on Saturday Jan 11, 2014.
Adam Johnson's hat-trick ensured Sunderland's revival under Gus Poyet continues to gather pace with the Wearsiders moving off the foot of the Premier League table following a victory that dragged Fulham back to within one point of the bottom three.
This was only Sunderland's second win in 10 league games but after victories in the two cups - most notably Tuesday's success over Manchester United in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final - Poyet's side appear to be gathering momentum.
From the moment Johnson put them ahead with a 22nd-minute free kick, the visitors' appeared destined to collect three points.
Ki Sung-Yeung added a second before half time and, while Steve Sidwell gave Fulham hope early in the second period, two more goals from Johnon, the second a late penalty, confirmed a comfortable win.
For Fulham there were few positives and, after improved recent performances, this confirmed they are likely to remain in the relegation battle until the end of the campaign.
it was Poyet's side who demonstrated the composure required in a match with so much at stake, with Johnson providing an attacking outlet capable of unlocking Fulham's flimsy defences.
The quality of the winger's deadball delivery was apparent in the 22nd minute when his free-kick picked out John O'Shea who found Steven Fletcher with a header back across the face of goal only for the Scotland forward to head over from close range.
Unlike Berbatov's effort, that miss would not prove costly and seven minutes later Johnson curled a free-kick over the defensive wall and into the top corner after the midfielder had been fouled by Steve Sidwell.
Fulham looked ragged and they were undone by another well worked free-kick four minutes before the break when Johnson ignored the crowded six-yard area and sent a low ball towards the edge of box where Ki Sung-Yeung finished well with a powerful first-time shot.
Meulensteen's side at least responded well after the restart, working their way back into the game when Sidwell headed past Vito Mannone from Damien Duff's 52nd-minute corner.
But the rally proved short-lived and the game was put beyond Fulham's reach when Ki and Jozy Altidore exchanged passes near halfway and the South Korea midfielder picked Johnson with an excellent threaded pass that was matched by a clinical finish.
Philippse Senderos' trip on Altidore gave Johnson the chance to claim his third.
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Fulham 1 Sunderland 4: Hat-trick hero Johnson guides Poyet's team to three points at Craven Cottage
Adam Johnson's hat-trick spearheaded Sunderland's third win in six days, a ruthless 4-1 Barclays Premier League victory at Fulham.
The 11-cap England midfielder laid on Sunderland's other goal as Gus Poyet's men drove to a comprehensive win at Craven Cottage.
Goals from Johnson and Ki Sung-Yueng had Sunderland in total control at the break, before Steve Sidwell headed his fifth of the season for Fulham after the turnaround.
Johnson had laid on Sunderland's second for Ki, before the South Korean returned the favour for the Black Cats' third.
Swansea loan man Ki's fine slide-rule pass allowed Johnson to kill off the game, and the 26-year-old delivered as Sunderland claimed their first league win in three attempts.
The Sunderland-born winger then slotted a penalty in the dying stages after Philippe Senderos fouled Jozy Altidore.
Poyet's side had seen off Carlisle and Manchester United in cup action since the turn of the year, but badly needed a Premier League win.
Two smart Johnson free-kicks had Sunderland in control, the first a curler into the top corner that David Stockdale could not tip clear.
Johnson's second set-piece allowed Ki to fire home via Senderos' deflection.
Dimitar Berbatov wasted two chances in the first 10 minutes as Fulham fired out of the blocks, but the impetus yielded neither reward nor control.
Clint Dempsey could offer minimal impact as Fulham's influence waned, with regimented Sunderland's superior organisation paying dividend.
Lee Cattermole, so often derided as the wrong side of aggressive, nullified Adel Taarabt in a clear analysis-room ploy from Sunderland boss Poyet.
Fulham's immediate second-half riposte almost created a gritty contest, with Sidwell heading home Damien Duff's corner.
But the home side could not sustain any kind of comeback, and Sunderland powered to a fine result.
Berbatov had two gilt-edged chances in the opening 10 minutes as Fulham settled faster and brighter.
The big Bulgarian barged his way to a clear header from an early corner, only to add no power as he nodded into the ground.
Sascha Riether then robbed Wes Brown before drilling a fine low cross into the area.
Half a yard behind the play though, Berbatov was just not quite sharp enough to control.
The ball bobbled into touch on the other side of the field, and with it went Fulham's first-half opportunities.
Buoyed by avoiding early censure the Black Cats started to build a foothold.
Riether had to move smartly to cut out Fabio Borini's neat through-ball, denying Jack Colback a sight of goal, and Phil Bardsley's 20-yard shot was tipped away by Stockdale.
Steven Fletcher then headed over after John O'Shea nodded back across goal from a well-worked Johnson free-kick.
Riether's near-post flick on evaded any Fulham team-mate as the hosts battled to regain the ascendancy.
And Taarabt rejected the smart positioning of both Berbatov and Dempsey to try a tricky near-post effort that Vito Mannone was more than wise to.
Berbatov's acrobatic effort came to nought as well, as Fulham failed to generate any cast-iron opportunities in their second spell of dominance.
It was all too short-lived for Rene Meulensteen's men though, as Sunderland pinched the lead thanks to Johnson's curling free-kick.
Sidwell was incensed referee Mike Dean even awarded the foul, with Johnson capitalising on minimal touch to go down 20 yards out.
Stockdale will certainly feel he should have tipped Johnson's shot around his left post though, after getting a glove to the accurate effort.
Fulham's second-choice goalkeeper then spilled a Sunderland cross, only for Fernando Amorebieta to head Marcos Alonso's shot clear.
Sunderland's pressure told again when Johnson's low free-kick reached Swansea loan man Ki, who finished courtesy of a Senderos deflection.
Taarabt wasted a promising free-kick to open the second half, before Riether flashed the ball across goal, only for Mannone to claim.
Duff's pinpoint corner delivery dragged Fulham back into the contest though, with Sidwell sneaking free to nod home.
Senderos had to mop up as Stockdale mad a brave call to come out of his area for a clearance, only for Fletcher to put him under pressure.
The match opened up with both sides sensing their time to strike.
And Sunderland made the most of a lightning break to steal control again.
Racing through a sparse midfield with Fulham over-committed, Ki bided his time and threaded a superlative ball through to the onrushing Johnson.
The former Manchester City midfielder slotted past the motionless Stockdale to reassert Sunderland's dominance.
Against the run of the second half maybe but not the overall contest.
And with time running out Johnson rolled a penalty past Stockdale, after Senderos left a leg hanging out to take down Altidore.
Johnson slams in hat-trick to seal emphatic away win.
Adam Johnson stunned Fulham with a deadly hat-trick as Sunderland romped to victory at Craven Cottage.
Johnson was unstoppable throughout the 90 minutes in an effervescent display as he netted a sublime free-kick before setting up a goal for Ki Sung-Yueng as the Black Cats went in 2-0 ahead at the break.
Steve Sidwell's header gave Fulham a way back into the game, but Johnson put the Cottagers to the sword with an emphatic low finish to cap a superb counter-attack before clipping home a late penalty.
Gus Poyet's side looked dangerous every time they attacked and were comfortable winners in the end as they made it seven points from their last three away games and six matches unbeaten overall on the road.
The victory was Sunderland's second in as many seasons at Fulham and the visitors fully merited all three points.
Johnson had earned pre-match praise from head coach Poyet after playing key roles in back-to-back cup wins, and he shone after being handed a start as Sunderland secured a third straight victory in all competitions.
Having played a key role as a sub in the 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the Capital One Cup in midweek, Johnson returned to the starting line-up alongside Jack Colback, with Emanuele Giaccherini and Seb Larsson dropping the bench.
Despite what was to come, Fulham started brightly with a couple of early opportunities falling to Dimitar Berbatov.
The frontman headed a corner straight at Vito Mannone after just seven minutes and should have done better just two minutes later, firing wastefully wide after Sascha Riether won the ball from Wes Brown and picked out his wide-open colleague with a low cross.
Adel Taarabt and Clint Dempsey both fired wide from distance, while Fulham keeper David Stockdale had to be alert at the other end to keep out an 18th-minute effort from Phil Bardsley which took a deflection off Colback, who was attempting to get out of the way.
And the visitors created a good opening with a well-worked move four minutes later – Johnson seeing a free-kick headed back across goal by John O'Shea for Steven Fletcher, who got his head to the ball ahead of Stockdale but could only nod over the bar.
Taarabt was then denied by a good save from Mannone after bursting down the right, but Sunderland surged ahead just before the half-hour thanks to a sublime effort from Johnson.
Brought down by Sidwell just outside the box, the winger dusted himself down and curled a super effort into the top corner from 20 yards - Stockdale got both hands to the ball but couldn't keep it out.
It was a lead they would never lose.
League debutant Marcos Alonso nearly made it two when Stockdale dropped Ki's free-kick, but the defender had to squeeze his shot through a crowd of players and the effort was blocked.
But Sunderland did double their advantage four minutes before the break with another clinical set-piece.
Johnson pulled a training-ground delivery low across the box for Ki, who buried a powerful shot which struck a defender on its way into the net.
The goal was Sunderland's 7000th in all-time league competition – making the Black Cats only the tenth club to achieve that feat.
Sunderland looked comfortable but were pegged back as Fulham halved the deficit seven minutes into the second half.
Damien Duff curled in a corner from the right and Sidwell nipped in to stoop and head home from a couple of yards out.
Now Sunderland were facing a real test as the hosts looked to apply pressure – but the momentum fizzled out as Sunderland continued to look dangerous going forward.
Borini fired wide after drifting in off the left flank before Stockdale did well to claw away Lee Cattermole's deflected shot just after the hour, with the midfielder close to his first goal for the club.
Fletcher then headed over from a well-delivered corner before making way for sub Jozy Altidore 66 minutes in.
And the American played a role in his side's third goal just three minutes later as a textbook counter-attack paid dividends.
The striker touched a neat ball off to Ki who again played the role of skilled technician, sliding a brilliantly-weighted ball into the path of the onrushing Johnson, who drilled his shot through the legs of Stockdale.
But there was to be no way back into the contest this time for Fulham as Sunderland continued to move the ball smartly, with Seb Larsson introduced off the bench in place of Borini.
And a memorable away win was wrapped up five minutes from time when Johnson completed a well-deserved hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Altidore, forward on the break, was clearly fouled by Philippe Senderos and Johnson stepped up to covert the coolest of penalties, rolling the ball into the back of the net with Stockdale diving the wrong way.
It was a fitting way to round off a superb individual performance from the winger and an excellent showing from Poyet's side, who looked bang in form on an important afternoon.
At the other end, Mannone ensured Fulham didn't get more than the one goal with a fine stop late on, somehow blocking Sidwell's shot at point-blank range before Brown slid in to clear the loose ball off the line deep into injury time.
GOALS:
Fulham: Sidwell (52)
Sunderland: Johnson (29, 69, 85 pen), Ki (41)
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Youngsters' unbeaten run comes to an end
Five-game winning run broken by Magpies.
Sunderland U18 0 - 1 Newcastle United U18
Sunderland’s under-18 side saw their five-game winning run come to an end at the hands of their Tyneside rivals Newcastle United at the Academy of Light on Saturday morning.
Tom Heardman bagged the only goal of the game on 55 minutes as the young Black Cats lost their first game in over a month.
It was a scrappy game in which Sunderland’s youngsters never got into their normal fluent passing game which has been such a feature in recent matches.
The Tynesiders gave notice of their intent as early as the second minute when striker Heardman hit the bar with a looping header.
Sunderland replied with Martin Smith shooting wide with a long range effort before Lynden Gooch was much closer with a low shot just past the post.
Smith whipped in two set-pieces from the left with no one able to get on the end of them but defender Tom Beadling had to be at his best with a super block in the area as the visitors pressed before the break.
Ten minutes after the restart, Newcastle took the lead with what proved to be the winning goal. Magpies’ winger Callum Roberts centred from the left for striker Heardman to come in and side-foot first time past Sunderland keeper Peter Burke.
Roberts had another good attempt later in the game but injured himself in the process and was subsequently stretchered off.
As the game entered the latter stages there was still no real build-up of pressure to give any glimmer of hope of saving the game by the home side with Beadling firing over from 20 yards with the last kick of the game.
Academy Manager Ged McNamee was very honest in his summary saying: "It was very disappointing - we never got going in a scrappy game.
“One goal was always going to settle it and unfortunately we weren’t at our best today."
Sunderland: Burke, J. Robson, T. Robson, Colquhoun, Beadling, E. Robson, Greenwood (McEvoy, 64), Smith, Stinson, Gooch (Nelson, 70), Molyneux (Blinco, 75),
Subs not used: Purvis, Pybus.
Sunderland reach 7,000
Sunderland became only the 10th club to score 7,000 goals in Football League and Premier League matches.
They had been on 6,998 goals before this game at Craven Cottage, although they still have a long way to go before they catch Manchester United, who have scored 7,618 goals since the first season of the Football League in 1888.
Name:
Anonymous2014-01-11 16:42
A retarded barcode walked up to me earlier in my local in Goatsheed and said 'one dyah wi get te a cup final tee '.
I laughed.. looked him in the eye and said..
'i pet... you will I agree...... but the date will be May 2555'
Sunderland plan Andrew Johnson transfer - and exit of Adam Johnson despite his Fulham hat-trick
Ironically, the Cottagers are among the clubs in for Black Cats' England winger as boss Gus Poyet looks to land frustrated Queens Park Rangers striker
Move over Magic Johnson, Sunderland are preparing some Johnson magic – making one man with that name disappear while conjuring up another, writes Alan Oliver in the Sunday People.
Gus Poyet, the Black Cats' manager, wants to bring QPR’s fit-again striker Andrew Johnson in on loan to solve his goal-scoring problems.
And the Uruguayan is set to allow winger Adam Johnson to leave, despite his stunning hat-trick against Fulham on Saturday and his starring role as sub in Sunderland’s Capital One Cup defeat of Manchester United in midweek.
Rangers star Johnson, who missed most of last season with a cruciate ligament injury, has been used mostly on the bench by QPR boss Harry Redknapp this campaign and is desperate for regular first-team action.
Winger Adam Johnson, who has struggled since his move from Manchester City to Wearside, is wanted by Premier League strugglers Fulham and Crystal Palace.
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Sunderland line up transfer of 'new Alan Hansen', aka Jack Baldwin of Hartlepool
Black Cats sent ex-skipper Paul Bracewell to Victoria Park on Saturday to watch young League Two centre-half who's been compared to the Liverpool legend
Sunderland are on the trail of the ‘new Alan Hansen’ – Hartlepool central defender Jack Baldwin, writes Alan Oliver in the Sunday People.
The Black Cats are utilising the experience of Paul Bracewell to look after their young players, and their former skipper was dispatched last week to run the rule over the 20-year-old defender.
Relegation-threatened Sunderland were also one of several top clubs at Victoria Park on Saturday, watching Rochdale striker Scott Hogan.
Rochdale have turned down a near-£1million offer from Peterborough for Hogan, one of the most sought-after strikers in the lower leagues.
* FORMER Chelsea scout Gwyn Williams - the man credited with discovering John Terry - could be the next to join Gus Poyet’s scouting team at the Stadium of Light.
Williams worked with Poyet both at Chelsea and Leeds United.
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Augsburg set to bid for Sunderland’s Ji Dong-won
GERMAN side Augsburg have revived their interest in Ji Dong-won, the Echo understands.
And that will delight Sunderland, who stand to lose the South Korean striker for next to nothing this summer, when his contract expires.
The misfit forward has been a flop on Wearside since being signed by Steve Bruce for £2m in June 2011 – the one shining exception being the day he scored the match-winner against Manchester City on New Year’s Day 2012.
The former Chunnam Dragons attacker has managed just six starts in his two-and-a-half years at the club, scoring two goals, and head coach Gus Poyet admitted recently he had been at a loss to see how the 22-year-old would fit into his plans.
But Ji’s stock is high in Germany following a successful loan spell when he helped Augsburg escape relegation over the course of 17 games – seven of which were won; three drawn.
Incredibly, ex-head coach Paolo Di Canio turned down a £5m German bid for the striker last summer.
He claimed Ji would be an important player for the Black Cats this season – an opinion the Italian revised after seeing the forward pull out of a great heading opportunity in the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in August.
The frankly bizarre, decision not to cash in last year, looked likely to see Sunderland miss out completely on a fee for a player who can leave for nothing in a few months.
But with the Echo having revealed that Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund – makers of that £5m bid – showing an interest in Ji this month, Augsburg have also checked on the striker’s situation
German clubs would prefer to sign Ji when he’s a free agent in the summer.
If that proves to be the case, the Black Cats would get only minimal compensation.
But Sunderland will hope that a Bundesliga side decides to bid on him now rather than risk losing out on the striker in the close season.
Ji can now talk to clubs on the continent and if several clubs are interested in his signature, Sunderland might just recoup some cash and offer greater latitude in the transfer market to head coach Gus Poyet who has included the striker in his last three squads, but admits he is struggling long-term to fit the player into his plans.
The Uruguayan told the Echo: “Ji is a very good player, but I need to find the opportunity to say to him: ‘Here you go. Don’t try to think too much about how we’re playing, just go out there and play’.
“But I haven’t known how to play him because that’s what he needs.”
Sunderland U21s moved up to third place in the table, despite dropping two points at home against Stoke City.
Sunderland climbed one place to third in the Barclays U21 Premier League table despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke City at Eppleton CW.
Craig Lynch put Sunderland ahead inside the first minute, but James Alabi cancelled out that early striker on eight minutes.
The Black Cats made the perfect start, taking the lead with just 40 seconds on the clock.
George Honeyman’s throughball released Lynch and he lifted his finish over the goalkeeper from just inside the penalty area.
But Stoke levelled after some slack defending inside the box allowed Alabi to score with a deflected shot.
Also in the first half, Honeyman brought a good save out of Stoke keeper Daniel Bachmann, while at the other end Jordan Pickford parried Alabi’s powerful drive from a tight angle.
And in the second half, Pickford made an excellent stop from a Karim Rossi header on 67 minutes, and Bachmann saved a snap shot from substitute David Moberg Karlsson at the foot of his left-hand post.
Sunderland restaurant chain’s support for Kenyan side Sunderland AFC Keroche
A CHAIN of Wearside restaurants are to dish out vital help to an African football team which was created by die-hard Sunderland supporters.
Kenyan side Sunderland AFC Keroche were founded in 2007 with the aim of giving youngsters the chance to play the beautiful game.
The club does however rely on solely on donations to keep it going, something which the Martino’s Group have now pledged to help out with.
The business, which has eateries in Seaham, Seaburn and in Jarrow, South Tyneside, has made the club the recipient of their charity of the year project.
Honorary chairman of Sunderland AFC Keroche, Gary Lamb, said: “We are entirely funded by donations from our generous supporters, most of which are based here in Sunderland.
“Without these we would not be able to run an academy for children of all age groups, to help to give them a focus in life, and try to help them to keep away from the “darker” temptations in life.”
With over 100 children in total attending the SAFC-Keroche academy, the main aim of the club is to give youngsters the opportunity to showcase their footballing talents to a wider audience and hopefully one day may make it as a professional player.
After coming across an online plea for support from organisations, managing directors at Martino’s Group, Gavin and Fiona Leng, recently made the pledge to support the cause. Gavin said: “We have known Gary for quite some time and always thought that his project is outstanding.
“We saw on Facebook that they were in need of assistance to ensure that the next season was as much a success for the youngsters as possible and after discussing things with Fiona we decided we’d be honoured to be one of the first team sponsors.”
Cash donated will help towards the development of the club, which is based in the village of Karai, in the Rift Valley province of Kenya, whose first team is set to compete in the Kenyan National Second Division this year following two successive promotions.
Gavin and Fiona have also said they will sponsor a child who plays at the SAFC-Keroche Academy.
Gary added: “We’d like to thank Gavin and Fiona for coming on board to sponsor our team and academy.
“It’s with great thanks that we continue to provide our support across to Kenya and help those less fortunate to share in our passion.”
Those wanting to get involved with the club can call Gary on 07880 732 078 or email him at GarySAFCLamb@hotmail.com.
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Sunderland recall Billy Knott from Wycombe Wanderers loan spell
Sunderland have recalled Billy Knott from his loan at Wycombe Wanderers.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who has just one Black Cats substitute appearance to his name, scored twice in 23 appearances after initially joining the Chairboys in August.
He agreed a loan extension in November and had been due to stay with the League Two club until 29 January.
Wycombe are currently 18th in the table, just two points above second-bottom Torquay United.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet targets permanent deal for Swansea City's Ki Sung-Yueng.
GUS Poyet has unveiled plans to sign Ki Sung-Yueng on a permanent basis this month.
Poyet describes Ki as Sunderland's most consistent performer this season and is interested in converting his season-long loan from Swansea City into a full-time deal.
Swansea currently have huge fitness problems, with Jose Canas becoming their ninth injured player when he damaged ankle ligaments at Manchester United over the weekend.
Nevertheless, Michael Laudrup has indicated that he will not recall Ki.
And Sunderland boss Poyet has suggested that even if no permanent move is agree, Ki is now sure to remain at the Stadium of Light until the end of the season.
"There is a chance (of a permanent transfer)," said Poyet.
"Swansea had an opportunity to call him back, and they didn't.
"That was a difficult day for me because I was waiting and waiting.
"I think there are a couple of things we need to make sure - where we are and where we want to go, and with the player as well.
"I can see that he's enjoying his football and making a difference."
Ki has been one of Sunderland's star men this season, and scored in their 4-1 win at Fulham over the weekend.
"I want players with that mentality, to make us play, and he's been excellent," Poyet added.
"He's been the most consistent player for me, in my way of playing."
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Swansea City can recall Ki Sung-Yueng from Sunderland — but it is unlikely to happen
SWANSEA City insist they still have the option of recalling Ki Sung-Yueng — but Michael Laudrup remains unlikely to bring the midfielder back despite fitness concerns over Jose Canas.
Laudrup has indicated that he will not end Ki's season-long loan spell at Sunderland because it would be hard for the player to adapt to playing a back-up role at the Liberty.
And that stance is not expected to change even though fellow midfielder Canas has joined Jonathan de Guzman on the injured list.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has suggested Swansea have already missed their chance to end Ki's loan spell.
But Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins is adamant they could summon Ki if they so wish.
"He is our player and we can recall him up until January 31," Jenkins stated.
Nevertheless, Laudrup has made it clear he is not interested in having Ki back, even though Canas is facing a spell out with ankle ligament damage.
And Poyet is hopeful that Sunderland could yet push through a permanent deal for the South Korean international this month.
"There is a chance," said Poyet.
"Swansea had an opportunity to call him back, and they didn't.
"That was a difficult day for me because I was waiting and waiting.
"I think there are a couple of things we need to make sure — where we are and where we want to go, and with the player as well.
"I can see that he's enjoying his football and making a difference."
Ki has been one of Sunderland's star men this season, and scored in their 4-1 win at Fulham last Saturday.
"I want players with that mentality, to make us play, and he's been excellent," Poyet added.
"He's been the most consistent player for me, in my way of playing."
SUNDERLAND will be backed by almost 9,000 supporters at Manchester United next week after selling out their ticket allocation for the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-finals.
Black Cats fans faced a hefty financial outlay of at least £45 for adult tickets for the clash at Old Trafford on Wednesday, January 22.
But more than a week before the second leg, Sunderland today confirmed that the away end will be full after selling all of their tickets.
Sunderland are also providing free buses to Manchester and supporters wishing to use the transport must reserve their place by noon on Saturday.
Gus Poyet’s side take a 2-1 lead into the second leg, as Sunderland look to reach their first major cup final since 1992.
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Rowell Report: Half the league in battle to survive
I’M NOT sure I can remember a season where there have ever been so many clubs who could genuinely go down.
When you look at the table, there is a big gap between Sunderland’s opponents on Saturday, Southampton, in ninth and all of those teams below them. It is almost as if there are two leagues in one.
Hull have had a really good first half of the season, but I’m sure Steve Bruce would not say they are safe and they are among 10 or 11 sides who will still be worried about relegation.
Sunderland are battle-hardened though from a season that at times has lurched from one scrap to the next.
They have been playing under the pressure of being in the bottom three, whereas teams who suddenly get sucked into it, can face a massive culture shock.
Sunderland can’t say they aren’t familiar with this position and it’s suddenly thrust upon them.
You look at the trajectory of teams and Sunderland are going upwards.
Over the last 10 games, including cup matches, our record is really good.
The exceptions have been the two poor results against Norwich and Aston Villa, which were the ones we were expected to win.
That’s something Sunderland need to put right – they need to start winning regularly at the Stadium of Light.
But the other clubs down there will be worried about Sunderland.
That win at Fulham on Saturday, along with West Ham’s victory at Cardiff, will have sent shockwaves through the bottom half of the table and a lot of managers will look at that and think Sunderland are not dead and buried.
If you’re down there and you think one team is gone, you are only fearing two places to avoid.
But suddenly, other clubs will look at Sunderland and realise there are spots which they are fighting against.
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Sunderland quoted £5m for Scocco
BRAZILIAN club Internacional are looking for a fee in excess of £5million for Sunderland target Nacho Scocco.
Scocco is one of three Argentine players on Sunderland’s radar, with the Black Cats keeping tabs on both the winger and Catania goalkeeper Mariano Andujar, while they look to finalise a deal for centre-half Santiago Vergini.
Sunderland made enquiries over Scocco’s availability during the summer, after he netted 30 times during 46 appearances in a loan spell at Argentine side Newell’s Old Boys, before he joined Internacional in a deal worth around £4m. But after a fall-out at the Brazilian outfit, Scocco is expected to be on the move again this month, with both the 28-year-old’s agent and his father confirming Sunderland’s interest.
Sources close to Internacional have indicated that the club want to more than recoup their outlay on the one-time Argentine international though and are looking for a fee of more than £5m.
Sunderland, who cannot sign any more players on loan, would be wary of splashing out such a hefty figure, with the club’s league position so precarious and their Premier League status in such significant jeopardy.
But the Echo understands that Sunderland, who were yesterday linked with a move for Catania’s Argentinian striker Maxi Lopez, are working on adding to their attacking arsenal this month and have made headway with an overseas target.
Internacional’s asking price has scuppered Scocco’s chances of moving to his homeland, either with River Plate or Newell’s Old Boys.
But despite Scocco’s agent indicating interest from La Liga outfit Valencia, Sunderland are thought to be the only European club who have made a formal enquiry with Internacional.
The deal for Vergini is far more advanced, with Sunderland hopeful of tying up the formalities of the £500,000 deal.
Vergini is still in Argentina, as he looks to reach a settlement with his club Estudiantes before finalising his switch to the Stadium of Light.
But sources close to the 25-year-old remain confident that the move will be signed and sealed in the next few days.
Meanwhile, Brighton boss Oscar Garcia insists the Seagulls are keen to keep Liam Bridcutt at the club despite the midfielder submitting a transfer request last week.
Bridcutt, who missed Saturday’s victory over Birmingham with a groin problem, asked to leave the Amex Stadium after Sunderland saw a bid of around £2million rejected for the 24-year-old.
When asked whether Bridcutt would still be at the club at the end of the window, Garcia said: “I don’t think anybody can say that about any player, maybe Messi or Ronaldo, but all the other players have a price. But we want to keep him because he is one of our main players.”
Liverpool Ready to Meet £14m Asking Price for Sunderland Winger Adam Johnson
Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers hopes to land England international this month.
Liverpool are said to be ready to meet Sunderland’s asking price for winger Adam Johnson with Brendan Rodgers keen to bring the former Man City man to Anfield.
CaughtOffside understands that the Black Cats are ready to cash in on the England international, who despite his recent hat-trick against Fulham has had a very inconsistent season, with Rodgers ready to fork out the £14m needed to land the wide-man.
Liverpool may attempt to pick up Johnson on a loan deal until the end of the current campaign, which will cost the Merseyside club around £2m, with a view to splashing out on a deal to bring in the 26 year old on a permanent deal at the end of the season.
Rodgers will be backed in this month’s transfer market as the club’s American owners look to make funds available to help assist Liverpool’s push for a top four finish and Champions League qualification.
Johnson may well be keen on a fresh challenge having arguably failed to make the most of his obvious potential with moves to Man City and Sunderland and with Gus Poyet’s side struggling at the wrong end of the table there is perhaps even more reason to consider a Stadium of Light exit.
A high-profile move could also re-ignite the winger’s push for a place in Roy Hodgson’s 2014 World Cup squad, perhaps further boosted by the long term injury suffered by Arsenal’s Theo Walcott.
Rodgers is keen to bring in another attacking option in view of the poor displays put in by loaned in Chelsea star Victor Moses and the Liverpool boss is also ready to offload summer signing Iago Aspas.
Liverpool may also consider offering Italian Fabio Borini as a sweetener in any deal to sign Johnson, with the striker currently on loan at Sunderland.
Adam Johnson has scored 11 goals in 63 appearances for Sunderland since his £10m move back in August 2012, prior to which he netted 15 goals in 97 games for Man City, of which 43 were from the bench.
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Sunderland’s Kevin Ball: Time is right for some to make the step up
KEVIN BALL expects the January transfer window to offer a timely opportunity for several of Sunderland’s promising youngsters.
Sunderland Under-21s’ 1-1 draw with Stoke City last night was witnessed by a host of lower league scouts, while Hartlepool and Carlisle managers Colin Cooper and Graham Kavanagh were joined in the stands by Hibernian’s ex-Black Cats boss Terry Butcher.
Academy products Mika Mandron and Liam Agnew left on loan last week to join Fleetwood Town and Boston United respectively, and development coach Ball has reiterated how desirable first-team experience is for Sunderland’s rookies.
Ball told the Echo: “This is the time when some of the players who have been playing a lot and are finding this level relatively comfortable need to take it to the next level.
“It’s not easy to go forward and train and play with the first-team, so go out on loan and experience the real world.
“It’s easy to stay and play this sort of football.
“But sometimes, they need to go and experience some real football.”
After an end-to-end opening 20 minutes last night, when forward Craig Lynch gave Sunderland the lead inside 40 seconds, the game descended into a tight, physical encounter with precious few clear-cut opportunities.
Yet Ball believes that style of encounter was just what those interested spectators were looking to see.
He added: “You talk about the Under-21 League and what you get out of it, and I think that was a proper game.
“There were a few managers there who said exactly the same. They said they would much rather have seen that than 10 of the matches they normally see at this level.”
Sunderland yesterday recalled midfielder Billy Knott from his loan spell at League Two Wycombe.
Knott, who made his Black Cats bow on the final day of last season, has appeared 23 times for the Chairboys since moving to Adams Park on loan in August.
The 21-year-old was due to return to Wearside at the end of this month, but Sunderland have opted to end the ex-Chelsea youngster’s loan a fortnight early.
There has been speculation that Knott could be a target for League One Port Vale, who are keen to bolster their squad with loan additions in the January window.
Rowell Report: Half the league in battle to survive
I’M NOT sure I can remember a season where there have ever been so many clubs who could genuinely go down.
When you look at the table, there is a big gap between Sunderland’s opponents on Saturday, Southampton, in ninth and all of those teams below them. It is almost as if there are two leagues in one.
Hull have had a really good first half of the season, but I’m sure Steve Bruce would not say they are safe and they are among 10 or 11 sides who will still be worried about relegation.
Sunderland are battle-hardened though from a season that at times has lurched from one scrap to the next.
They have been playing under the pressure of being in the bottom three, whereas teams who suddenly get sucked into it, can face a massive culture shock.
Sunderland can’t say they aren’t familiar with this position and it’s suddenly thrust upon them.
You look at the trajectory of teams and Sunderland are going upwards.
Over the last 10 games, including cup matches, our record is really good.
The exceptions have been the two poor results against Norwich and Aston Villa, which were the ones we were expected to win.
That’s something Sunderland need to put right – they need to start winning regularly at the Stadium of Light.
But the other clubs down there will be worried about Sunderland.
That win at Fulham on Saturday, along with West Ham’s victory at Cardiff, will have sent shockwaves through the bottom half of the table and a lot of managers will look at that and think Sunderland are not dead and buried.
If you’re down there and you think one team is gone, you are only fearing two places to avoid.
But suddenly, other clubs will look at Sunderland and realise there are spots which they are fighting against.
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Rowell Report: Welcome break for Sunderland before uphill task against Southampton
GUS POYET will welcome a free week before facing Southampton after a busy festive period where the games have been coming thick and fast.
With a heavy schedule, the coaches don’t have much time to work on the training pitch, as the team are either preparing for games or recovering from them.
At least this week, the team can fully focus on the weekend’s game.
Southampton will provide a big challenge. We beat them in the Capital One Cup earlier in the season, but that was largely their second XI. Their team this time around will be much stronger.
They are a team with a lot of young, talented players and they have occupied a top half position all season.
Mauricio Pochettino, judging by his interviews, doesn’t seem to have mastered the English language yet, but he has certainly got to grips with English football.
He has taken Southampton to another level since taking over from Nigel Adkins, who was controversially sacked.
But Pochettino was backed with big money in the summer and he spent it wisely on quality players – Victor Wanyama, Dani Osvaldo and Dejan Lovren.
Those three, added to the talented youngsters, have produced a team, who are difficult to beat and in 10 away games have only conceded 11 goals.
I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the battle between a rejuvenated Adam Johnson and Southampton’s highly-rated left-back Luke Shaw, which could have a massive influence on the outcome of the game.
After last week’s fantastic win at Fulham, there is new hope and confidence among both team and fans.
And while our position is still very precarious, the players will know a win on Saturday will give them a great chance of getting out of the drop zone.
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Rowell Report: Sunderland’s victory over Fulham was the best yet
SUNDERLAND’S thumping win at Fulham only moved us up one place in the table, but was enormous in terms of morale and what it means for the season.
Suddenly, things are not looking so bleak - just one point from fourth bottom and lots of teams deep in the relegation mix.
Sunderland didn’t just beat Fulham, they won with a fair bit to spare and produced their most convincing win of the season.
To win so emphatically will do wonders for the dressing room and bring great belief to players who have sometimes struggled with the pressure of being bottom of the table throughout the season.
Adam Johnson grabbed the headlines, but it was a true team performance, just when it was needed and at last we managed to beat a relegation rival.
Sunderland’s away form has been good recently, unbeaten in five on the road and seven points from the last three.
Scoring four goals on your travels doesn’t happen too often either, with all of them being different in their execution.
Two different types of goals from free-kicks will please the coaches, but the third goal was the best with a move that started in Sunderland’s own half and ended with a superb pass from Ki Sung-Yeung to set up Johnson.
If there’s one negative, it would be that not for the first time this season, we conceded from a corner. But all in all, it was a great away day.
Earlier in the season, we couldn’t even buy a goal away from home, but the players have turned it around and of all the teams in the bottom half of the league, it’s Sunderland who are the form side.
Manchester United bid for Vito Mannone as Sunderland chase Mariano Andujar transfer.
The Italian has impressed at the Stadium of Light but would he be happy as second-choice at Old Trafford?
Manchester United have made contact with Sunderland over goalkeeper Vito Mannone, according to Gazetta dello Sport.
The Italian sports daily claim that David Moyes is interested in bringing in former Arsenal keeper Mannone as back-up to David De Gea.
The story suggests that Anders Lindegaard could be leaving Old Trafford with the Dane keen for first-team football elsewhere.
And any Mannone departure would open the door for Sunderland to bring in Argentina number two Mariano Andújar.
The Catania goalkeeper is available this winter and, as revealed by MirrorSport last week , Gus Poyet is a fan of the 30-year-old - who will only move to the Stadium of Light for first-team football.
"I like the style of South American goalkeepers," Poyet admitted, "and Andújar is a player that I like and I know."
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Nottingham Forest want to keep Sunderland’s Vaughan
NOTTINGHAM FOREST are pushing ahead with a permanent move for David Vaughan, as Sunderland look to lighten the load on their wage bill.
Vaughan’s loan spell at the City Ground is due to expire on January 29, but with the midfielder out-of-contract at the Stadium of Light in the summer, Forest have made no secret of their ambitions to keep the Sunderland man.
Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi tweeted at the weekend that the club were hopeful of completing permanent moves for loan pair Vaughan and Hull’s Jack Hobbs. “Please be reassured that both I and the manager are working hard to make both players permanent signings,” he said.
And while sources close to Forest have suggested the club may take their time in pushing through the deal, it is still likely to be completed by the end of the January transfer window.
Vaughan, who didn’t feature under Gus Poyet prior to his departure, was highly unlikely to be offered a new contract by Sunderland and the Black Cats will earn a minimal fee from Forest.
But Sunderland are eager to remove an unwanted player from the wage bill, with Vaughan (left) on a decent salary after his Bosman arrival at the Stadium of Light in the summer of 2011.
The Black Cats are conscious of the need to comply with financial fair play restrictions on salaries after getting close to the limits of their wage bill during the summer.
And with on-loan Fiorentina left-back Marcos Alonso expected to be the first of several fresh faces this month, there will inevitably be departures.
Summer signing Cabral, who last week joined Italian side Genoa on loan with a view to a permanent deal, represented one of the first of those exits.
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Ki Sung-Yueng will spend rest of the season at Sunderland
The deadline for Swansea City to recall on-loan Ki Sung-Yueng has passed, meaning he will remain on Wearside for the rest of the campaign
Loan star Ki Sung-Yueng will stay at Sunderland until the end of the season - despite Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins casting doubt on the situation.
Ki’s form has been one of the highlights of Sunderland’s season and the Black Cats were keeping their fingers crossed that Swansea would not exercise their right to recall him this month.
And in the wake of Sunderland’s weekend win at Fulham - in which Ki scored - boss Gus Poyet spoke of his relief that the deadline for Swansea to end the South Korean’s loan stay on Wearside early had now passed.
But Jenkins then clouded the issue by claiming that the Swans could recall Ki at any point up to the end of this month, stating: “He is our player and we can recall him up until January 31.”
In fact, the cut-off date before which Swansea were able to prematurely terminate Ki’s loan deal passed last week, meaning the 24-year-old will remain at Sunderland for the remainder of the campaign.
Despite Jenkins’ claims, Swansea were never likely to recall Ki with manager Michael Laudrup effectively admitting that the midfielder does not figure in his future plans.
Ki is enjoying his time at Sunderland and Poyet would like to keep him on a permanent basis.
Asked this week whether there was a chance of Ki joining full-time, Poyet said: “There is a chance.
“I think there are a couple of things we need to make sure — where we are and where we want to go, and with the player as well.
“I can see that he’s enjoying his football and making a difference.”
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Sunderland striker is wanted man
SUNDERLAND teenager Duncan Watmore is in high demand, with a queue of Football League clubs lining up to take the forward on loan.
Watmore has impressed for Sunderland’s Under-21 side this season after arriving from non-league Altrincham during the summer.
The 19-year-old was handed his first-team bow in the FA Cup third round victory over Carlisle, and stood out on that stage too after being introduced from the bench during the second half.
That form has not gone unnoticed with a string of clubs in the lower leagues looking to seal a loan deal for Watmore before the end of the January transfer window.
Watmore’s suitors are thought to include League One pair Hartlepool United and Carlisle United, with their respective managers Colin Cooper and Graham Kavanagh both at Monday night’s Under-21 clash against Stoke City.
But Sunderland are yet to decide whether to sanction Watmore’s loan or continue his development at the Stadium of Light.
Certainly, Watmore’s game has benefited from six months on Wearside, and the wideman has spent time training with the first-team squad over the festive period.
Yet the Black Cats remain firm advocates of the loan system after the likes of Jordan Henderson and Jack Colback have both made the grade in the first-team following spells in the Football League.
Watmore is not the only member of Kevin Ball’s development squad to be in demand.
Midfielder Liam Agnew and striker Mikael Mandron joined Boston United and Fleetwood Town on loan respectively last weekend.
And it is understood that Scottish Championship side Dundee are interested in attacking midfielder George Honeyman after the 19-year-old impressed in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Hearts last week.
Dundee were also impressed by summer signing David Moberg Karlsson, who has dropped completely out of first-team contention over recent months.
The Scottish side would have to rely on Sunderland heavily subsidising Moberg Karlsson’s wages though if he were to join them on loan after the Swedish winger’s £1.5m summer arrival from IFK Gothenburg.
SUNDERLAND will host Conference side Kidderminster in the FA Cup fourth round after the non-league side claimed a famous 3-2 win over Peterborough in their replay at London Road last night.
Tommy Rowe gave Posh a first-half lead but two goals in four minutes after the break from Michael Gash and Jack Byrne turned the game on its head.
A Britt Assombalonga penalty levelled the scores with 16 minutes to go but parity lasted just two minutes as Joe Lolley grabbed a third for Harriers, who are now the only non-league side left in the competition.
Conference outfit Macclesfield had their cup run ended as three late goals saw them beaten 4-1 at Hillsborough by Sheffield Wednesday.
Chris Maguire delivered an early blow to the non-league team’s hopes as he fired the Owls ahead after just four minutes, but a 65th-minute penalty from Scott Boden had the Silkmen level.
Jacques Maghoma settled the nerves at Hillsborough, though, as he netted with 12 minutes to go and Jermaine Johnson and Miguel Llera sealed the victory late on.
Sunderland loan man Connor Wickham was again refused permission to play by his parent club.
A Joe Garner hat-trick handed Preston a shock 3-2 win over Championship side Ipswich at Deepdale.
Watford eased past Bristol City as goals from Marco Davide Faraoni and Lewis McGugan gave them a 2-0 win.
Port Vale will face Brighton in round four after they claimed a dramatic 3-2 win over Plymouth.
Name:
Anonymous2014-01-15 12:59
Micky Jones. @MickyJSafc
be quality if the Gallowgate set aleet on derby day, all the fat topless Geordies burning would be a tremendous sight mind. #NUFC
Striker makes permanent switch to Bundesliga side.
Striker Ji Dong-won has joined Bundesliga side Augsburg on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee.
The 22-year-old South Korean had a loan spell with the Bundesliga outfit last season, making 17 appearances and scoring five goals.
Ji joined Sunderland from Chunnam Dragons of the K-League in summer 2011 and made a total of 28 appearances for the Black Cats, scoring two goals.
Augsburg are currently eighth in the German top flight with 24 points from 17 games.
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Confirmed: Striker Departs For Germany
Ji Dong-Won has rejoined FC Augsburg, where he had considerable success while on loan last season.
Despite recently returning to first team action at Sunderland under Gus Poyet, it never seemed likely that Ji's stay at Sunderland would last much longer. The Korean was out of contract in the summer and, despite the club rating him highly, he has never been able to establish himself in the first team.
Paolo Di Canio reportedly turned down a £5m bid from German giants Borussia Dortmund for the 22-year-old in the summer, a move which never appeared to be the correct decision and now it seems certain that he has left for much less than the fee we would have received from Jurgen Klopp's side.
Ji played 28 times for Sunderland in all competitions, with only six starts to his name, scoring twice, a late consolation against Chelsea and famously an even later goal against Manchester City in our 1-0 win on New Year's Day 2012.
Despite struggling for Sunderland, Ji had a successful loan spell at Augsburg last season, where he scored five goals in 17 games, as the German side fought their way to safety when it looked likely that they would be relegated before the arrival of Ji.
Although never the most popular figure on Wearside, I'm sure I won't be alone in wishing Ji all the best if his move goes through and thanking him for that memorable late winner against Manchester City.
Sunderland boss Poyet: Man Utd link won’t turn Mannone’s head
SUNDERLAND’S focus is on signing a new goalkeeper – not selling one – after Vito Mannone was linked with a surprise switch to Manchester United.
Reports in Italy yesterday suggested the reigning Premier League champions were considering Mannone as a possible back-up to David De Gea after the £2million summer arrival’s impressive start to his Sunderland career.
But Black Cats boss Gus Poyet has brushed off the speculation and does not expect Mannone’s head to be turned by the rumours.
Instead, Poyet’s aim is to bolster Sunderland’s goalkeeping ranks, with Mannone’s rival Keiren Westwood ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
Westwood’s international team-mate David Forde is one name under contention, with the 34-year-old out-of-contract at the end of the season and available for a minimal fee from Championship side Millwall.
Forde is wary of how being number two at Sunderland could affect his international chances, but realises that a move to the Stadium of Light would be financially lucrative.
Sunderland have also been credited with an interest in two Argentine keepers playing in Italy – Catania’s Mariano Andujar and Genoa’s Albano Bizzarri – and Poyet admits it is a position he is looking to strengthen before the end of the January window.
Poyet told the Echo: “I think Vito is calm about everything.
“It was a very different situation for me with Vito and Westy (to give Mannone his first Premier League start) probably one of the hardest decisions I made before Manchester City.
“Unfortunately, Westy has had an operation now and is out for another three months. But I’m calm over Vito. There are players that you can talk openly to and Vito is one of those.
“It’s a position that we are looking at.
“We’re working on a few positions and I can say openly, that we’re looking at goalkeepers, although that doesn’t mean someone will come.
“I don’t want to say I’m going to bring in this, this and this, because then you don’t have the quality. But if there’s a player who I know can come in and help us quickly, then I will do.”
In Westwood’s absence, England Under-19 stopper Jordan Pickford has provided back-up for Mannone and the highly-rated 19-year-old at least has Football League experience after a loan spell at Burton Albion earlier this season.
But Poyet says Sunderland’s need for a new keeper will be highlighted in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg when Pickford is cup-tied.
Pickford’s fellow academy product Joel Dixon will occupy a spot on the bench, with the Middlesbrough-born goalie’s only competitive experience coming in a loan spell at Conference North side Workington Reds earlier this season.
“Joel doesn’t know how he will react if he is asked to go on at Old Trafford, with 20 minutes to go and it’s still 0-0,” added Poyet.
“I need to be fair with him and his family. I’m sure they’d say ‘he’ll be alright, put him on’.
“I would do if I had to, it’s no problem. But we don’t know about him, so it’s uncomfortable for him too.”
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Big match preview: Sunderland may catch Southampton at just the right time
SOUTHAMPTON appeared to be role models for the cluster of clubs financially excluded from the Premier League’s heavyweight gang.
After bouncing back from the trauma of administration and a double relegation, the Saints looked a forward-thinking, upwardly mobile organisation.
Talented youngsters were comfortably promoted from the academy into the first-team.
Investment in the transfer market was spent on quality, not quantity.
And despite the hoo-hah over Nigel Adkins’ dismissal, replacement Mauricio Pochettino had developed the side into one capable of achieving much more than scrapping for survival.
But the events of the last 48 hours have shattered the foundations which had seen Southampton rightly occupy a place in the top 10 throughout the campaign.
The resignation of chairman Nicola Cortese – a character who was never afraid to ruffle feathers – the potential exit of Pochettino and West Ham’s pursuit of Rickie Lambert, have made Southampton this week’s crisis club in the Premier League circus.
Surely it’s the perfect time for Sunderland to face the Saints then?
Well, that looked to be the case when Sunderland headed to Cardiff last month, yet the Black Cats didn’t heed the warnings of an early backlash from the Bluebirds.
It took a stunning late turnaround for Gus Poyet’s side to save face.
It will only be a benefit of the fixture list if Sunderland win tomorrow.
Yet, given Southampton are away from home, the manager remains in situ and stability has been the side’s key attribute this season, the preparations of tomorrow’s visitors will inevitably have been affected.
Pochettino’s side are not bang in form either after last week’s scrappy success against West Brom was only their second victory in 10 league games.
The loss of key summer signing Victor Wanyama to injury has inevitably affected results, with their Capital One Cup loss at the Stadium of Light in November, showing Pochettino doesn’t necessarily have strength in depth.
This is indeed a golden opportunity for Sunderland to record back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
Psychologically, moving out of the bottom three for the first time since August would be huge, while, even more importantly, Sunderland would move a step closer to averaging a point per game.
That will have been one of Poyet’s principal targets on taking charge.
Barring any last-gasp injuries, Poyet will surely name an unchanged side to the one which triumphed so comprehensively at Fulham and the confidence of those players will have soared after such a handsome victory.
While that 4-1 win extended Sunderland’s unbeaten run on the road to five though, there remain question marks over their home form.
Against the big boys at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats have been excellent, in both cup and league.
But when the likes of Norwich and Aston Villa came to Wearside and stockpiled men behind the ball, Poyet’s side struggled to find an answer to break them down.
It’s a pattern that Sunderland cannot afford to become a habit, with the likes of Stoke, Hull, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Cardiff still to visit the Stadium of Light this season.
The head coach will hope that a rejuvenated Adam Johnson can provide the guile needed to unlock stubborn visiting defences, and this is an acid test of the £10million winger’s credentials.
Was Johnson’s treble at Craven Cottage a one-off or can he find the consistency to make him a genuine contender for the World Cup squad?
If it’s the latter, Sunderland’s chances of emerging victorious tomorrow will improve significantly.
Another three points for the Black Cats really would shake up the relegation dogfight and provide a huge boost ahead of Wednesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford.
After such turmoil on the South Coast, there is plenty for Sunderland to prey upon.
DANNY GRAHAM is attracting interest from the Championship, with his loan spell at Hull City in doubt after the Tigers boosted their attacking ranks.
Sunderland frontman Graham has netted just once for Hull since joining Steve Bruce’s side on a season-long loan during the summer.
And the capture of £7.5million former Everton frontman Nikica Jelavic, plus the expected signing of Shane Long from West Brom, is likely to push Graham down the pecking order at the KC Stadium.
Reports today have suggested several Championship clubs are keeping tabs on Graham and he could be recalled by Sunderland before the end of the transfer window and sent back out on loan.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet stressed last week though that he wasn’t looking to recall either Graham or midfielder Alfred N’diaye, who is on a season-long stint with Turkish side Eskisehirspor.
And with Graham on big wages at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland would require a suitor capable of paying large portion of that salary, rather than putting a further drain on their own finances.
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Sunderland take a £1.5m hit as flop striker Ji joins Augsburg
Sunderland are understood to have received £500,000 from German side Augsburg for Ji Dong-Won, a quarter of what they paid for the forward
Sunderland are believed to have lost £1.5m on flop forward Ji Dong-Won.
The South Korean’s unhappy two-and-a-half year stay on Wearside came to an end yesterday, as he joined German side Augsburg for an undisclosed fee.
But it is understood that the Bundesliga side – where he enjoyed a successful loan spell 12 months ago – have paid around £500,000 for the man who cost £2m when he joined the Black Cats from Chunnam Dragons in the summer of 2011.
The 22-year-old was out of contract at the end of this season, when he would have been able to leave for minimal compensation.
Sunderland could have sold him on at a profit last summer, but then-boss Paolo Di Canio surprised everybody by rejecting a bid in excess of £5m for him from German giants Borussia Dortmund.
Ji made 28 appearances in all competitions for Sunderland, including only four league starts, and scored two goals.
The deal with Augsburg was done quickly, with Poyet admitting: “We were not even thinking about this possibility, it was all done in three days.
“It didn’t work out for him here. Let’s hope it works for him there. We wish him well.”
English Premier League: Sunderland v Southampton match preview
Southampton have experienced a turbulent week. Nicola Cortese resigned as chairman, and the club’s owner Katharina Liebherr has installed herself as his temporary replacement. The Saints’ manager Mauricio Pochettino had previously stated that if Cortese left then so would he, but he has confirmed in the past week he will be staying with Southampton.
On the pitch things are more positive, the team getting back to winning ways in the league last week against West Brom. The side are comfortably in the top half, largely thanks to their sturdy early season defence and the form of England internationals Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert. Should Southampton’s English trio shine, all three points will be heading back to the south coast.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet meanwhile will be delighted that his side’s cup form is finally rubbing off in the league. The League Cup semi-finalists produced a masterful performance against Fulham last weekend, firing four goals past the Londoners.
They largely had winger Adam Johnson to thank for their victory, the former Manchester City man powering home three goals. The hat-trick, the first of his professional career, moves him to the top of Sunderland’s scoring charts on four. His performance was reminiscent of the dazzling displays that convinced Manchester City to wrestle him from Middlesborough, and they will have to continue if Sunderland are to avoid the drop. A win on Saturday could see them climb out of the relegation-zone, and as high as fifteenth.
KICK-OFF: Saturday, 12:45pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS:
Sunderland 2 (Bardsley, Larsson) Southampton (Yoshida), League Cup, November 2013
Southampton 1 (Fonte) Sunderland 1 (Giaccherini), Premier League, August 2013
Sunderland 1 (Bardsley) Southampton 1 (Puncheon), Premier League, May 2013
STATS:
Southampton have not beaten Sunderland in their last six meetings.
Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez is joint third highest English goalscorer in the league this season.
Sunderland’s top goal scorer meanwhile is Adam Johnson on four, having scored a hat-trick last week.
The Black Cat’s Wes Brown is one of only two players, the other being Kevin Nolan, to have been sent off twice this season.
ODDS:
Sunderland to win: 3.1
Southampton to win: 2.3
Draw: 3.3
TV: Live on BT Sport 1 at 12.45pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10.20pm.
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Gus Poyet hopes Sunderland can take advantage of Southampton's turmoil
• Manager says Nicola Cortese's exit 'will affect their players'
• Uruguayan determined to keep hold of Premier League lifeline
Gus Poyet hopes his players can capitalise on considerable turmoil at Southampton when Mauricio Pochettino's side visit Wearside on Saturday.
Sunderland moved off the bottom of the Premier League with a 4-1 win at Fulham last weekend and their manager is looking for another victory against visitors left confused and bitterly disappointed by the resignation of Southampton's executive chairman Nicola Cortese.
"Without any doubt it will affect their players," said Poyet. "If it's a mess in your club and something is not normal it will affect you. We'll see how they react but it's about how much is in their players' heads. It's not what the manager likes, I can tell you that. It's not the best thing that can happen to you."
Not that Poyet is about to underestimate Southampton's high-quality pressing game. "They have something totally new and unique," he said. "You cannot compare them with any other team in the world. They have their own system and style of play with very young players, adapting to the style very well. It was something refreshing for the Premier League which is very welcome."
Sunderland's manager is hoping to welcome Santiago Vergini, the Argentina centre-half, to Wearside soon and confirmed negotiations with Estudiantes for the 25-year-old are continuing.
One player leaving the Stadium of Light is the South Korea striker Ji Dong-won, who is moving to Germany to join Augsburg for an undisclosed fee, but Poyet will not be selling Vito Mannone – Sunderland's goalkeeper and the subject of reported interest from Manchester United – or allowing the similarly impressive on-loan midfielder Ki Sung-yueng to return to Swansea. "Ki cannot be recalled," said a manager determined his team will keep hold of their Premier League lifeline after inheriting a seemingly hopeless cause from Paolo Di Canio.
"We were very far away from every other team, everybody was looking at the table and writing us off completely," said Poyet. "But now we are there in the mix, so I would like to say that half of the job is done, but the other half is going to be as difficult as the first."
The Uruguayan believes Adam Johnson's recent renaissance is down to the new patient, possession-based passing style he is implementing. "Adam needs a team to play one way, I am convinced," said Poyet. "You can't just give him the ball and expect him to dribble past everybody every time. You don't see a player do that apart from your Messis. And [Lionel] Messi does that because he plays in a team that keeps the ball forever. They give you the chance to rest and when you get it and you are fresh, you can go past it.
"When I got here the idea was just give it to Johnno but, first, it's predictable and, second, it's very easy for the opposition to deal with."
Sunderland director of football Roberto De Fanti has left the club.
The Italian oversaw a raft of big-money signings during former boss Paolo Di Canio's reign.
Fourteen players arrived on Wearside during the summer transfer window last year, incurring a total outlay of £19.38m.
Emanuele Giaccherini, who cost £6.5m, was the most expensive acquisition while nine players left the club, bringing in £19m; Simon Mignolet accounted for nearly half of that when he moved to Liverpool in a £9m deal.
A club statement said: "Sunderland AFC has announced that the club has parted company with director of football Roberto De Fanti.
"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Roberto and wishes him well for the future."
In the interim, chief executive Margaret Byrne, who was responsible for the administrative side of transfers before De Fanti's arrival, will resume that responsibility with Argentinian defender Santiago Vergini having arrived on Wearside this week with a view to tying up a move.
Ji Dong-Won: Ex-Sunderland striker to join Borussia Dortmund
Ji Dong-Won has agreed a four-year deal to join Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund in the summer - a day after leaving Sunderland for Augsburg.
The South Korea international, 22, left the Premier League strugglers for an undisclosed fee on Thursday to join Augsburg until the end of the season.
And within 24 hours it was announced he will join Bundesliga rivals Dortmund on a free transfer in July.
Ji looks set to replace Bayern Munich-bound Robert Lewandowski.
The Poland striker, 25, agreed a five-year deal with German and European champions Bayern earlier this month.
"Dong-Won Ji is a professional who can play in several positions across the attack," said Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc.
"We're delighted to be getting this talented player on a free transfer in time for the new season."
Ji signed for Sunderland in June 2011, scoring just two goals in 28 appearances. He netted five times in 17 appearances during a six-month loan spell with Augsburg last year.
Sunderland, who during the summer rejected a £5m bid for Ji from an unnamed German side, reported to be Dortmund, allowed him to rejoin eighth-placed Augsburg for an undisclosed fee.
Last season's Bundesliga runners-up Dortmund, who were beaten by Bayern in the Champions League final at Wembley, are fourth in the current table, 12 points adrift of Pep Guardiola's leaders.
How to save £5m in 12 months
Borussia Dortmund were reported to have made a £5m bid to sign Ji Dong-Won in the summer but it was rejected by then-boss Paolo Di Canio
Name:
Anonymous2014-01-17 14:58
Ji Dong Won Gon
Name:
Anonymous2014-01-17 15:00
Di Canio turned down £5m for him from Dortmund in the summer what a douche!