May 2008 Archives

SUNDERLAND fans picking up this morning's newspapers must have choked on their cornflakes!

Newcastle United interested in Jonny Evans? The headline from Hell.

If Manchester United can be persuaded to let Evans leave Old Trafford, Sunderland will rightly see themselves as heading the queue for his signature after the centre-back's two successful loan spells on Wearside.

And the last place on Earth they would want to see him end up would be on Tyneside!

ROY KEANE insists Sunderland's failure to pick up points against the big guns does not worry him.

Theo Walcott's first-half goal condemned the Black Cats to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in yesterday's season finale, meaning Keane's men have not taken a single point against any of the top five clubs in this campaign.

On a dramatic last day, Birmingham and Reading were both relegated along with Derby, who have known their fate for some time.

Sunderland, though, guaranteed Premier League survival a fortnight ago - thanks largely to their record against the teams around them in the bottom third of the table.

FORGET what you may have read in the week - Sunderland's season is over and they have already headed for the beach. That's the only conclusion to draw after their shameful display at Bolton.

For all the talk that they would not be 'downing tools' after securing safety last weekend and would be 'up for it' in their two remaining games, the reality at the Reebok was very, very different.

Instead, Sunderland broke every promise they made since they guaranteed survival with a win against Boro, and gave a performance that must had Roy Keane tearing his hair out.

Bolton boss Gary Megson won't be complaining though - this win means his side are safe, realistically if not yet mathematically. Joy for Bolton then, but not for Sunderland.

This was arguably the Black Cats' worst performance of the season.

Danny Collins was named Player of the Year this week by the Sunderland Supporters' Association - and no-one deserves the award more.

Kenwyne Jones and Michael Chopra have contributed vital goals; Jonny Evans and Nyron Nosworthy have battened down the hatches at the back and Craig Gordon has already repaid a large slice of his £9m club record fee with his performances in goal, but Collins has been Sunderland's Mr Consistent this season.

Despite being a centre-half by trade, Collins played the second half of last season at left-back and did well but the arrival of Ian Harte in the summer was expected to spell the end for Collins in that role.

But with Harte failing to establish himself, Collins has proved more than capable of playing at left-back against the big guns in the Premiership.