News/Chat/Talk/Signings - In the end zone - in the six
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland who play in the Premier League. Since its formation in 1879, the club has won six First Division titles—in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and 1936—and the FA Cup twice, in 1937 and 1973.
Development squad impress against experienced Bradford side.
Sunderland’s development squad drew 1-1 with Bradford City at the Bantams’ Coral Windows Stadium in a mid-season friendly on Tuesday afternoon.
Louis Laing gave the young Black Cats the lead before Oliver McBurnie levelled for the hosts in the second-half.
The League One outfit started with seven first-team players including Mark Yeates, Andy Gray, Matthew Dolan and Chris Atkinson.
Kevin Ball’s side opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Laing drove forward with purpose through the heart of City's defence before drilling home into the corner with a powerful shot from just inside the box.
The Bantams hit the bar in the early stages of the second-half before Gray was denied at point-blank range by Sunderland keeper Joel Dixon, who produced a fine reaction save.
Bradford’s equaliser came not long after the hour mark as Kyle Bennett crossed for McBurnie to power a header beyond Dixon.
The young Black Cats will be pleased to get another solid effort in against an experienced outfit before they head to Norwich City's Carrow Road in the Barclays under-21 Premier League on Monday evening.
Giaccherini, Altidore, and Ki in 2014 World Cup preparations.
Nine Sunderland players are set for international action this week as multiple Black Cats stars look to force their way into their respective countries’ World Cup squads.
Emanuele Giaccherini is in the Italy squad to face Spain in Madrid on Wednesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 28-year-old has been capped 18 times by his country and could well feature in Cesare Prandelli’s final squad for Rio 2014 after impressing in last year’s Confederations Cup in Brazil.
Elsewhere, Steven Fletcher and Phil Bardsley have been called up to Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squad for the Tartan Army’s international friendly against Poland in Warsaw.
Bardsley, who has not featured for his country in nearly two years, could win his 13th international cap whilst Fletcher would go one ahead of his team-mate onto 14 caps if he plays on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Jozy Altidore’s USA side continue their preparations for the World Cup as the Stars and Stripes travel to Cyprus to face Ukraine.
The New Jersey-born frontman was a regular during qualifying for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side and he is four goals short of moving into the USA’s top five all-time leading marksmen.
Also in preparation for Rio 2014, Ki Sung-Yueng’s South Korea travel to Athens to face Greece at Olympiakos’ Karaiskakis Stadium.
Ki has been a regular for Hong Myung-Bo’s side over the past five years and he has recorded 55 caps, scoring five goals.
John O’Shea has also been called up by the Republic of Ireland for their friendly with Serbia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Wednesday whilst Seb Larsson is in the Sweden squad as they travel to Ankara to face Turkey.
In youth international action, John Egan has returned to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for their UEFA U21 European Championship qualifier against Montenegro in Dublin.
Also in under-21 qualifying action is Charis Mavrias as the 20-year-old winger heads back to his native land to face Turkey in Katerini in group seven of qualification for the 2015 championships.
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Fiorentina fullback Alonso hopes for Sunderland stay
Marcos Alonso hopes to stay with Sunderland beyond the end of the season.
The Daily Mail says Alonso is keen on a permanent return to England after impressing during his loan spell.
The 23-year-old has been a dependable figure under Gus Poyet since joining from Fiorentina in December.
The Spaniard made just nine appearance for Fiorentina and despite the attraction of Serie A is hoping his performances for Sunderland will lead to a bid in the summer.
Sunderland preparing to appoint Lee Congerton as new director of football.
Sunderland are getting ready to bring in Hamburg technical director Lee Congerton as their new director of football.
Sunderland are preparing to appoint Lee Congerton as their new director of football.
Former Chelsea chief scout Congerton is currently technical director at Bundesliga side Hamburg, and is highly-rated within football circles.
Sunderland appointed Roberto De Fanti as their first director of football last summer but the Italian was sacked in January after just six months in the role, with several of the 14 players that joined on his watch turning out to be major disappointments.
De Fanti’s background was as a football agent, whereas 40-year-old Congerton has a proven track record as a talent-spotter at Chelsea, and then as an administrator with Hamburg.
While De Fanti was clearly not right for the role, Sunderland remain convinced that the director of football system is the way forward.
And head coach Gus Poyet – who, along with chief executive Margaret Byrne, oversaw Sunderland’s January transfer dealings – is understood to be happy to work with Congerton.
Welshman Congerton had a brief playing stint at Crewe before beginning his coaching career as academy director at Wrexham, and later moving on to Liverpool and then Chelsea.
He left Stamford Bridge in 2011, following Chelsea’s sporting director Frank Arneson to join the German side.
Congerton was linked with the sporting director’s job at West Brom in 2012, although he stayed at Hamburg.
Sunderland in danger of losing Colback, Bardsley, Gardner and Larsson on free transfers this summer.
Sunderland are facing a huge battle to keep a clutch of their Capital One Cup heroes.
Jack Colback, Phil Bardsley, Craig Gardner and Seb Larsson are all involved in contract disputes going into the final weeks of the season.
All four, who played in Sunday's gallant League Cup final defeat against Manchester City, are out of contract at the end of the season, but are yet to agree extensions.
Bardsley and Colback have opened talks regarding extensions, but have made it clear they are not prepared to re-sign on the terms offered.
It is understood talks with Larsson and Gardner are yet to get underway, leaving the duo unsure of their futures.
Sunderland's precarious top-flight status is believed to be a key factor in the north-east club's tentative approach to re-negotiating existing player contracts.
The club will be forced to reduce their playing budget next season should they suffer relegation, something that will have an impact on the size of contracts.
With the Wembley showpiece out of the way, Sunderland will hold further discussions with their out-of-contract stars - but there are no guarantees the quartet will stay.
Colback and Bardsley have played key roles for Gus Poyet since his arrival as Paolo Di Canio's replacement.
The pair will not be short of offers if Sunderland fail to resolve the current contract issues, with Colback a target for Everton while Fulham and West Ham have shown an interest in Bardsley in recent months.
Larsson has also featured regularly under Poyet, with clubs in Italy understood to be monitoring his situation.
A large chunk of Gardner's appearances under Poyet have come from the substitutes bench.
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SAFC in FA Cup quarter-finals
A look back at the Black Cats in last eight action in the FA Cup.
Ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Hull City, safc.com looks back at some of the Black Cats’ previous last eight ties in the famous competition.
1. Sunderland 2 – 1 Chelsea, FA Cup quarter-final replay, Roker Park.
18th March 1992
Undoubtedly the best game of Sunderland’s run to the 1992 FA Cup final, this game turned out to be the last-ever FA Cup tie the Black Cats won at Roker Park.
Fittingly, Chelsea’s boss for this game was Sunderland legend Ian Porterfield who scored the winner for Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup final at Wembley.
The first leg had finished 1-1 at Stamford Bridge with John Byrne continuing his fine run of form in the competition, scoring in each round up to the final before the top-flight outfit equalised to force a replay.
Gary Bennett and Gary Owers missed out on this clash through injury whilst Tony Norman and Paul Hardyman both passed late fitness tests, though the latter was eventually substituted at half time.
Sunderland attacked the Fulwell End and drew first blood when Peter Davenport opened the scoring after following up Dave Beasant’s parry from Byrne’s shot.
Norman would have one of his finest Roker nights as he was on hand to deny multiple Chelsea attacks – first denying Kerry Dixon and then Dennis Wise who looked certain to score with a point-blank header.
Tony Cascarino, who had previously notched five goals for Gillingham in the playoffs against Sunderland five years earlier, then managed to beat Norman, though he was denied by the crossbar when he headed Wise’s free-kick goalwards.
It was Wise who equalised five minutes from time for the Blues as he latched onto Vinnie Jones’ long ball and neatly beat Norman.
The visitors had dominated possession, they had the momentum and it seemed like there was only one winner until David Rush won the Black Cats a late corner.
Brian Atkinson stepped up to take the kick and it was met by a thunderous headed connection from Gordon Armstrong – bursting into the back of the net – sending Sunderland into the semi-finals.
2. Everton 1 – 1 Sunderland, FA Cup quarter-final, Goodison Park
17th March 2012
Sunderland went close to ending a 15-game winless run against Everton in this FA Cup quarter-final tie on Merseyside.
Phil Bardsley opened the scoring for the Black Cats before Tim Cahill levelled for the Toffees to set up a replay at the Stadium of Light a week later.
The Black Cats went into the lead in front of their 6,000-strong travelling support as Jack Colback found Bardsley from a free-kick and the former Manchester United frontman drilled past Tim Howard from 25 yards.
The lead lasted only ten minutes, though as Leighton Baines's cross found Nikica Jelavic, and, even though his header was going off target, Cahill reacted instantly to steer it past Simon Mignolet.
The Toffees would then dominate much of the rest of the game from then on with Sylvain Distin, Cahill and Royston Drenthe all going close.
Sunderland keeper Mignolet was heroic in the final stages as he preserved Sunderland's draw with a fine double save; first he plunged low to his right to save from Johnny Heitinga and then recovered his ground superbly to block Jelavic's angled shot.
The Black Cats held out, though they would unfortunately lose the replay on Wearside and miss out on what would have been a first trip to the new Wembley.
3. Sunderland 1 – 0 Sheffield United, FA Cup quarter-final, Stadium of Light
7th March 2004
Tommy Smith scored the only goal of the game to send the Black Cats to their first FA Cup semi-final in 12 years.
Smith’s goal continued the former Watford man’s fine run in the competition having already scored in the fourth round win over Ipswich and fifth round win at Birmingham City.
A feisty affair saw both sides sensing a big opportunity to go all the way in the competition and Smith gave an early warning of his threat with a powerful header from John Oster's cross which produced a good save from Paddy Kenny.
Michael Tonge nearly put the hosts ahead when his close range free-kick grazed the outside of the post on its way wide.
On 12 minutes, Smith got the only goal of the game as good play between Julio Arca and George McCartney saw the latter’s pull-back find Smith, who cut onto his left foot before curling beyond Kenny.
Mart Poom produced a fine save to deny Phil Jagielka from close range after the defender was quickest to react to Chris Morgan’s knock down.
Wayne Allison had a thumping shot blocked by team-mate Paul Peschisolido and Peter Ndlovu failed to make contact eight yards out after Jagielka screwed the ball back from the bye-line.
However, Sunderland managed to hold on to book a semi-final date with Millwall at Old Trafford.
Marcos Alonso expects Fiorentina return after Sunderland loan
Sunderland loan star Marcos Alonso admits that he is likely to head back to Italy in the summer.
The former Bolton defender joined the Black Cats for the remainder of the season from Serie A side Fiorentina in January.
Alonso only joined Fiorentina last summer, but failed to make an impact in Florence, which led to his move to the Stadium of Light where he has made a telling impact under Gus Poyet.
Sunderland are being linked with a permanent bid, but the 23-year-old admits that at the moment he will be heading back to Tuscany at the end of the season.
Alonso told the Sunderland Echo: "I'm very happy here at the moment, with the manager, the rest of the team, the staff, everything.
"I'm playing, that's the main thing, but I have two more years in Italy, so I will have to go back at the end of the season.
"I will have to do that.
"What happens in the summer, I don't know. I'm not thinking about that yet.
"I'm just enjoying my time here. I'm happy with my performances.
"Obviously, I want to keep improving and keep playing better and better because I think I'm capable of that."
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Rowell Report: Wonderful Wembley
EVEN though Sunday’s cup final ended in defeat, the whole day, or the weekend in many fans’ cases, was special, and leaves you wanting more.
Quite simply, Wembley is addictive.
The successful clubs are regulars and there’s nothing like a major cup final at Wembley to raise a club’s profile both at home and abroad.
The great and the good find their way there and you see celebrities milling around just like any other fan – whether it be Noel Gallagher in the Press Room or Sunderland fan Jordan Henderson in the stands.
Playing at the nation’s showpiece stadium is glamorous and high profile and it makes you wonder why some managers don’t take the cup seriously when there’s such a great reward at the end.
Sunday’s cup final was the first time I’d visited Wembley since its redevelopment and the sheer size and scale of everything is impressive.
Walking to the stadium, you see the huge arch on the skyline and the fans I saw as I went to Wembley all seemed to be wearing red and white.
When I entered the ground I was determined to take it all in and enjoy the occasion as well as the game itself.
I made a point of going pitchside with my Echo colleagues to see Wembley from different angles and perspectives and we also witnessed Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips being interviewed for Sky TV.
I was in my seat a full hour before kick-off as I wanted to see the stadium fill up and come to life.
By now, I think the whole country knows about our fans’ invasion of Covent Garden and Leicester Square, where the pub-owners and landlords probably took more in one weekend than they usually would in a month.
If only Sunderland could have gone home with the trophy.
We all wanted it so badly but it wasn’t to be.
But as we are still in the FA Cup, the chance is there to do it all again.
HULL vs SUNDERLAND: All the latest team news and stats ahead of all-Premier League FA Cup quarter-final
KC Stadium (Sunday, 2pm - ITV 1)
Hull team news:
To follow...
Sunderland team news:
To follow...
Big match stats:
There have been three FA Cup meetings between Hull and Sunderland, the last of which came in 1976 when the Wearsiders won 1-0 at Roker Park.
Sunderland also beat Hull in their first ever two meetings in any competition in FA Cup matches in 1920 (6-2 home win) and 1933 (2-0 away win).
Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore played 30 times for Hull City in 2009-10 scoring just two goals. He made one FA Cup appearance as a substitute in a 1-4 defeat by Wigan.
Altidore has played 32 times for Sunderland and also scored just two goals in that time.
Sunderland have not won four FA Cup matches in a row since they won the final in 1973.
The Black Cats have won just two of their last 31 away FA Cup games against a team from the top division (W2 D11 L18).
One month ago, Hull completed the league double over Sunderland with a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light after winning 1-0 at the KC Stadium earlier in the season.
Nikica Jelavic is cup tied after already scoring two goals in one game against QPR in this season’s 3rd Round for Everton.
Shane Long is cup tied, having already played for West Brom in the competition this season, which is a shame has he has scored five goals in his last six FA Cup starts.
Hull City have kept just two clean sheets in their last 14 FA Cup matches.
TROUBLED Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore failed to get an international boost after the USA slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Ukraine.
Altidore, dropped from the Black Cats squad altogether for the Capital One Cup final at the weekend, had the opportunity to bounce back as part of Jurgen Klinsmann’s American team.
He was handed the incentive of starting the game, held in Cyprus, but a disjointed display from the USA saw them fall to only their third defeat in 19 games.
Goals in either half saw Ukraine ease home on a night where their opponents mustered only a couple of chances all game – one of which was headed over by the Sunderland striker.
Altidore was one of nine Sunderland players on international duty..
Steven Fletcher and Phil Bardsley were both involved in Scotland’s 1-0 win over Poland in Warsaw.
Fletcher got valuable match-practice under his belt, playing the first 45 minutes, while Bardsley came on as a 67th minute substitute – 10 minutes before Celtic’s Scott Brown scored the only goal of the game.
Sunderland captain John O’Shea was an unused substitute for the Republic of Ireland as bosses Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane experimented in a game which saw ex-Black Cat James McClean starting, while David Meyler came on as a 61st minute substitute.
The Republic of Ireland took the lead thanks to an early goal from Hull City’s Shane Long, but two second-half Serbian strikes condemned them to defeat at the Aviva Stadium.
Seb Larsson was part of the Sweden side, who suffered a 2-1 defeat to Turkey in Ankara.
There was better news for Ki Sung-Yueng, who was part of South Korea’s 2-0 win over Greece in a game held in South Africa.
It was from Ki’s seventh minute free-kick that his side took the lead, and before being substituted in the 74th minute the Black Cats’ on-loan star saw QPR’s Park Ji-Sung add the second.
Sunderland’s other senior international player involved this week was Italian winger Emanuele Giaccherini.
He was selected for the Italy squad to play Spain at the Bernabeu in Madrid, but the Black Cats’ summer signing did not start the game.
There was joy and disappointment for two Sunderland players at Under 21 level.
Greek winger Charis Mavrias played 77 minutes of Greece Under-21s 2-1 local derby win over Turkey Under-21s.
But the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of making the European Under-21 Championship finals perished when an early Matt Doherty goal was cancelled out by two late strikes from Montenegro Under-21s.
Black Cats defender John Egan, who joined Southend United on loan last weekend, played the whole 90 minutes.
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FA Cup - Match facts: Hull City v Sunderland
Facts and figures ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final between Hull City and Sunderland at the KC Stadium.
There have been three FA Cup meetings between Hull and Sunderland, the last of which came in 1976 when the Wearsiders won 1-0 at Roker Park.
Sunderland also beat Hull in their first ever two meetings in any competition in FA Cup matches in 1920 (6-2 home win) and 1933 (2-0 away win).
Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore played 30 times for Hull City in 2009-10 scoring just two goals. He made one FA Cup appearance as a substitute in a 1-4 defeat by Wigan.
Altidore has played 32 times for Sunderland and also scored just two goals in that time.
Sunderland have not won four FA Cup matches in a row since they won the final in 1973.
The Black Cats have won just two of their last 31 away FA Cup games against a team from the top division (W2 D11 L18).
One month ago, Hull completed the league double over Sunderland with a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light after winning 1-0 at the KC Stadium earlier in the season.
Nikica Jelavic is cup tied after already scoring two goals in one game against QPR in this season’s 3rd Round for Everton.
Shane Long is cup tied, having already played for West Brom in the competition this season, which is a shame has he has scored five goals in his last six FA Cup starts.
Hull City have kept just two clean sheets in their last 14 FA Cup matches.
Gus Poyet says Jozy Altidore to blame for poor form not Sunderland
Jozy Altidore's claim that Gus Poyet system and tactics at are responsible for his failure to adapt to English football has been rubbished by the Sunderland manager
Gus Poyet has rejected Jozy Altidore's claim that Sunderland's system and tactics are responsible for his failure to adapt to English football by arguing only the striker is to blame for poor form.
Altidore has one of the worst goalscoring ratios in the Premier League - three goals in 62 games - and returns to former club Hull City in the FA Cup tomorrow without a goal since December 4th.
The American endured an equally barren period when playing for Hull four years ago, scoring just once in 30 appearances for the Tigers and Poyet warned he cannot treat the centre-forward as a "charity."
Despite a prolific spell with AZ Alkmaar in Holland where he scored 40 goals in 89 games, Altidore, who did not even make the bench for the Capital One Cup Final last weekend, has scored only two goals for Sunderland this season and only one in the league.
Altidore, who complained about Sunderland's system when on international duty, will be given one last chance to impress in the FA Cup this weekend and Poyet hopes the anger he feels about being left out of the side last weekend is the spark he needs.
"Let's see how he reacts," said Poyet. "I look forward to seeing what type of character he is. I'd like him to prove me wrong. I'm not a charity, it's up to him.
"With me, if you play well, you stay in the team. You can see he's got plenty of things to give, but it's about the consistency and doing it all the time.
"To survive in the league you need a striker who will score double figures, if you don't you will struggle badly. It's different football to Holland.
"He's had too much pressure, he's come in with an idea he'll play for a manager and the manager changed. We changed the system. He's been in and out; he was maybe not so good and then he scored against Chelsea [in December], then he went on a run without scoring."
Poyet, who was far from impressed with the standard of the 14 players signed in the summer by former manager Paolo Di Canio and Director of Football Roberto Di Fanti, also rebuked Altidore for whinging about Sunderland's system, although he hopes the friction between them brings out the best in the £6.5m summer signing.
"We can talk about too many things, how we play, the system we play, who is playing or not playing - at the end of the day we put plenty of effort in to get to him the club and we try to use him the best we can," added Poyet. "We need him. It doesn't matter what he said.
"I went to see him with the national team. He's playing in a slightly different system, but in the game against Scotland he didn't score and this week he didn't score. It's up to him, not me."
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Hull City 3 Sunderland 0: match report
Read a full match report of the FA Cup quarter-final tie between Hull City and Sunderland at KC Stadium on Sunday March 9, 2014
Revenge is not a word Steve Bruce has ever allowed himself to use in public, but it is an emotion that has pumped through him whenever he has come up against Sunderland, the club that sacked him and the supporters who abused him.
This was a victory that not only completed Bruce’s humiliation of his former club, it is a win that confirms Hull City's decision to offer him a shot at managerial redemption was inspired.
Three times Hull have played Sunderland this season and three times the Tigers have mauled the Black Cats. Three times Bruce has kept his emotions in check, three times he has had to hide the intense satisfaction he feels.
This was the sweetest revenge of them all because it brings the most mouth-watering reward. If taking Hull out of the Championship in his first season was special, taking them to their first FA Cup semi-final in 84 years, and to the brink of qualifying for Europe for the first time in the club’s history in his second, is an incredible achievement.
Hull are not quite certain of preserving their place in the Premier League, but they are far enough away from relegation to bask in the glory of this moment. Their victory was richly deserved. They out-played Sunderland from start to finish, scoring three times in the second half thanks to goals from Curtis Davies, David Meyler – who celebrated by butting the corner flag after Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew had butted him last weekend – and Matty Fryatt.
They could have scored as many in the first period, Fryatt missing an easy header, Sone Aluko failing to convert a penalty and Ahmed Elmohamady denied by Sunderland goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Sunderland were terrible. They mustered one shot on target, a tame effort from Ignacio Scocco that trickled into the arms of Allan McGregor.
There were poor performances all over, disturbingly two of them came from key players. Captain John O’Shea lost Davies for Hull’s first goal, and Lee Cattermole failed to tackle Meyler for their second and gifted the ball to Fryatt for the third.
Having impressed in defeat to Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final last weekend, offering enough quality to suggest they will comfortably avoid the drop, this performance reeked of relegation.
Poyet tried hard to limit the damage, but bristled at criticism of his team selection. The Uruguayan has received a lot of praise as Sunderland manager, but as Bruce knows, the North East is a difficult place when your team plays as badly as this.
“It would be a good excuse for the players to say I made a mistake and picked the wrong team,” Poyet said. “Now, we look to Palace, the biggest game of the season. I invite every single fan in Sunderland to fill the stadium and make sure that we make it very difficult for them.
“This is the key moment. No one is going to be asking me what is more important, the cups or the Premier League, because that is it. From now on, we have to get points, somehow. There are no excuses.”
Only a Yorkshire derby against League One’s Sheffield United stands in the way of Hull reaching an FA Cup final and the tantalising prospect of a place in the Europa League even if they lose it.
Bruce had questioned whether he wanted to return to management after Sunderland owner Ellis Short responded to criticism from fans with his P45. The sack stung Bruce and he briefly considered retirement, but Hull’s owner Assem Allam was as persuasive as he was persistent.
It is easy to question the sense behind Allam’s move to rebrand the football club as the Hull Tigers, but for all of the controversy that surrounds his name change idea, it is hard to doubt the positive impact he has had. Millions have been invested to turn Hull into a Premier League team and Bruce has brought more success to the club in two years than anyone could have imagined when he arrived.
“I’ve had a wonderful time here,” Bruce said. “It was at the right time to come back under the radar for a little bit. It was terrific for me. It’s going OK at the moment but, make no mistake, there’s always a downside around the corner, so you have to be wary of that, but try and enjoy the good times. This is one of those times.
“At a football club, managers, coaches, players come and go, don’t they? The people you’re happy for is the supporters. It’s quite remarkable, it’s the 1930s since we were last in a [FA Cup] semi-final. I can’t see many making the trip to Wembley who were there for last one.
“Let’s enjoy it. I hope to make it a fantastic occasion. A big Yorkshire derby at Wembley will be terrific. I still think we’ve got to win a couple of games in the league, but to be a newly promoted club, we’ve made huge strides very quickly.”
Sunderland must convert their home games against relegation rivals into points, if they are to pull off a Great Escape.
The Great Escape is still on for Sunderland.
The Black Cats were bottom at Christmas and are bidding to become only the second team in Premier League history – following in the footsteps of West Bromwich Albion in 2004/05 – to have survived from that position.
And, while Gus Poyet’s side remain in the bottom three, their chances of avoiding the drop remain very much alive.
Going into this weekend Sunderland were just a single point from safety.
And their cup exploits, which continue this afternoon with an FA Cup quarter-final at Hull City, mean they have two games in hand of all their relegation rivals – and three in hand of most.
Of course, games in hand are worth nothing unless converted into points.
But a glance at Sunderland’s run-in shows there are plenty of opportunities to steal a march on their relegation rivals.
Sunderland’s final dozen games evenly split home and away.
And four of their six home games at the Stadium of Light are against sides also fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table.
Crystal Palace, Cardiff, Swansea and West Brom have all still to visit Wearside.
And a fifth home game, against a midtable West Ham side that was itself in the relegation zone at the beginning of February, is also winnable.
Only Champions League hopefuls Everton will arrive on Wearside as favourites.
Away from home, however, Sunderland have a very difficult run-in, with a trip to fellow-strugglers Norwich followed by games against four of the top five, plus Manchester United.
After going to Carrow Road in a fortnight’s time, any return from those remaining road trips will be a bonus.
So the key to Sunderland’s survival lies in winning at home, against sides that are also battling the drop.
Unfortunately that is something the Black Cats have failed to do so far, with only one of their three home wins to date – against Stoke last month – coming against a side in the bottom half of the table.
That is something they must put right, and quickly.
Because if only they can take advantage of those games against the strugglers on home soil, the Black Cats will be well on their way to ensuring an eighth successive season in the top flight.
Hunter's Sunderland predictions
Mar 15, Crystal Palace (h): Win
Mar 22, Norwich C (a): Win
Mar 26, Liverpool (a): Defeat
Mar 31, West Ham (h): Draw
April 7, Spurs (a): Defeat
April 12, Everton (h): Defeat
April 20, Chelsea (a): Defeat
April 27, Cardiff (h): Win
May 3, Man United (a): Defeat
May 11, Swansea (h): Draw
TBA, West Brom (h): Win
TBA, Manchester C: .Defeat
SUNDERLAND transfer target Will Buckley insists he is not looking to follow Liam Bridcutt out of the Brighton exit door.
Brighton winger Buckley was on the Black Cats’ radar during the January transfer window, with Sunderland thought to have seen a bid of around £1million rejected by Poyet’s former club.
The Seagulls were looking for a fee in excess of £2m, but neither Sunderland – nor fellow suitors Crystal Palace – were willing to go that high for Buckley, particularly as he has not featured since December because of a hamstring problem.
But if Sunderland beat the drop, they can be expected to reunite their interest in the 25-year-old, who still has another three years to run on his Brighton contract.
Poyet, who has already raided his former club for £2.5m January capture Bridcutt, claimed Buckley was “better” than Wilfried Zaha during his time as Brighton manager, prior to the then Crystal Palace wideman joining Manchester United in a £10m deal.
But Buckley has poured cold water on the suggestion that he is looking to leave the Amex Stadium, with Brighton still firmly in the hunt for a Championship play-off spot.
“Brighton is a club that is going forward,” said Buckley.
“I said that when I signed (a new contract) and it still is, so there is no reason for me to be looking elsewhere at the moment.”
Buckley admits though that January was an unsettling period, because of both the transfer speculation and his hamstring problem, which has only just seen him return to the first-team contention.
The former Watford man added: “It was a strange time. I just wanted to get back playing.
“That is the most frustrating part, when you want to be helping the team and you can’t because of slight injuries.
“You try to say it doesn’t affect you but it probably does in a way, so just getting back on the field is the best policy.”
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Chief scout Angeloni leaves Sunderland
SUNDERLAND chief scout Valentino Angeloni has left the club with immediate effect.
The club confirmed in a brief statement today that Angeloni had departed.
The statement read: “Sunderland AFC has confirmed that Valentino Angeloni has left the club and the club places on record its thanks to Valentino.”
Roberto De Fanti and Angeloni worked together last summer as Sunderland opted for a more continental scouting and transfer approach.
However, director of football De Fanti left the Black Cats in January, and Angeloni has now followed him out of the Stadium of Light exit door.
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League survival far more important than cups – Bardsley
PHIL Bardsley insists there will be no cup hangover for Sunderland this weekend when Crystal Palace visit Wearside for a Premier League relegation six-pointer.
The Black Cats have suffered twin distractions in the cups in recent weeks – the high of a Capital One Cup final and the low of an ignominious FA Cup quarter-final exit when within touching distance of another Wembley appearance.
But the experienced defender, who was one of those who trudged miserably off the pitch last Sunday after a painful 3-0 whipping by Hull City, says the players have never lost sight of their Premier League mission.
And despite Sunderland not playing league football for three weeks – since the 4-1 defeat at Arsenal last month – Bardsley says the team will be more than ready to get on with the task in hand.
“We’ve got some good games coming up and plenty of players who will be up for that challenge,” he told the Gazette.
“As much as we wanted to do well in cup competition, we’ve always appreciated the Premier League is our bread and butter and it’s vital that we take care of business in that direction.
“We need to cement our league status and the reality is that that’s far more important right now because it is our long-term future.
“We want a strong finish to the season and keep the club where it belongs, in the Premier League.”
Sunderland’s cup surge has coincided with Bardsley’s rehabilitation among Black Cats’ fans this season, and culminated in a recall to the Scotland squad for the full-back earlier this month.
But while the 28-year-old was delighted to play in the 1-0 win over Poland, he says his focus right now remains on Sunderland’s perilous position at club level.
“You never know what’s going to happen in this game that’s why we love it so much,” he said, reflecting on the turnaround in his fortunes.
“The Scotland recall was great and that’s maybe something to build on in the future.
“But for the moment, it’s all about the Premier League for me and for the rest of the lads too.”
Mark Lawrenson's Premier League predictions vs Ricky & Simon of Kaiser Chiefs
Sunderland v Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have lost a bit of momentum in the last few weeks and one point from their last three games means they are back in trouble a bit at the bottom.
I can see the Eagles digging in to make it as difficult as possible for Sunderland and I can just see Tony Pulis's side nicking the win.
There are not a lot of goals in this Black Cats side, which is their big problem, especially if Palace sit back and defend, which is what think they will do.
This is a crucial time for Gus Poyet and his players. They have got games in hand on the teams around them but have slipped back into the relegation zone while they have been playing in the cups.
Sunderland's games in hand are West Brom at home, Manchester City away and Liverpool away.
I look at those fixtures and think they would be happy with three points out of nine, which would lift them out of the relegation zone but keep them in trouble. It is going to be touch and go whether they stay up.
Lawro's prediction: 0-1
Ricky and Simon's prediction: "Gus Poyet, ex-Leeds, is a good manager." 2-0
Sunderland pair Wes Brown and Craig Gardner are both expected to return after injury.
Jozy Altidore and Valentin Roberge have overcome illness, while Liam Bridcutt is available after being cup-tied against Hull last weekend.
Crystal Palace are again without top scorer Marouane Chamakh because of a hamstring injury.
Danny Gabbidon and Barry Bannan are expected to be fit after injury and illness respectively.
MATCH PREVIEW
You can't play down the importance of this match at the bottom of the Premier League, particularly when Gus Poyet has described it as "the biggest game of the season" and more crucial than their recent League Cup final.
The Sunderland boss has been emphasising the need to forget about the runs in the cup competitions and concentrate on the 12 league matches they have left to ensure their top-flight status; they have played just two in the Premier League in five weeks.
There cannot be any hangover - as there was back in 1985 when Sunderland lost a League Cup final and were then relegated.
When Poyet took over on 8 October, he knew he had a huge challenge ahead of him to keep Sunderland in the Premier League - they had accrued just one point from the first eight games.
If the Black Cats are to survive, you really do feel the headlines will have to be written at the Stadium of Light, where they have won only three times this season and kept just three clean sheets.
This is the first of six home games remaining, with West Ham, Everton, Cardiff, Swansea and West Brom all still to visit. They are the fixtures that will decide their destiny as they still have to travel to Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester United.
Last weekend's disappointing home defeat by Southampton has heightened the significance of this fixture for Crystal Palace, who have picked up just seven points away from home. It's a rare setback under Tony Pulis, who has steered them to 20 points from 16 games in charge.
They've improved dramatically defensively but the lack of goals is still a concern.
Palace will be aware that Sunderland will move alongside them on points should they win. It won't be one for the faint hearted and the outcome could be pivotal.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in the last four league meetings (W3, D1). However, all three of those victories were at home.
The Eagles have failed to score in four of their last five visits to Sunderland.
Only Crystal Palace (four times) have been relegated from the Premier League more than Sunderland (three times).
Sunderland
Sunderland have lost their last four matches in all competitions, conceding 12 goals in the process.
The Black Cats have won three times at home this season, all by the odd goal, and only once in their last seven at the Stadium of Light (W1, D2, L4).
They have let nine points slip from winning positions at home, more than any other side.
No side have accrued fewer points than Sunderland (nine) against sides currently in the bottom half of the Premier League table. They have also scored a league-low eight goals against fellow bottom-half clubs.
Crystal Palace
Palace have won only one of their last five league matches (W1, D1, L3).
Tony Pulis' side are without a clean sheet in those five matches. They kept five in the first 11 matches of his reign.
The Eagles have earned 23 points against other clubs in the bottom half of the table, second only to Swansea (24).
Palace are the Premier League's lowest scorers with 19 goals. They are nine goals shy of the top-flight record low of 28 goals, scored by Leeds in 1997.
They have scored just six goals in 13 away games, the fewest in the division.
Graeme Anderson’s Sunderland match report: It could have been so much worse
MANY anguished and heartfelt howls of disappointment at the final whistle of this game from the home fans.
Understandable all.
But I’ve seen worse.
In doomed relegation seasons of the past few decades, these are the matches Sunderland lose, not draw.
And the abiding memory of this clash should be how easily Sunderland might have let it slip; as much as how surely they should have won.
The Black Cats dominated almost all the way to the 89th minute, when the Eagles’ big chance came – Cameron Jerome, inside the box, tapped the ball forward to Kagisho Dikgacoi on the right and the goal suddenly opened up for the South African.
The midfielder could hardly have struck his shot truer, but somehow it pulled just wide of the far post.
Craig Gardner, busting a gut to cover, was facing goal when the rocket shot flashed by his chest so closely he must have been able to smell the leather as it cut between him and the woodwork and somehow failed to hit either.
A comical own goal at that stage and subsequent defeat would truly have felt like a torpedo to Sunderland’s survival hopes this season.
As it is, a point lifted them above Cardiff City, kept them within three points of Palace and saw them gain ground on relegation rivals Norwich City – who they play this Saturday.
Sunderland coach Gus Poyet knows this is not the time for faint hearts as Premier League clubs contemplate the most nail-biting of relegation run-ins.
And for that reason, he was looking on the bright side – pleased that his players had shown themselves capable of completely dominating Premier League opposition, happy that his side had played well enough to win, even if it had not won on the day.
“I understand it’s another game gone by and a lot of people will be frustrated, but I know the players and I know how much I ask of them,” he said.
“On the day, they gave me everything.
“Yes, I would have liked them to score, but Ki running with the ball, Johnno creating space for the rest, Jozy working hard in the box – they were all doing their job.
“All the way around the pitch, they were all doing their best.
“We had conceded four, three and three in our previous three games.
“In this game, we kept a clean sheet, so there’s a positive for a start.”
Poyet had started the day going for a win which would have been massive in the context of the survival battle – victory would have lifted Sunderland out of the relegation zone at Palace’s expense.
To that end, the Uruguayan made seven changes to the side which lost so abjectly to Hull City in the FA Cup quarter-final last weekend.
In came Vito Mannone, Wes Brown, Marcos Alonso, Liam Bridcutt, Ki Sung-Yueng, Adam Johnson and Fabio Borini, as Poyet returned to a side looking much more like the team which performed so well in the recent Capital One Cup final.
One significant change from the showpiece game, though, was that Borini was deployed on the left, rather than as the lone striker – that role was given to Steven Fletcher.
Poyet’s side were up against a Palace outfit which arrived in the North East having taken just seven points on their travels all season.
So, unsurprisingly, they were set up defensively from the start – all 11 players inside their own half in the opening few minutes. If Eagles boss Tony Pulis was going to win the game, he was going to win ugly.
Sunderland’s strikers have called for more balls into the box in games and they got enough in the opening five minutes – two Seb Larsson free-kicks from the left and an Adam Johnson curler from the right.
But strong winds all game made lofted balls a lottery – the free-kicks did not find their mark and Johnson’s centre was guided wide by Fletcher’s shoulder.
It was a promising start from the home side and it continued and continued with plenty of urgency to get the ball into the danger areas swiftly.
Such were the problems Sunderland were causing that both Palace’s full-backs were booked in the opening dozen minutes – something which boded well for the hosts as they continued to press.
But, for all their ambition, Sunderland struggled to find the killer pass or the killer shot.
Left-back Marcos Alonso shot straight at keeper Julian Speroni from outside the area in the ninth minute.
In the 10th minute, Borini’s poor first touch deprived him of a shot and his effort to play in Ki pushed the South Korean just a fraction too wide.
Palace didn’t threaten Sunderland’s goal until the 19th minute when Liam Bridcutt was harshly booked for a foul on Mile Jedinak and the Australian took the subsequent free-kick.
From midway inside the Sunderland half, Jedinak let fly but it was less a threat, more a warning shot, so wide of the target was the effort.
Sunderland upped their game in the minutes that followed and created several chances, the best of which saw Borini drive a low centre across the box from the left which Fletcher tried to back-heel the ball into the net but failed to make contact with.
The £12million Fletcher of old used to gobble up those sorts of chances.
A couple of minutes later and another rushed attack saw Johnson fire wide as the ball came to him quickly from the left. Then, in the 27th minute, a first-time Johnson cross eluded both Fletcher and Borini when both were well-placed had the ball bounced more kindly.
The half-hour came up with Sunderland in complete charge and the best Palace could hope for, at that stage, was a bit of luck – which they got when Mannone slipped on a clearance, though the Italian got up swiftly to bring down Tom Ince’s resulting snapshot from range.
After that, it was all Sunderland again, but, apart from a spectacular, but wayward, volley from Ki and an acrobatic overhead kick from Borini which dropped just over the crossbar, there was little to worry Speroni.
The ineffective Fletcher failed to reappear for the second half, having suffered a recurrence of an ankle problem, and his place was taken by Jozy Altidore, who showed the right response to having been dropped from the cup final squad.
He worked hard and diligently and he might have broken the deadlock in the 50th minute when he picked up a chipped ball forward from Wes Brown, to turn and whip in a rising left-foot shot which Speroni knew little about as he instinctively gloved it wide.
Sunderland continued to threaten fitfully for the remainder of the game.
A Bridcutt centre drilled in from the right flank was turned wide by Borini in the 55th minute, but the game became scrappier after that and Palace began to get occasional glimpses of Sunderland’s goal in the last 20 minutes.
Asked later what Sunderland need to make the difference in games like these, Poyet responded: “We could do with a Player of the Month again – like we had with Adam Johnson in January – it is just a case of looking for a player to have a purple patch.“
Borini is the closest Sunderland have to that player right now and, in the 82nd minute, he went desperately close – latching on to a Bridcutt pass and crashing a shot from the right against the woodwork.
Seconds later, he popped up in front of goal, just outside the area, when he picked up possession and curled a shot inches over the target.
But then came Dikgacoi’s miss, which reminded us that while this result was a big disappointment it was not a major disaster.
“I felt that we were bound to score, but that’s football, sometime it just doesn’t happen,” said Poyet. “We have a full week now and, having avoided defeat, we have stopped the rot.”
That was probably the best thing that could be taken out of the game.
But the bottom line is that there has to be a major improvement in Sunderland’s home form if they are to stay up this season – they have won only three times at the Stadium of Light.
Although four of their five remaining home games are against teams in the bottom half of the division, no team has taken fewer points from bottom-half-of-the-table teams than Sunderland this season.
It is a dangerous combination.
And all the more reason for Sunderland to eye this weekend’s trip to Carrow Road with a sense of anticipation.
They have picked up more points on the road than at home this season and an away victory over similarly relegation-threatened opponents would be the perfect pick-me-up.
Sunderland fans have to hope their side have just a little more success against the Canaries, than they enjoyed against the Eagles.
Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0: Eagles scrap to defy Black Cats
SUNDERLAND fluffed the chance to move out of the relegation zone after they could only manage a scrappy stalemate with fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.
In a pivotal encounter in the battle to avoid the drop, the Black Cats could not find a way through the Palace back-line, albeit they moved up a place in the table to third bottom after Cardiff’s defeat at Everton.
Sunderland were the better side for long periods, but lacked the necessary quality in the final third, particularly in a one-sided first half.
Half-time substitute Jozy Altidore drew a smart save out of Palace stopper Julian Speroni early in the second half, but it wasn’t until the final 10 minutes when Sunderland mustered another meaningful chance.
Fabio Borini twice went close within seconds when he first fired against the crossbar and then shot just over the top, before Kagisho Dikgacoi almost nicked it for Palace at the death.
Gus Poyet made seven changes from the side which lost at Hull City in the FA Cup quarter finals, with Vito Mannone, Marcos Alonso, Ki Sung-Yueng and Adam Johnson all returning after being rested at the KC Stadium.
Wes Brown shook off a knock to take the place of Santiago Vergini, while Liam Bridcutt was preferred in midfield to Lee Cattermole.
But Poyet’s big call was to keep faith with Steven Fletcher, who retained his place up front, with Fabio Borini reverting to a role tucking in from the left flank.
Palace boss Tony Pulis made two changes from the defeat to Southampton with Adrian Mariappa and Thomas Ince preferred to Jason Puncheon and Dean Moxey.
Sunderland created a half-chance in the fourth minute when Adam Johnson curled in an inswinging cross from the right, which bounced high and wide off Steven Fletcher’s shoulder six yards out.
The Black Cats remained bright in the exchanges which followed, without being able to create a clear-cut opportunity.
Fletcher went closer in the 23rd minute when Borini thrashed a cross-come-shot into the area from the left of goal, which the Scotland striker just couldn’t get enough contact to with his attempted back-heel.
On the half hour mark, Seb Larsson’s free-kick from the right was only headed out as far as Ki, 20 yards out, but the South Korean sliced his volley high and wide of the target.
Borini went close to breaking the deadlock two minutes before the interval when Palace winger Thomas Ince diverted the ball back into his own area and the Italian attempted an overhead kick from the left of goal which was just high and wide of the far post.
HALF-TIME Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0
Poyet made a change at the interval with Jozy Altidore replacing Fletcher, who seemed to pick up a knock during the first half.
Six minutes into the half, Altidore went desperately close to giving Sunderland the lead when he managed to bring Brown’s ball over the top under control before hitting a powerful left-footed shot on the turn.
The ball looked to be heading into the near top corner, but Julian Speroni produced excellent reflexes to tip it behind.
But it was not a fair relection of what was to follow, with both sides desperately struggling to create chances.
With seven minutes to go, Borini went desperately close to giving Sunderland the lead within a matter of seconds.
First, the Italian was picked out by Ki down the right-hand side of the area and he fired a powerful right-foot shot which cannoned back off the crossbar.
And then Sunderland managed to feed Borini again on the edge of the Palace area, before the on-loan Liverpool man curled a right-footed shot just over the top on the turn.
Palace went desperately close to nicking all three points in the 89th minute when Cameron Jerome managed to bobble the ball into the path of Kagisho Dikgacoi, to the right of goal, eight yards out.
Dikgacoi unleashed a powerful right-footed shot across goal which rocketed fractionally beyond the far post.
FULL-TIME Sunderland 0 Crystal Palace 0
SUNDERLAND: Mannone, Bardsley, O’Shea, Brown, Alonso, Bridcutt, Ki, Larsson (Gardner 62), Johnson (Scocco 83), Borini, Fletcher (Altidore 46). Subs not used: Colback, Vergini, Cattermole, Ustari. Booked: Bridcutt (19), Larsson (57), Gardner (64), Brown (79)
Sunderland U18s 4 Stoke City U18s 0: Second-half power surge sinks Potters
SUNDERLAND completed the double over Stoke with another convincing four-goal Barclays U18 Premier League victory at the Academy of Light today.
Ross Colquhoun finally made the breakthrough with a deflected effort, following a corner, early in the second half.
Tom Robson crashed home for 2-0, then Lynden Gooch added a third, rolling home the loose ball after charging down a clearance by Stoke keeper Dominic Kurasik.
Sunderland rounded off the victory with a last-minute fourth goal from the penalty spot, coolly taken by Ethan Robson after he had been brought down inside the box.
Middlesbrough lost 3-1 at Everton, with Matthew Elsdon grabbing their consolation, while Newcastle beat Manchester United 1-0, thanks to Greg Olley’s strike.
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Boro loanee Graham has ‘unfinished business’ at Sunderland
DANNY GRAHAM feels he has “unfinished business” at Sunderland after being shown the exit door just six months into his Black Cats career.
Sunderland splashed out £5million on Graham 14 months ago, but the striker was sent on loan to Hull City last summer before joining Middlesbrough in January.
The 28-year-old made just 13 appearances for the Wearsiders - without finding the net - before former head coach Paolo Di Canio sanctioned the departure of the final signing of predecessor Martin O’Neill’s reign.
Sunderland are likely to look to move Graham on this summer, regardless of which division they are in, after Gus Poyet opted not to recall the former Swansea man in the January transfer window.
But while Graham would be happy to stay at Boro beyond the end of his loan spell, he has not closed the door on his Sunderland career.
When asked whether he would be open to stay at the Riverside after this season, Graham told the BBC: “Yes, I would.
“It’s a fantastic club who gave me a chance in football, but I still think I’ve got unfinished business at Sunderland.
“There’s a new manager there now and I want to go back there in the summer and see where I stand.
“Until then I don’t know what’s going to happen, so I’ve got to get my head down, work hard in the off season and see what comes of it.”
Graham believes the managerial upheaval during the first six months of his Sunderland career didn’t help his chances of establishing himself at the Stadium of Light.
“Martin O’Neill was there and I think I only got five or six weeks with him then he was out the door and Paulo Di Canio came in,” he added.
“He did his job, got us safe and that was the main objective for the club.
“In pre-season I was the fittest I’ve ever been and then he said I had to go out on loan, but that’s football, you take your highs with your lows and just get on with it.”
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Controversial referee Kevin Friend appointed for Liverpool vs Sunderland
SUNDERLAND fans’ bogeyman Kevin Friend has been appointed to referee Liverpool vs Sunderland on March 26.
The ref became no friend of Wearsiders last year when he handed Black Cats defender Wes Brown a controversial red card in a Premier League match against Stoke.
Gus Poyet described the decision as “difficult to accept” and the red card was eventually lifted after appeal.
In February 2010, Friend issued red cards to Sunderland’s Lee Cattermole and David Meyler during an away match against Portsmouth.
Portsmouth both Avram Grant was charged by the Football Association with improper conduct for confronting Friend at half-time over a number of the official’s decisions during his team’s eventual 1–1 draw
Portsmouth had two penalty appeals dismissed by Friend, who earlier in the match had dismissed Portsmouth’s Ricardo Rocha and simultaneously awarded Sunderland a penalty kick.
Friend perhaps won back some credibility from Sunderland fans when he sent Newcastle boss Alan Pardew to the stands after his clash with Meyler, now at Hull, earlier this month. Pardew was later given a seven-match ban for the offence.
Sunderland face financial meltdown if relegated after latest accounts reveal black hole
Simon Bird takes a look at the Black Cats' latest figures and they're not too pretty
Gus Poyet is facing a financial meltdown unless he saves Sunderland from relegation.
Sunderland have posted another big loss in their annual accounts - of £23 million - that has increased the pressure on Poyet and his side to stay in the Premier League.
The Wearsiders slipped out their financial figures unannounced this weekend, and they show the club will have a black hole in their finances if they fail to climb out of the bottom three in the next 11 games.
But if they do survive they could be in a healthy near-break even position by this time next year allowing Poyet to build a stronger side.
Those are the make-or-break stakes being played for on Wearside in the next two months.
Sunderland cost £95 million to run in the year to July 31 last year, down from £104 million in the previous 12 months.
But turnover fell £5 million to £72 million, meaning the club fell further into debt and have a bank overdraft that has more than trebled to £39 million.
The latest accounts show TV income for last season was £44 million. That will increase to at least £63 million this season, effectively wiping out Sunderland's losses, all other things being equal.
But if they go down, TV income will be a parachute payment of £26 million for the first season in the Championship, meaning around £40 million of income is dependent on success in the next 11 games.
Sunderland have made progress cutting their wage bill, with players pocketed £56 million, down from £63 million. But that does not include the sacking and pay-off for Paolo Di Canio and his coaching staff, who departed in September.
The accounts show Sunderland made a profit of pds 11 million on player sales. But that does not include deals including selling James McClean, Stephane Sessegnon and Jo Dong Won, or buying Liam Bridcutt, Ignacio Scocco and Oscar Ustari. Or a host of costly loan deals.
Sunderland's gate receipts fell from £14 million to £12.6 million. Conference and banqueting income halved to £2.3 million.
Gus Poyet's squad is valued at £62 million.
Some £12.2 million is owed by other clubs in transfer fees from players sold by Sunderland. Likewise £25 million is owed on players bought by Sunderland and being paid for in instalments.
Ellis Short has pledged to continue supporting Sunderland and the accounts state: "The directors consider the major risk of the business to be a significant period of absence from the Premier League. Ongoing investment in the playing squad aims to reduce this risk.
"The directors consider the main market risk to the business to be the interest rates on the bank loan and the banking facilities."
The club's team of five directors were paid a total of £1.2 million with the highest paid getting £534,000.
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Sunderland on solid foundations
ON FIRST glance, an annual loss of £23million looks distinctly ominous.
Considering the financial catastrophe which has befallen scores of clubs who have dropped out of the Premier League, Sunderland’s annual accounts don’t bode well if the Black Cats succumb to the relegation trapdoor.
But delve under those headline figures and Sunderland are making progress in bringing their house in order.
The club’s annual expenditure fell by £9m to £95m – with the majority of those savings stemming from cuts to the wage bill.
Wages are an area that Sunderland have looked to proactively address, particularly offloading those players providing little value for money with their salaries.
Neither do the figures take into account any players sold after July 31 last year, so the £5m on Stephane Sessegnon, £1m for James McClean and £500,000 for Ji Dong-won aren’t included, albeit they will be largely offset by the money invested during January in Liam Bridcutt and Nacho Scocco.
Most crucially of all though, the club’s accounts don’t include the huge rise in income stemming from the new TV deal.
The 20-odd million of extra money stemming from the global rights to the Premier League would have seen Sunderland roughly break even.
Rather than use the money from the TV deal to splash out on transfer fees and wages, Sunderland have earmarked that income to pay off their overdraft.
That was why Sunderland have been far more financial prudent in the last two transfer windows. While there have been plenty of players coming in, those costs have been largely offset by those going out.
It’s one of the reasons why owner Ellis Short was a big proponent of the Financial Fair Player rules and it was a strategy set out by chief executive Margaret Byrne in an interview with the Echo 12 months ago.
“This TV deal gives the club a chance to get our books in order,” she said.
The clear problem with this financial progress is if Sunderland are suddenly left facing a financial black hole in the Championship.
The £26m a year parachute payments – available for the first three years out of the top flight – don’t come close to compensating for the lost revenue from the TV deal.
Inevitably, gate receipts will drop, while office staff will be made redundant – the saddest and most painful aspect of falling out of the Premier League.
But Sunderland may not be in such financial peril as other top flight clubs, if they fall into the Championship in May.
Every player at the Stadium of Light has a 40 per cent wage reduction clause built into their contracts. That has been standard since Sunderland returned to the Premier League seven years ago.
And with eight players out of contract in the summer, plus another five on loan deals, the wage bill will immediately face a hefty drop, before any player sales are even made.
Short is understood to be prepared for the financial catastrophe of falling out of the Premier League too and Sunderland would not be expected to follow in the footsteps of a Leeds or Portsmouth.
But the likelihood is that the club would simply become more and more reliant on the American to finance the players needed for a promotion push.
Sunderland have been trying to move away from constant approaches to Short’s cheque book. UEFA’s plans for a football financial minefield makes that essential.
They are heading in the right direction for that self-sufficiency though. If – and it’s still a big if – Sunderland can beat the drop, then they will be in a far healthier position in 12 months’ time.
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Liverpool continued their Premier League title charge, overcoming Sunderland after suffering a scare.
With the Reds thwarted early on, Santiago Vergini was fortunate to stay on the pitch after fouling Luis Suarez.
But Steven Gerrard drew the full reward from the free-kick, finding the top corner from 23 yards.
Daniel Sturridge curled in his 20th league goal but, after Ki Sung-Yueng's header, the hosts held on to move above Manchester City into second place.
The Merseyside team, who are chasing their first top-flight title since 1990, earned their seventh consecutive win and are now just a point behind leaders Chelsea, who they welcome to Anfield on 27 April.
They also host Tottenham and City before then and, though those teams may ask more questions than Gus Poyet's struggling side, it was still a well-earned victory against a team which had more of an attacking threat after going two goals behind.
The Black Cats are mired in the relegation zone, three points from safety, so were expected to be cautious. But once they introduced substitutes Ki and Adam Johnson, they caused some nervy moments among the Anfield crowd with John O'Shea missing the target with a header from six yards out late on.
Poyet's decision to play three centre-backs largely paid off in the first half as Sturridge and Luis Suarez were denied the time and space that has allowed them to be so prolific this season.
Both strikers hit efforts over the bar but, crucially, Sunderland's defence in numbers stopped them breaking on the counter-attack.
The Liverpool supporters, who had escorted the team bus on its way into Anfield, were subdued but sparked to life when Philippe Coutinho dispossessed Lee Cattermole in midfield. He played in Suarez, who was brought down by Vergini 25 yards from goal.
With the Uruguayan striker seemingly clean through, the incident looked like it merited a red card for the Sunderland defender but referee Kevin Friend opted for yellow.
If Liverpool fans were feeling short-changed, they need not have worried. Liverpool skipper Gerrard fired in, wrong-footing Vito Mannone with the free-kick.
Four minutes later, Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was drawn into his first action, pawing away a shot by Connor Wickham, who was recalled from his loan spell with Leeds to start up front.
It was a wake-up call for the Liverpool defence but the hosts went further ahead in the second half when ex-Red Andrea Dossena stood off Sturridge and the striker found the top corner via a deflection off Wes Brown.
That gave Liverpool breathing space and, after Suarez tested Mannone with a backheel, the home supporters started to sing "We're going to win the league".
But Poyet brought on Johnson and Ki and, after Cattermole crashed a shot against the bar, with Sturridge doing the same, Ki grabbed a goal back with 14 minutes remaining as the ball came through to him from a corner.
There followed a nervous period for the hosts, with collective relief at the final whistle after O'Shea wasted a golden chance to draw level from Johnson's late free-kick.
Daniel Sturridge's goal means that, alongside Luis Suarez, it is the first time for 50 years that two Liverpool strikers have scored 20 league goals in a season
Can Sunderland crack the curse of not winning a Monday match in the Premier League for 12 years?
Sunderland fans be warned - you haven’t won a Premier League fixture on a Monday for 12 years.
That is a ruinous run which extends to a staggering 18 games and dates back to April Fools’ Day, 2002.
It doesn’t bode well for Wearside’s current vintage, for their next two outings are indeed Monday matches.
First up is the visit of West Ham this evening before a trip to Spurs in seven days’ time. And with Gus Poyet’s men currently four points adrift of safety with nine games to play, they must find a remedy to their Monday malaise.
For it was under the care of Peter Reid that the Black Cats last tasted victory. Leicester City were the visitors to the Stadium of Light and the scoring was complete inside 18 minutes.
American international Claudio Reyna gave the hosts a third-minute lead before Paul Dickov levelled soon after. But it was Reyna who sealed an all-important win for Sunderland as they finished the campaign just one place outside of the relegation zone.
They would almost certainly settle for the same return this time around after a winless run of five league games.
First, though, they’ll have to find a way past a West Ham side which are just one clean sheet shy of Chelsea’s leading tally of 14.
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Man City's U21 6 Sunderland AFC 2
Seko Fofana lit up the Etihad stadium with a sensational 40-yard goal during Manchester City's U21s 6-2 demolition of Sunderland on Friday night.
The Frenchman unleashed a powerful, arcing strike which flew into the top corner, clipping the underside of the crossbar and drawing gasps of disbelief from those gathered inside the stadium.
The result means Patrick Viera's side, officially called City's Elite Development Squad, move up to fourth in the U21 Premier League table, two points behind third-placed Southampton and four behind joint leaders Liverpool and Fulham.
Playing at the first-team stadium always guarantees an extra special ingredient for developing footballers and it was clear that the home side wanted to make an immediate impression on those who braved the rain to get down and support them on this Friday night under the lights.
Just as they had done on Monday when beating Blackburn 6-0, City made a lightning start to the game, running into a three-goal lead with just 13 minutes on the clock.
Jordy Hiwula picked up where he left off at Leigh Sports Village, scoring the first and second, before Seko Fofana slid home his third in three games.
Sunderland reduced the arrears after 25 minutes when Olivier Ntcham unfortunately nodded a free-kick past his own goalkeeper, before Thomas Robson restored City’s three-goal lead nine minutes later with an own goal at the other end.
Fofana's wonder goal 5-1 ten minutes into the second half and substitute Devante Cole rounded off the scoring deep into additional time after Michael Mandron had scored an 87th minute consolation for the visitors.
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Hartlepool Utd’s new loan signings from Sunderland to meet teammates
NEW loan signings Scott Harrison and Connor Oliver will today join up with their Hartlepool United teammates for the first time.
The Sunderland pair signed on Thursday afternoon, on loan until the end of the season, before the loan window expired but they were not in the squad for Saturday’s match at home to Cheltenham Town.
Speaking afterwards, Colin Cooper explained the duo will join up with the first team at Maiden Castle today after they had played for Kevin Ball’s Sunderland U21 development side away to Manchester City on Friday night.
Harrison, 20, is a central defender while Oliver, also 20, is capable of featuring in either defence or midfield.
But with regular central defensive pairing Sam Collins and Christian Burgess fit to play against Cheltenham and holding midfielder Simon Walton also back from a one-game suspension, Cooper felt there was no need to have them just sitting on the bench for the 1-0 home defeat.
Cooper explained: “The agreement is they will come and if they are not playing for my first team then they will do a bit of training at Sunderland and maybe play for the U-21s with Kevin Ball.
“The agreement initially was we’d get the paperwork done and they’d play for Sunderland’s U-21s at Manchester City on Friday and then we’d get them this week in the build-up to Portsmouth and see how things go.”
Cooper added: “I’d said to Sunderland that because Sam and Christian were going to be fine and Simon’s suspension was only one game, then I wouldn’t bring Scott and Connor in just to sit on the bench.
“It wouldn’t have been fair on them and, with all due respect, where Connor and Scott play wouldn’t have affected things on Saturday as I still thought we had more than enough to win the game.
“They will join us on Monday and we will have a week’s build-up to Portsmouth and they will strengthen us a wee bit.
“Everybody knows we are a bit short defensively and also in the position that Si plays, who is still only one booking away from suspension.
“Christian is also one booking away, so basically they are both one kick away from playing a few games for Hartlepool.
“I don’t wish suspensions on anyone but both will probably, at some point, get some game time between now and the end of the season.
“That is good for us and good for them and good for the relationship between the two clubs.
“We might be at the back end of March but it is something myself and Kevin Ball have been trying to get together all season.
“This could be the start of a relationship moving forward.”
Harrison is a former Darlington youngster and spent a month on loan in League Two with Bury earlier this season, albeit he only made one appearance from the bench for the Shakers.
Oliver, meanwhile, only returned to full fitness just before Christmas after spending almost a year on the sidelines through injury and has looked bright since coming back into the fold at Sunderland.
Cooper added: “I am looking forward to getting them in the building. I have seen them both play a few times this season, they both have good technical ability, are physical and worthy to be put in the team at any point between now and the end of the season and I have no qualms they would both acquit themselves very well.”
Robbers attack woman working in burger van at Sunderland vs West Ham match
POLICE are appealing for information after a woman was robbed inside a burger van in Sunderland.
The incident happened at 8pm, on Monday, March 31, at a burger van, on Southwick Road.
The 31-year-old victim was working in the van alone when two men entered it, assaulted her and stole her handbag containing cash and a mobile phone.
She received minor facial injuries as a result of the incident and didn’t require hospital treatment.
The men are described as white, aged in their late teens to early 20s and were wearing dark clothing and West Ham shirts. They made off in the direction of the Halfway House following the offence.
Sunderland edged ever-closer to the Premier League trapdoor as they lost a make-or-break game against West Ham at the Stadium of Light.
Set-piece goals early in each half – one from former Newcastle man Andy Carroll, and the other from Mohamed Diame – put the Hammers firmly in the driving seat.
There was controversy, though, as referee Howard Webb failed to award Sunderland a penalty towards the end of the first half despite having an unimpeded view of Kevin Nolan's deliberate handball inside the area.
Sunderland sub Adam Johnson pulled a goal back midway through the second half to set up a frantic final 25 minutes, but the Black Cats could not force an equaliser.
And that leaves Sunderland four points from safety with only eight games to go – and with their next four matches pitting them against top six sides Spurs, Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet stuck with the same 5-3-2 formation he used at Liverpool in midweek, but made three personnel changes.
Marcos Alonso returned from suspension, Fabio Borini – who was ineligible at Anfield – was also back in the side, while Ki Sung-Yueng started. They replaced Andrea Dossena, Emanuele Giaccherini and Jozy Altidore.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce made one change to the side that beat Hull on Wednesday, with Guy Demel replacing James Collins.
Sunderland made a positive start, with defender Phil Bardsley – on the day he made his club-record 171 Premier League appearance – swerving a shot just wide of the far post from a tight angle on the right inside the first two minutes.
But the Black Cats were undone by West Ham in what was the Londoners' first spell of sustained pressure.
The Hammers won two corners in quick succession, and from the second they took the lead.
Mark Noble delivered the flag-kick from the left, and Carroll managed to get above both John O'Shea and Wes Brown at the far post to nod home from five yards out.
Sunderland should have been back on level terms four minutes later after Connor Wickham fed the ball to Ki in the left-hand channel and he played it to his right for Lee Cattermole, but the midfielder's left-foot shot was weak and was parried by Adrian, with Cattermole then putting his follow-up over the bar.
West Ham's Matt Taylor fired a shot just wide of the left-hand post on the 20 minute mark, and then 10 minutes before the break Liam Bridcutt fired over the bar from long range.
Three minutes after that came Webb's blunder, as he somehow missed Nolan's handball just inside the area.
The ex-Newcastle midfielder intentionally used his arm to knock the ball away from O'Shea and, despite Webb looking straight at the incident from only six yards away, the official failed to point to the spot.
West Ham doubled their lead five minutes into the second period, and again it was a set-piece that proved Sunderland's undoing.
A long free-kick into the penalty area was chested down by Carroll, and Diame's deflected shot from the edge of the box beat Mannone and found the bottom left-hand corner.
Poyet sent on Johnson and Craig Gardner and switched to 4-4-2 in a bid to get back into the game, and the move paid dividends – but only after Mannone had made a brilliant fingertip save from one-time Sunderland loanee Stewart Downing, when he found himself through on goal on the hour.
In the 65 minute though, subs Gardner and Johnson combined with the former teeing up the latter inside the penalty area, and the England winger curled his left-foot shot over Adrian into the top left-hand corner.
That goal sparked Sunderland into life, and the Black Cats pushed hard for an equaliser.
Borini fired into the sidenetting 20 minutes from time and in the final few minutes sub Nacho Scocco got on the end of an Alonso cross, but his bullet-header flew over the bar.
And Johnson shot wide with almost the last kick of the game.
Gus Poyet has claimed that his Sunderland team were denied a penalty for deliberate handball by Kevin Nolan in their 2-1 defeat to West Ham United on Monday.
A late strike from Adam Johnson was not enough for the Black Cats to overcome the two-goal deficit that had been inflicted on them by Andy Carroll and Mohamed Diame.
However, Poyet feels that things could have turned out differently had referee Howard Webb awarded them a spot-kick when, with the scores at 1-0, Nolan appeared to control the ball with his hand inside the box.
"It was clear, deliberate. He tried to play the ball with his hand," he told Sky Sports News.
"You would need to ask the referee. It was easy to see but that's the way it's been. I hope we get some luck; a decision from the ref or a deflected shot goes in.
"It's about winning now. We have a chance and will go to the end."
The result left relegation-threatened Sunderland winless in seven matches, and four points adrift of safety.
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Lee Congerton says Sunderland will look to buy British
Sunderland's new sporting director Lee Congerton has stated that he will be turning the club's transfer policy back towards buying British players.
Congerton arrived at the Stadium of Light last month, taking over from Italian Roberto de Fanti, who had brought in almost exclusively foreign players to the club.
Indeed, of the 14 players signed by Sunderland last summer, only non-league striker Duncan Whatmore was British.
And Congerton confirmed that the club's policy will be changing going forward as they look to the domestic front.
"Ultimately we want British players, but they cost a lot more money so we need to be smart in the market place and do our research thoroughly," he told Sunderland's matchday programme.
"When you bring in a foreign player you've got to appreciate the difficulties off the field and the patience needed.
"It helps if they've already played in the league. I look at Fabio Borini, who I think has been a success this year.
"He's a foreign player, but he's been established in this country since he was around 15 or 16 years of age. I think that's a market you have to look at quite carefully."
Congerton confirmed he will be holding a meeting with manager Gus Poyet about their transfer plans in the near future.
"I've not really known Gus. Obviously I've seen his Brighton team play before and he does, in my opinion, play football the right way," he said.
"We want players who can play that way. There will be a scouts meeting where over two days we'll discuss with Gus the types of players we are looking for.
"I'll then be assessing which potential targets are realistic and also assessing our loan players because at the end of the day, they are our players."
Ji Dong-Won: Sunderland fined for fielding ineligible player
Sunderland have been fined by the Premier League after they fielded an ineligible player in four league matches earlier in the season.
Striker Ji Dong-Won, 22, played against Fulham, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Manchester United before Sunderland informed the Premier League they had made an administrative error.
It is understood they were made aware of the error in December and Sunderland settled the fine in early 2014.
The club will not be deducted points.
Sunderland were also fined by the Football League because the player appeared in the Capital One Cup victory over MK Dons in August.
Club secretary Liz Coley has left the club but sources at Sunderland insist it was not as a result of the error.
Sunderland were fined because they failed to gain international clearance for the South Korea international after he returned to the club from a loan spell at German club Augsburg last season.
The Premier League club did not realise they needed to seek international clearance for a second time when he returned to England. He should not have been involved in any matches before the club received written confirmation from the German Football Association.
The Premier League has refused to comment.
Ji joined the Black Cats for an undisclosed fee from South Korean side Chunnam Dragons in June 2011.
He is now back on loan with Augsburg until the end of the season but has agreed a four-year deal to join fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer in July.
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Sunderland flops to be hit with 40 PER CENT pay cut if they are relegated
Sunderland players will be hit with 40 per cent pay-cut if they are relegated this season.
The Black Cats are engulfed in a relegation battle following a disappointing Premier League campaign.
And members of the playing squad will be forced to take the hefty wage slash if they lose their battle to stay in the Premier League.
The stipulation is understood to be standard across playing contracts at the Stadium of Light.
The move is designed to help the club deal with the financial repercussions of relegation into the Championship.
However, given the size of the wage decrease, the club’s most sought after stars are likely to angle for moves away from Sunderland if they go down.
Gus Poyet’s side are four points from safety with a game in hand over 17th place West Bromwich Albion.
But five of their next six fixtures are against sides in the top seven: Tottenham, Everton, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Gus Poyet committed to Sunderland as plans are made in case of relegation
Gus Poyet has admitted that Sunderland have to 'plan for all eventualities' as they battle for Premier League survival, and has pledged his future to the club even if they do go down.
The Black Cats are embroiled in a scrap to stay up and are currently bottom of the table, seven points from safety, ahead of Monday's meeting with Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Sunderland do have up to three games in hand on many of their fellow strugglers and Poyet is convinced his men can still beat the drop.
However, the Uruguayan recognises that it would be a mistake not to plan for the worst-case scenario and has made it clear that he would still be committed to the club if they suffer relegation.
"I've got a contract here and I always plan ahead. I'm unselfish like that - I plan two or three years ahead," Poyet, who signed a two-year deal when he succeeded Paolo Di Canio in October, said in the Sunday Mirror.
"It's not just about now. If I didn't plan ahead, in three years' time - if I'm still here - I will blame myself for not doing it.
"I was talking to (new sporting director) Lee Congerton. He told me a couple of things he was doing, and I was tempted to click on the plan for pre-season in the Championship and have a look.
"We've not put anything in place for that yet, but if people say you're planning for games in the Championship, you're expecting to be there.
"I'm not, but you have to have an element of realism. We need to start planning for all eventualities."
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Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland at White Hart Lane on Monday April 7, 2014, kick-off 20.00 (BST)
Team News
Emmanuel Adebayor is back in contention for Tottenham's clash with Premier League strugglers Sunderland on Monday, although Roberto Soldado and Jan Vertonghen are out.
The Togolese striker has missed the last three matches with a gashed heel and hamstring problem, while Vlad Chiriches and Paulinho are also back in contention.
Soldado and Vertonghen are unavailable after sustaining injuries in last weekend's defeat at Liverpool, while Kyle Walker, Erik Lamela and Étienne Capoue remain absent.
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet, meanwhile, has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Monday night's difficult Barclays Premier League trip to Tottenham.
The Uruguayan's biggest problem will be to find the best XI to attempt to return from White Hart Lane with something to show for their efforts, after admitting he may have made a mistake in starting Monday's 2-1 home defeat by West Ham with leading scorer Adam Johnson sitting on the bench.
Striker Steven Fletcher is yet to be ruled out for the season with an ankle injury, but he remains some way from fitness, while keeper Keiren Westwood (shoulder) is still missing.
Match Notes
By the time Sunderland arrive at White Hart Lane on Monday they could be bottom of the Premier League and, some would argue, should have even fewer points given the revelation that they fielded Ji Dong-won in four games when he was ineligible.
Tottenham won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in December to keep them sixth, a position they remain in but with Manchester United edging closing.
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet is a well-liked figure in N17 following his days both as a player and coach at Spurs, but that popularity may dip if he leads the Black Cats to an unlikely victory.