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.
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."