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 Monday 28th August 2006, Coca-Cola Championship, Stadium of Light, Kick-Off 3:00pm
Sunderland: Ben Alnwick, Rory Delap, Kenny Cunningham, Neill Collins, Robbie Elliott, Liam Lawrence, Dean Whitehead (c), Grant Leadbitter (Nyron Nosworthy 92), Stephen Elliott, Chris Brown (Jonathan Stead 89), Tobias Hysen (Daryl Murphy 78). Subs not used: Darren Ward (gk), Danny Collins
Albion: Pascal Zuberbuhler, Steve Watson, Curtis Davies (c), Chris Perry, Paul Robinson, Zoltan Gera, Richard Chaplow (Ronnie Wallwork 58), Nigel Quashie, Jonathan Greening (Darren Carter 58), John Hartson, Nathan Ellington (Kevin Phillips HT). Subs not used: Luke Steele (gk), Martin Albrechtsen
Referee: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire)
Half-Time:
Sunderland 1-0 Albion
Attendance: 24,242 Conditions:
Sunny spells with the occasional rain shower
ALBION
TEAM NEWS:
Richard Chaplow made his first league start of the season as
Bryan Robson made just one change to the team he had named in the opening
four league games. Ronnie Wallwork, the man to make way for Chaplow, was
named on the bench alongside recent signing, former
Sunderland star Kevin
Phillips.
SUNDERLAND
TEAM NEWS:
Niall Quinn made three changes to the side that lost 3-1 at
Southend in their last Championship match. Stephen Wright missed out
through injury while Jon Stead and Daryl Murphy drop to the bench. New
signing Tobias Hysen made his
Sunderland debut while
Chris Brown and Liam Lawrence also started. With Roy Keane being unveiled as new the Sunderland boss prior to the game, fears were high amongst the travelling support that we could be on the receiving end of the sudden wave of optimism engulfing Wearside. All too predictably perhaps, those fears were confirmed right. Baggies’ boss Bryan Robson made something of a surprise in terms of team selection, dropping Ronnie Wallwork in favour of Richard Chaplow. He also decided against handing Kevin Phillips his full Albion debut against the club he made a name for. In retrospect both decisions were wrong. Just as in the majority of games this season Albion got off to a flying start, with just two minutes on the clock Zoltan Gera's cut-back deflected off Neill Collins and then former Blues’ man Kenny Cunningham, forcing Ben Alnwick to turn the ball around the post. From then on it was one way traffic, and all in the wrong direction as far as Albion were concerned. In the 11th minute Sunderland debutant Tobias Hysen should have given the hosts the lead, Chris Brown shrugging off the attentions of Curtis Davies to present Hysen with the easiest of chances from just five yards out. Inexplicably, the son of former Liverpool star Glenn, blazed wide with only Pascal Zuberbuhler to beat. Seven minutes later, it was Brown himself that went close to opening the scoring, a quickly-taken free-kick by Liam Lawrence gave Stephen Elliott the chance to cross for Brown, who could only fire over from eight yards out, Baggies' captain Davies doing well to put the young striker under pressure. On 21 minutes Albion had another lucky escape, Lawrence heading weakly wide from Dean Whitehead's corner. As so often this season, Swiss goalkeeper Zuberbuhler was looking extremely vulnerable to balls swung into his area. Sunderland were now totally dominant and in the 24th minute again missed a good chance, Elliott the culprit this time, mis-kicking a chance from eight yards out following a Rory Delap cross. On the half-hour mark Zuberbuhler made his only worthwhile contribution of the game, producing a smart save with his legs from Grant Leadbitter’s close range shot after a quick counter attack by the home side had ripped the Albion defence apart. Albion’s luck finally deserted them a couple of minutes later when a Whitehead left-wing corner flew straight into the net despite Paul Robinson’s valiant efforts to keep the ball out. It was yet another blunder from Zuberbuhler who is fast living up to his reputation for being a ‘dodgy’ keeper. Four minutes before the break, the visitors, who had offered no threat whatsoever, finally recorded an effort on goal when John Hartson flicked on Steve Watson's long throw-in to Nathan Ellington who volleyed over from twelve yards out. The start of the second half saw Bryan Robson hand former Sunderland hero Phillips his Albion league debut, replacing the totally ineffective Ellington. Phillips received a mixed reception from the Wearside support, somewhat harsh considering all that he had previously done for the club. Disastrously for Albion, and before Phillips had even touched the ball, the home side doubled their lead. Hysen swinging in a right-wing free-kick that Collins powerfully headed home after losing his marker Hartson. Albion almost grabbed an immediate reply when Gera’s 25 yard free-kick, awarded for a foul on Hartson, was fumbled by Alnwick in the Sunderland goal. Luckily for the England Under-21 keeper he managed to grab the ball at the second attempt despite pressure from Watson and Davies. On 52 minutes the hosts almost made it three when sloppy play by Chaplow allowed Lawrence to break clear only for his cross to evade the unmarked Hysen in the box. Baggies’ boss Robson made a double change in the 59th minute, replacing the very poor duo of Chaplow and Jonathan Greening with Wallwork and Darren Carter, a move which in all honesty made no difference whatsoever. With Sunderland comfortably in the lead and with Albion totally bereft of ideas, the game became something of a bore and it wasn’t until 73 minutes were on the clock that the next moment of note came - Hysen having a 15 yard effort ruled out for offside. After offering hardly a threat during the first 75 minutes, Albion then had two efforts within the space of two minutes. First Wallwork fired well wide following a Hartson knockdown and then Hartson himself headed Gera's cross narrowly wide when really he should have done better. Despite Albion having more possession during the closing stages of the game they never really looked like clawing themselves back into it and so suffered a first defeat of the season - and a thoroughly deserved defeat at that.
ALBION MAN OF THE MATCH: Nigel Quashie PLAYER RATINGS OUT OF TEN Zuberbuhler
2 - At fault for the first goal and looked unsure throughout. Simply not
good enough.
Watson 7 - Shrugged
off the stick given by the home fans to put in a good hard working
performance.
SUBS: REF WATCH Phil Joslin 7 - A good even handed performance.
FAN
WATCH
wba.co.uk
Bryan Robson: "Our performance was a shock to the system because the one thing we've done this season is compete really well. We've worked very hard in the first four games but were so ineffective in the first half I couldn't believe it. We got out-worked and out-fought. That's why you lose football matches. "It came as a shock because in the games so far the boys have been very good mentally. They've worked very hard and their concentration levels have been very good. But even before the first goal, Sunderland could have scored a few times and I don't think we had an attempt on goal. "In the second half, we were slack on a set-play and were two down. That probably calmed the nerves of Sunderland's players because they had the cushion of the second goal. All-round, it was a bad performance and a bad day for us. You can take a defeat because that happens in football. But it was the way we played that disappointed me. "As a manager, you don't like watching your team perform like that. It's a shame because we were on live TV and the lads have got reputations to uphold. We didn't do that at all. Right the way through the team, it was a poor performance. We didn't compete from the off. The mentality of the lads was they thought they could get the ball down and knock it around. Well, Sunderland didn't allow that and got in among us. They won more 50/50 duels and passed the ball with a lot more purpose than us, which is why they won the game. "The Sunderland players probably got a bit of a lift because of the Roy Keane factor. They worked very hard and competed well but I think the main boost Sunderland got was from their fans, who are obviously delighted Roy has become manager. They stayed right behind the team and encouraged them right the way through the game. The announcement of Roy Keane as manager obviously got their fans up for it.” Source: wba.co.uk
Niall Quinn: "It's a great feeling. I'm so proud of those players. People tuned in to see us spanked again today. For them to come out and perform like that, I'm so proud of them. "My role at the club will be different, but I'll remember what those players did today. The new manager coming in knows he's got characters in there. A lot was put at those players in the last couple of weeks and they could have felt sorry for themselves. It was almost astonishing when you consider what they have been through in the last three weeks. Chris Brown came in from the cold in many ways and performed as if he has been there for a while, he was fantastic. Grant Leadbitter led the team on. Dean Whitehead, what a chance he has now, working with one of the greats in his position. The sky's the limit now for Deano, to learn from one of the all-time greats. "I was so pleased the players won that game the right way. They passed it with confidence. They impressed their new manager I would say. I think he knows he's got something to work with, it's in there. I'm pleased the club is in the best possible hands, the best that was available - Roy Keane. I'm so pleased with the person we've managed to attract, I think everyone around Sunderland can feel good tonight, for the first time in a long time. "I'm looking forward to seeing the players learn from Roy. He brought a buzz to the place today and my players responded. They fought for their futures and they showed what they wanted to show to the new manager. "I think there was a buzz at the end that suggested people who were at the match might tell other people. I'm confident that the fans will come back." Source: safc.com
Kevin Phillips makes his league debut for Albion. |
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