Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal – Premier League – 11th February 2012

Some wondered if Thierry Henry’s brief return to Arsenal would damage his iconic status with the north Londoners, however, in netting his second winner (and third goal) of his loan spell against an impressive Sunderland side, the Frenchman has entered the realm of the God-like for Gooners all over the world.

Arsene Wenger’s men came to Sunderland on the back of a superb 7-1 mauling of Blackburn last week, but well aware that in Martin O’Neill’s Black Cats, they were facing the in-form side in the top division.

While the visitors had, as is often the case, the majority of the possession, they struggled to hurt a well-drilled Sunderland side with James McClean and Stephane Sessegnon looking lively. Indeed, it was the Irishman who would eventually open the scoring, running through on goal on 70 minutes after Per Mertesacker fell in a crumpled heap courtesy of a serious-looking ankle injury. The winger’s finish was emphatic, as he drilled the ball across Wojciech Szczesny and into the back of the Arsenal net. Indeed the home side could have been further ahead, only for a number of good saves from the Polish glovesman.

However, with Mertesacker off, sub Aaron Ramsey made his presence felt almost instantly, firing home from the edge of the box to level the scores and kickstart the Gunners’ fight-back. Then with just seconds remaining, Arsenal’s two other subs, Andrei Arshavin and Henry, combined to win the game for the visitors. The Russian, who has all too often disappointed this season, sent over a superb cross which Henry volleyed home from close-range to secure all three points on a day when Arsenal’s rivals for fourth spot all lost.

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Stoke City 0-1 Sunderland – Premier League – 4th February 2012

Martin O’Neill’s Black Cats continued their ascent of the table on Saturday against Stoke, although the very harsh sending-off of Robert Huth on half-time was undeniably a game-changing moment.

Under O’Neill’s leadership, Sunderland have blossomed and came to the Britannia Stadium looking to make it five wins out of their last six league fixtures. However, the Arctic conditions made for a rather messy first half of football. Just before the break, Roberth Huth slid in on David Meyler, only to miss the ball completely. Despite keeping his feet low and showing the minimum of malice in the challenge, card-happy ref Martin Atkinson sent off the big German. Not surprisingly, Tony Pulis was a less-than-happy man.

After the break, the Black Cats piled on the pressure,  and eventually the goal came. The ever-impressive Stephane Sessegnon fed in-form winger James McLean, and the Irishman shrugged off the challenge of Andy Wilkinson before firing home.

Stoke tried to get back into the game, with both Ricardo Fuller and Peter Crouch going close. Ultimately, however, it would be the Black Cats who would secure all three points, points which move them up to eighth in the table. Stoke, on the other hand, were left to rue that dodgy refereeing decision.

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How about that? The very same batch of players who managed to earn Steve Bruce a paltry 11 points from 13 games have since raked in 19 points from nine games under Martin O’Neill (including last night’s 3-0 victory over Norwich), a run that would see them topping the Premier League had they begun counting after O’Neill’s first game in charge of the Black Cats; a 2-1 win over Blackburn on December 11th…

Graphic via the bottomless well of stats that is Opta.

                          

By Alan Duffy

Sunderland 1-1 Middlesbrough – FA Cup – 29th January 2012

Frazier Campbell made a goalscoring return from injury at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, netting the Black Cats’ equaliser after 18 months out of action.  The former Manchester United man was a half-time substitute, as Martin O’Neill attempted to improve upon what had been a rather lacklustre first period by his charges.

Barry Robson was ‘Boro’s stand-out performer in this north-east derby, and it was the Scottish international who opened the scoring on just 16 minutes, unleashing a superb left-foot volley after Sunderland failed to adequately clear a corner. However, the home side were controversially denied an equaliser just before the break, when Craig Gardner was wrongly adjudged to have been in an offside position before he fired home. However, to be fair, he had handled the ball when controlling it in the first place.

With almost an hour played, goalscorer Robson did the old her0-to-zero metamorphosis, misplacing a pass when under pressure which left the superb James McClean in the clear to drive forward before deftly setting up Campbell, who directed the ball past Danny Coyne in the ‘Boro goal.

McClean then came close to winning the game late one, only to fire wide when presented with a decent opportunity to score.

So while Martin O’Neill’s unbeaten home record remains in tact, Tony Mowbray and co. will be confident of going one better against the Black Cats at the Riverside in the replay.

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Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Sunderland 2-0 Swansea City – Premier League – 21 January 2012

Despite dominating for large periods of the game, Swansea’s lack of a cutting edge would cost them dear against a Sunderland side who to continue to flourish under Martin O’Neill.

Stephane Sessegnon opened the scoring after just 14 minutes, courtesy of a magnificent finish, but the visitors fought back, with Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair threatening down the flanks. Still, despite all their possession, the Swans struggled to trouble Sunderland ‘keeper Simon Mignolet.

In the second-half, the Black Cats struggled to build on their lead, but eventually the home side sealed the deal, after sub Craig Gardner superbly volleyed past Michel Vorm.

Swansea’s troubles on the road continue while the Black Cats move up to 10th in the table.

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Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland – Premier League – 14th January 2012

Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien returned to first team duty for Chelsea against Sunderland on Saturday, making a welcome substitute appearance after missing the first half of the season with a cruciate ligament injury. However, it was his fellow midfielder Frank Lampard who once again proved to be the Blues’ saviour.

The England man netted after just 13 minutes, bundling home the ball after Fernando Torres’ superb volley had cannoned back off the woodwork.  However, despite their good start, Chelsea couldn’t add to the score against a Sunderland side superbly organised by manager Martin O’Neill.

Indeed, while the Blues spurned a number of chances to double their advantage, the visitors should have got themselves on the scoresheet, with Craig Gardner, James McLean and Nicklas Bendtner all missing great opportunities to find the back of the net.

Spaniard Torres once again failed to score, but he delivered a valuable performance up front for the Blues and is slowly starting to rediscover at least some of his form.

While Andre Villas-Boas’ Chelsea side move to within six points of third-placed Spurs, the Black Cats find themselves in mid-table, with the spectre of relegation starting to fade under O’Neill’s new regime.

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By Alan Duffy

Another day, another police identity parade

On loan from Arsenal, where he struggled to live up to the (self-inflated) hype surrounding his ability, Nicklas Bendtner has been nothing more than average for Sunderland so far this season. Indeed, the Danish international playboy has netted just three league goals in 16 league appearances for the Black Cats.

However, the 23-year-old has been rather busy off the field since the start of the season. Just weeks after the striker was arrested for allegedly smashing up cars (along with team-mate Lee Cattermole) in Newcastle, it has now come to light that the big eejit was also arrested after a brawl in a hotel back in September.

The incident happened in the early hours on September 13th at the Hilton hotel in Gateshead, where two men were arrested after an apparent spot of fisticuffs. Ultimately, both men were released without charge, however, one wonders what Martin O’Neill is making of all this. I can’t see him looking to take Bendtner on a permanent deal, to be honest.

                          

By Alan Duffy

Sunderland 1-0 Manchester City – Premier League – 1st January 2012

After seeing Manchester United and Chelsea both lose, and Tottenham drop two points at the Liberty Stadium, the scene was set at the Stadium of Light for Manchester City’s diamond-encrusted side to move ahead in the race for the title. However, in the end, it was the home side who would be celebrating after a rather lucky victory.

The Citizens dominated the vast majority of the game, with Micah Richards hitting the crossbar and Edin Dzeko missing a number of very scoreable opportunities. Sunderland, however, worked hard to close down City all afternoon and conjured up a few decent chances themselves.

Starting with David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli on the bench, Roberto Mancini brought on the Argentinian at half-time in order to inject a bit more invention into the City side, while Silva (for Nasri) followed soon after. However, despite pushing for the winner, the visitors somehow failed to find the back of the net.

With only seconds remaining, Sunderland, roared on the home support, broke forward with Stephane Sessegnon threading a ball through to young substitute Ji Dong Won, who calmy rounded Joe Hart before slotting home. The Korean was a mile offside, but the goal stood and City were forced to rue a major missed opportunity. Sunderland, on the other hand, continue to blossom under Martin O’Neill.

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By Alan Duffy

Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland – Premier League – 18th December 2011

They may have started the game without the crocked pair of Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe and lost Aaron Lennon after just 27 minutes, but Harry Redknapp’s in-form Spurs side still had far too much left in the locker for the visiting Black Cats.

Lennon (felled by a hamstring strain) was replaced by out-of-favour Roman Pavlyuchenko. However, while the home side dominated the game, with Luka Modric and Rafa Van Der Vaart pulling the strings, it took until just after the hour mark, and the Russian striker, to finally make the breakthrough. The former Spartak Moscow man fired past Sunderland ‘keeper Keiren Westwood after a superb pass from Van Der Vaart and despite their best attempts, Sunderland couldn’t get back into the game.

Spurs now find themselves, deservedly, in third place in the table with a game in hand on the two Manchester sides, while Black Cats’ boss Martin O’Neill will be well aware of the difficult task facing him this season.

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Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

For the majority of us mere mortals, ’tis the season to be jolly and maybe a bit drunk, but for footballers, Christmas is often the season to go off the rails completely.

Sunderland duo Nicklas Bendtner and Lee Cattermole are the latest stars to get up to no good in the festive period. The two Black Cats were arrested on Thursday after apparently going on something of a car-wrecking spree on Tuesday, close to St. James’ Park.

A spokesperson from Northumbria Police said: “We can confirm that on Thursday, December 15, two men aged 23 were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. If follows an investigation in to damage caused to cars on Stowell Street in Newcastle city centre, which happened at about 10pm on Tuesday, December 6.”

If it is found to be true, one has to ask what in the name of the almighty the two idiots, who have since been released on bail, were doing smashing up cars in Newcastle. Either way, new Black Cats’ boss Martin O’Neill will be less than impressed.