November 2009 Archives
STEVE BRUCE is ready to sacrifice ability for reliability after Sunderland flopped on the road yet again.
The Black Cats boss was left baffled after his side failed to perform against his old club Wigan, who won 1-0 thanks to a Hugo Rodallega goal at the DW Stadium.
While Sunderland have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and earned a point at Manchester United this season, they have also slipped up against some of the Premier League's lesser lights, losing at Stoke, Burnley, Birmingham and now the Latics.
Bruce criticised the mentality of his side and warned that he only wants players he can rely on.
PHIL Bardsley has warned Sunderland can not be considered European contenders until they put right the away form which saw them lose to a "very average" Wigan Athletic side.
Saturday's 1-0 defeat at the DW Stadium, clinched by Hugo Rodallega's 76th-minute strike, came in the Black Cats' 16th Premier League away game of 2009. During that time they have won just once, at Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of this season.
An excellent home record, which includes wins over Liverpool and Arsenal, means the Wearsiders currently sit eighth in the table, but Bardsley dismissed any talk of Europa League qualification while they remain such a soft touch on their travels.
JOHN MENSAH is hoping to hold on to his place at Wigan tomorrow after helping Sunderland spike Arsenal's guns last weekend.
The Ghanaian partnered Paulo Da Silva in central defence as the Black Cats beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Stadium of Light - and became the first side this season to stop the Gunners scoring.
However, with centre-back Michael Turner available for tomorrow's trip to Wigan after serving a one-match ban, Mensah knows Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has a decision to make.
SUNDERLAND have been handed a massive boost ahead of tomorrow's trip to Wigan Athletic with the unexpected news that top-scorer Darren Bent could start the game.
The striker injured his hamstring in last week's 1-0 win over Arsenal and was expected to be ruled out for three weeks. But after much investigation, the Black Cats' medical team have decided Bent's problem was probably no more than cramp, and the 25-year-old is expected to be on the team bus having returned to training yesterday.
Under any circumstances the loss of the Premier League's top-scoring Englishman would be a huge blow, but even more so tomorrow. Kenwyne Jones completes a three-match ban in a game which will be an important test of character for both sides.
STEVE BRUCE has warned his players to beware of a Wigan backlash in the wake of the Latics' 9-1 drubbing at Spurs.
Ex-Wigan boss Bruce will return to the DW Stadium on Saturday for the first time since leaving Lancashire to take over on Wearside in the summer.
He knows all about the character of the Latics' players, having worked with the bulk of their squad during his 20 months in charge there.
MOVES to bring the World Cup to the North East kick off today as bosses hand in their bids to host the football tournament.
Delegates from Newcastle Gateshead and Sunderland have travelled to London to submit their formal applications to be included in England's bid to be a host city in either 2018 or 2022.
Officials have spent months producing detailed documents outlining what each area has to offer, including training bases, hotels and fan parks.
Now, the applications are being handed over at the new Wembley stadium during a series of special ceremonies.
Toon Legends including Alan Shearer, David Ginola and Jack Charlton are at the venue for the event, while Sunderland's delegation includes chairman Niall Quinn, striker Kenwyne Jones, and chief executive of Sunderland City Council Dave Smith.
We'll be providing live coverage from the capital and bringing you interviews with the main players as they seek to put the North East on the global stage.
We also want your thoughts on the bids, and with Newcastle United pushing for an immediate return to the Premier League, and Sunderland making moves towards the top half of the division, it's a great time for the region to highlight what we have to offer.
To get involved, come back here from 11.30am or click below to set a reminder.
GEORGE McCartney admits his Sunderland return has been a "nightmare" - but insists he is still committed to turning things round at the Stadium of Light.
The Northern Ireland defender was a deadline-day signing by Roy Keane last September after being earmarked as the long-term solution in Sunderland's troublesome left-back spot.
But a succession of niggling injuries over the last 12 months have conspired to make his Wearside comeback an underwhelming one, with even the player himself admitting he has yet to convince Black Cats boss Steve Bruce.
JOHN MENSAH will be fit to face Wigan this weekend - and Steve Bruce admits that leaves him with a selection headache.
The Ghanaian centre-back came off near the end of Sunderland's win over Arsenal and looked to be nursing a hamstring problem.
But Bruce said today that Mensah was merely struggling with cramp as he made his comeback after two months out of action, and will be ready to play at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
And with £4m defender Michael Turner also available again after missing the Arsenal game due to suspension, Bruce has a dilemma.
STEVE Bruce's faith in David Healy will be tested this weekend as the Sunderland boss faces the prospect of taking on Wigan without either of his first-choice strikers.
Darren Bent will learn later this week whether he faces a maximum of three weeks on the sidelines with Bruce admitting his nine-goal forward is a "doubt" for the trip to the JJB Stadium.
With Kenwyne Jones serving the final game of a three-match suspension, it leaves Sunderland short of options up front.
DARREN BENT is set to miss Sunderland's clash with Wigan this weekend with a hamstring problem - and the Black Cats' leading scorer could be out of action for three weeks.
Bent was clearly struggling with the injury in the latter stages of Sunderland's 1-0 win over Arsenal at the weekend, in which the England striker scored his ninth goal of the season.
And Sunderland boss Steve Bruce revealed today that Bent has gone for a scan on the injury, and is likely to be out of action for the trip to the DW Stadium on Saturday.
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