Sunderland ~ General Chat & Latest News

[Freddy Adu]

Keane tells Sunderland to learn lessons of derby draw


Written by: AFP

	Sunderland manager Roy Keane, seen here in August 2007, says he is looking forward to experiencing his first North East derby against Newcastle.. Passions are guaranteed to run high when Sunderland and Newcastle lock horns and Keane and his Newcastle counterpart Sam Allardyce will experience one of the Premier League´s most bitter rivalries.

SUNDERLAND (AFP) - Roy Keane admitted Sunderland had been taught a harsh lesson about life in the Premier League after they blew the chance to beat local rivals Newcastle.

Keane's side were on course for their first home victory in the Tyne-Wear derby for 27 years when Danny Higginbotham headed them into a 52nd minute lead.

But the hosts allowed Newcastle to level 13 minutes later when James Milner's cross crept in at the far post.

Sunderland should still have taken the points but Kenwyne Jones missed a glorious chance and Michael Chopra hit the bar.

It was harsh on the Black Cats but Keane insisted his players must realise Premier League opponents will hit back if they don't kill them off.

"The beauty of the Premiership is if you don't take your chances it will come back to haunt you and that's what happened," Keane said.

"We can talk all day about luck but the players had the chances. We keep getting these lessons in the Premiership.

"That will only change with experience. We've got a lot of players who haven't played in the Premiership before. These are lessons you have to learn and you have to learn them quickly."

Sunderland are slipping down the table after a run of seven matches without a win, but Keane is convinced his team will turn it around.

"I think Sam (Allardyce) will be slightly happier than me today," he said. "I thought the overall performance was oustanding.

"A few things are going against us but I've got great belief in the players. If we keep playing like that we will have a decent season."

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce was relieved to avoid defeat after a disappointing recent run.

He conceded his side had started badly but was encouraged by the way they battled back.

"We deserved it because of our response after we went a goal down. It was what I was looking for from the start," he said.

"It's a little bit more acceptable if you come back from a goal down away from home in a derby game and get a draw.

"It's a big local derby and we haven't lost. That's very important for the fans.

"Up until the goal Sunderland had out-muscled us and we couldn't get our passing game going.

"Their goal was disappointing. We can't afford to keep giving silly mistakes away."

[Freddy Adu]

Poor Defending Leaves Big Sam Bemused
Although his side reacted well to equalise in the Tyne-Wear derby, Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce lamented his side’s “silly defending” to concede in the first place.
Sunderland took the lead in a feisty lunchtime derby through another bout of poor defending from Newcastle, an on-going deficiency that Big Sam is eager to eradicate.

“We can’t keep making silly mistakes at the back”, admitted the Newcastle boss.

“It was a silly goal to give away. First a silly pass from one centre-half to the other, then we should have cleared the ball for a throw-in not a corner, and then we allow them to score from there.”

“Set-pieces decide most games and we were punished there.”

But inadequate defending aside, Big Sam was pleased with his side’s reaction to conceding a goal, and felt they deserved a point and maybe more.

“Yes, I don’t see why we don’t deserve a point because of the response from going a goal down. “We had a fear which pepped our game after conceding the goal, and we might have even won it at the end.

“But up until then Sunderland out-muscled us and it’s disappointing, but in a derby we expect that.”

Nevertheless, Allardyce understood the local importance of the result from this game and therefore remained pleased he side didn’t end up on the losing end.

“We haven’t lost which is very important.”

Goal.com - Newcastle - Poor Defending Leaves Big Sam Bemused

[Freddy Adu]

1

Premier League Final - Stadium of Light Attendance: 47,701 Sunderland 1 - 1 Newcastle Danny Higginbotham (52) James Milner (65)

1

[Freddy Adu]

Match Stats
	Sunderland	Newcastle
Shots (on Goal)	21(8)	9(5)
Fouls	10	15
Corner Kicks	7	4
Offsides	0	4
Time of Possession	48%	52%
Yellow Cards	1	2
Red Cards	0	0
Saves	2	6

[Freddy Adu]

Match Information
Stadium: Stadium of Light, England
Attendance: 47,701
Match Time: 07:45 ET
Referee: M Atkinson

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Teams
Sunderland	Newcastle
1 Craig Gordon	Steve Harper 13
3 Ian Harte	David Rozehnal 4
14 Danny Higginbotham	Steven Taylor 27
6 Paul McShane	Joey Barton 7
5 Nyron Nosworthy	Belozoglu Emre 5
7 Carlos Edwards	Abdoulaye Faye 25
4 Dickson Etuhu	James Milner 16
18 Grant Leadbitter	Charles N'Zogbia 14
33 Ross Wallace	Michael Owen 10
16 Michael Chopra	Alan Smith 17
17 Kenwyne Jones	Mark Viduka 36
Substitutes
13 Darren Ward	Fraser Forster 34
15 Danny Collins	Habib Beye 21
12 Liam Miller	Sanchez Jose Enrique 3
31 David Connolly	Geremi 20
9 Anthony Stokes	Obafemi Martins 9
Substitutions
D Collins for N Nosworthy (25)	H Beye for A Faye (61)
A Stokes for R Wallace (72)	O Martins for M Owen (83)
	Geremi for B Emre (88)
Yellow Cards
Michael Chopra (24)	Abdoulaye Faye (36)
	Steven Taylor (70)
· Club Rosters: Sunderland | Newcastle

[Freddy Adu]

Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle

Danny Higginbotham (centre) scores the first goal of the Wear-Tyne derby.

James Milner dashed Sunderland's hopes of a first derby victory on home soil in 27 years as Newcastle hit back to snatch a 1-1 draw.
Danny Higginbotham's first goal in a red and white shirt had given the home side a deserved lead seven minutes after the break as they looked to end a run of five successive defeats against their closest rivals.

However, Milner played a neat one-two with Joey Barton before drilling a 65th-minute shot across Craig Gordon and inside the far post to ensure the spoils were shared.

• Sam will be happy with draw - Keane

There was almost a twist in the tail when former Magpie Michael Chopra headed an Ian Harte cross against the bar with just eight minutes remaining, but Roy Keane's men had to settle for a point on a day when they at least restored a measure of pride.

Rarely has a Wear-Tyne derby been anticipated as eagerly as the 127th league meeting between the sides, as there was more than just local pride at stake.

Sunderland went into the game having not won a Barclays Premier League fixture in six attempts, while Newcastle's capitulation against Portsmouth at St James' Park last Saturday had set the alarm bells ringing.

Both managers had impressed upon their players the importance of the game, although with 47,701 hugely partisan spectators inside the Stadium of Light, there was little need for them to do so.

Keane took a gamble on winger Carlos Edwards, who had not played a senior game since tearing his hamstring at Birmingham on August 15, and handed Chopra the task of partnering in-form striker Kenwyne Jones in attack.

By the time he headed for the dressing room at the break, the Irishman must have been delighted with what he had seen, despite losing skipper Nyron Nosworthy to injury with just 25 minutes gone.

Edwards and Ross Wallace provided good service to the frontmen, and although Abdoulaye Faye handled the dangerous Jones impressively, Chopra profited in and around the big man.

He sent an overhead kick wide on 17 minutes and was just off target with a long-range effort nine minutes later.

However, his best attempt came a minute before the break when he forced keeper Steve Harper to turn away a well-struck drive from distance, with the home side piling on the pressure.

Harper, who was born in Easington, a territory shared by the two clubs, had earlier kept his side level with a fine double save, scraping away Ian Harte's cross and then blocking Grant Leadbitter's follow-up.

He was a happy man, however, when Leadbitter powered a 33rd-minute header over with the goal at his mercy.

For their part, Newcastle were on the back foot for long periods as Sunderland worked tirelessly to close down space in midfield, although they did have chances as emergency left-back Charles N'Zogbia played his part in a series of lightning breaks.

Their best opportunity fell to Michael Owen on 28 minutes when he collected the Frenchman's deep cross beyond the far post and although his control was not perfect, managed to get in a shot which Gordon blocked.

A feisty half ended in suitable fashion, with Dickson Etuhu and Barton in each other's faces after the Newcastle man's late challenge, but both left the field knowing there were more important issues still to be resolved.

The Wearsiders took up where they had left off and Harper had to pluck a 48th-minute Jones header out of his top corner, although Wallace's cross did not have enough pace on it to give the striker a real chance.

Mark Viduka flashed a 50th-minute cross just over Owen's head with Paul McShane desperately trying to get across, but the fireworks came at the other end two minutes later.

Faye wastefully conceded possession on halfway to force David Rozehnal to concede a corner and it was taken quickly for Leadbitter to cross to the far post for Higginbotham to head firmly past Harper.

Owen flashed a header high over on the hour with the Magpies belatedly starting to make their presence felt, although they were dealt a blow on 61 minutes when Faye limped off with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Habib Beye.

But they grabbed a lifeline after 65 minutes when Milner exchanged passes with Barton and then sent a low shot across goal and just inside the far post.

Jones flashed a shot on the turn just wide and Gordon pulled off a fine save to deny Owen as play switched rapidly from end to end.

But in a frenetic finish, Chopra was denied by the woodwork as another late show eluded Keane's men.

• Sam will be happy with draw - Keane

Sunderland manager Roy Keane insists his Newcastle counterpart Sam Allardyce will be more pleased by today's 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats took the lead when Danny Higginbotham ghosted into the visitors' box to head home and Michael Chopra hit the crossbar late on after James Milner's equaliser from a wide position.

Keane told Sky Sports: 'Sam is probably slightly happier than me today. We didn't have that bit of luck today and we can talk all day about being unlucky but we keep getting these lessons in the Premier League and you have to take your chances.

'We had chances to win the game and these things come back to haunt you. But if we keep performing like that, we'll be okay.

'We have a lot of players who have not played in the Premier League too much and these are all lessons you have to learn.'

Man-of-the-match Kenwyne Jones believes the hosts deserved more than a point.

He added: 'We definitely deserved to win it and would have if not for that one piece of lacking concentration.

'We were the better side today and unfortunately we have to come away with a point.'

Allardyce took the opposite view, claiming United's comeback merited at least a share of the spoils.

'We deserved it for our response after going a goal down.

'The fear of going a goal down at that stage is the reason we picked our game up and took the game to Sunderland.

'Up to then, Sunderland outmuscled us and we couldn't get our passing game going, but that happens in a derby match.

'In the end it was a fair result. We've gone behind, it's away, it's a derby and we haven't lost.'

ESPNsoccernet - England - Sunderland v Newcastle Report

[Freddy Adu]

Newcastle boss Allardyce happy to end losing run

Newcastle boss Allardyce was delighted to end a run of two successive defeats and a three-game wait for a point on the road after their 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

He said: "I am not bothered whether we were fortunate or not. You just don't lose a derby and we haven't, which is very, very important indeed.

"Under the circumstances when our away form in our last two games was very poor, it was important to put that right, and we had to put it right in a game like this which we could not afford to lose.

"We came back from a goal down as well, which is the first time we have got back into a game from a goal down and got something out of the game away from home this season."

[Freddy Adu]

Sunderland boss Keane dismisses Etuhu, Barton row

Sunderland boss Roy Keane dismissed Dickson Etuhu's bust-up with Newcastle's Joey Barton at halftime of their 1-1 draw.

He said: "I am not going to get bogged down by a tackle that was slightly high. That happens in these games, a lot of them are mistimed.

"You give and you take. Dickson is a tough lad. He is alive in that dressing room, he won't be leaving on a stretcher."

[Freddy Adu]

Keane admits Sunderland wasteful in derby draw

Sunderland boss Roy Keane rued a catalogue of missed chances after their 1-1 draw with Newcastle United.

The Irishman saw his side take a deserved lead through Danny Higginbotham's first goal for the club after passing up a series of earlier opportunities, and was off his seat as former Magpie Michael Chopra powered a header against the crossbar with eight minutes remaining.

However, by then James Milner had levelled when his 65th-minute cross crept inside Craig Gordon's far post to punish the Wearsiders for their profligacy.

Keane admitted his disappointment at only drawing a game he felt they had done enough to win, but refused to bemoan his luck.

Asked if he was disappointed not to have taken all three points, Keane said: "Yes, if you look at the chances and the way we played, but if we keep missing the chances we did, it is very hard to win any game.

"If you look at the chances and the performance, I think Sam (Allardyce) will probably be slightly happier than me tonight.

"But I am pleased with the performance and the attitude of the players and the spirit with which they played.

"The priority for any derby match is certainly don't lose it, and we did not do that, so we will take the pluses."

[Freddy Adu]

Newcastle's Barton in more hot water after Etuhu clash

Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has landed himself in more hot water after yesterday's 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

Barton, 25, who is currently bailed to appear at Manchester Crown Court on November 22 charged with assaulting his former Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo, will undergo trial by television for an ugly, high tackle on Sunderland's Dickson Etuhu.

On the stroke of half-time in the 1-1 draw, the challenge on Etuhu drew an angry response from the Sunderland player, who was incensed when Barton appeared to plant a boot in his groin - and the pair squared up nose to nose.

Because referee Martin Atkinson took no action, the FA's disciplinary committee could punish Barton retrospectively, with footage of the incident certain to be reviewed at FA headquarters in Soho Square tomorrow, says the Mail on Sunday.

[Freddy Adu]

Barton faces FA rap


Written by: AFP

	England and Manchester City player Joey Barton attends a team training session at Manchester United´s Carrington training ground, in Manchester. Barton could face a suspension after the English Football Association confirmed they are investigating the Newcastle midfielder´s ugly challenge on Sunderland´s Dickson Etuhu.

LONDON (AFP) - Joey Barton could face a suspension after the English Football Association confirmed they are investigating the Newcastle midfielder's ugly challenge on Sunderland's Dickson Etuhu.

Barton caught Etuhu in his stomach with a studs-raised tackle in Saturday's 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light, but no foul was given at the time by referee Martin Atkinson.

The FA can issue a violent conduct charge retrospectively in instances where the match official does not notice the incident but later reports it.

If that is the case Barton could be hit with a three-game ban.

An FA spokesman said: "We will be looking to clarify with the referee whether he saw the incident or not. If not we will review the incident."

[Freddy Adu]

Newcastle boss Allardyce: Given must get over injury mental block

Sam Allardyce believes Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has become "uptight" about his nagging groin injury.

Given has started just four of the club's 12 Premier League games this season and sat out the 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Saturday.

He has undergone further scans on the injury, but Allardyce has suggested that the Irishman needs to overcome a mental block regarding his fitness.

"The specialists say there should be no problem with it, but I think he's got uptight about it," said Allardyce in The People.

"That's disrupted his technique and put a lot of pressure on those areas.

"He's just got to forget about it, the specialist has told him to just keep doing his prevention work, his goalkeeping work, but not to overdo it.

"I think he's overdone it by the will of wanting to get better and better."

[Freddy Adu]

FA probe Newcastle's Barton incident

The FA have confirmed they will be looking into Joey Barton's controversial challenge on Sunderland's Dickson Etuhu in the Wear-Tyne derby.

Newcastle midfielder Barton went into the tackle with his studs dangerously high and clashed with his opponent in the immediate aftermath but there was no foul awarded as the first half drew to a close.

The FA can issue a violent conduct charge retrospectively in instances where the match official, in this case Martin Atkinson, does not notice the incident but later flags it up in his report.

If that is the case Barton, who missed the start of the season with a broken metatarsal, could be subject to a three-game ban.

An FA spokesman said: "We will be looking to clarify with the referee whether he saw the incident or not. If not we will review the incident."

[Freddy Adu]

Sunderland vs Derby County

Premier League 2007/2008 | Campeonato | Day 15

Sunderland Derby County

Date 2007-12-01 City Sunderland Stadium Stadium of Light Referee

[Freddy Adu]

Man Utd's Evans, Taylor in Sunderland sights

Sunderland boss Roy Keane will be handed a £15 million transfer kitty for the winter market.

Portsmouth midfielder Matt Taylor and Manchester United defender Jonny Evans top Keane's wish-list.

The Black Cats are two points above safety but Keane said: "My gut feeling is we'll be okay. We've done all right, but the next step is the biggest one we have to take.

"I believe that at the end of the season we'll have enough points to look back and say we've had a decent campaign. There's still a hell of a lot of work to do but I believe the fans appreciate the progress we're making."

[Freddy Adu]

Kavanagh wants Sunderland talks over future

Sunderland midfielder Graham Kavanagh will hold showdown talks with Roy Keane within the next week to sort out his future at the club.

The 33-year-old has not played a Premier League match for the Black Cats this season and his opportunities are unlikely to increase any time soon, with Dean Whitehead and Dwight Yorke preparing to return from injury.

"There has been more interest in Kav and I will probably sit down with him next week to talk it through," Keane told the Sunderland Echo. "I also spoke to him last week about the situation.

"It's a difficult one because as much as I want to keep him I know he wants to play football, and Kav is not the only one in that situation here. As much as I have to look after the club, I have to be fair to the players too.

"Kav enjoyed his games at Sheffield Wednesday but there have been several other clubs in touch about him since. With his experience, I don't know if a loan would be a big benefit for him - it was fine when he was coming back from injury but he doesn't need to go out and prove himself now."

[Freddy Adu]

Sunderland boss Keane: Quotas not the answer

Sunderland boss Roy Keane says quotas aren't the answer for English football.

He told the Sunday Sun: "I appreciate where Steve Coppell (who supports quotas) is coming from but I also appreciate the Arsene Wengers of this world, who say if you want quality then you have to go out and buy it.

"As a manager you are going you are going to be selfish and my priority is Sunderland. I do what I consider best for this club and I've bought a lot of lads from different countries, a lot from Ireland.

"If you're good enough, it doesn't matter where you are from, you get into the squad.

"It's not a case of me sitting on the fence - I very rarely do that - but I can appreciate both different views. It is a hard one to call.

"I think there will be a lot more talk about it next week if England fail to qualify for Euro 2008, that is what has started this off.

"If England qualify the debate will die down; if they don't, people will say it's because there aren't enough English players in the Premiership."

Keane does not believe that England's Euro 2008 qualification problems can be blamed on a lack of quality players, however.

He said: "People think it's because England don't have good enough players but that's nonsense - they have some outstanding players."

[Freddy Adu]

Keane: Sunderland academy beginning to deliver

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is hoping for more of his academy graduates to begin attracting England recognition.

Sunderland have dragged their feet over the years with their academy falling behind rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough, but midfielders Grant Leadbitter and Jamie Chandler are away on England duty this week, Leadbitter with the Under-21s and Chandler with the Under-19s.

Keane said: "There were nine English lads involved in our game against Newcastle at the weekend and that was nice to see.

"We've got a couple of lads away with England and that's fantastic, we would love some to be playing with the England senior team.

"We've got 11 or 12 players away on international duty and I love that. It's great for Sunderland."

[Freddy Adu]

Sunderland stopped Ashley from buying round for 2,500 Newcastle away support

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley was stopped from buying a beer for all of the Toon's travelling support at last week's draw at Sunderland.

The People says Ashley joined the Toon Army on the Stadium of Light terraces after being told he wouldn�t be allowed to wear his replica jersey in the directors' box.

And he hoped to get the beers in for every one of his 2,500 pals in the cheap seats.

Arch-rivals Sunderland, however, told him they would not be able to cope with the demand and the local police feared it could compromise spectators' safety.

[Freddy Adu]

Sunderland boss Keane admits likely Kavanagh exit

Sunderland boss Roy Keane admits he may allow Graham Kavanagh to leave in January.

He told the Sunderland Echo: "Kav enjoyed his games at Sheffield Wednesday but there have been several other clubs in touch about him since.

"There has been more interest in Kav and I will probably sit down with him next week to talk it through. I also spoke to him last week about the situation.

"It's a difficult one because as much as I want to keep him I know he wants to play football, and Kav is not the only one in that situation here. As much as I have to look after the club, I have to be fair to the players."

[Freddy Adu]

I really hope that Everton can win this one..
FORCA EVERTON!

[Freddy Adu]

Everton's Stubbs impressed by Sunderland striker Jones

Everton defender Alan Stubbs admits he's ready for a rough ride against Sunderland's new strike-star Kenwyne Jones this weekend.

"Roy Keane has bought a few players that people may have looked at but not gone for," Stubbs told evertonTV. "To be fair the ones he has brought in have come up trumps. Kenwyne Jones has done well of late. He's a big lad and has scored a few goals.

"Hats off to him, he has tried to add in the right places this year."

Stubbs spent a short period at Sunderland in the 2005/6 season before returning to Goodison and recognises the importance the Wearsiders attach to being in the nation's top division.

"It is a Premier League club, a big club, and they have probably been deprived of top flight football for too long," said Stubbs.

"The fans have craved it for a long time, especially seeing Newcastle in there.

"They are back and they are doing okay, they'd probably like to see themselves a bit higher but it is always difficult in the first season back."

[Freddy Adu]

Everton v Sunderland

The Toffees go into the game in pretty good shape, after holding Chelsea to a draw last time out. They are a more consistent team and are now expected to be in the top ten every season. Though the strikers are not playing to the top of their game, midfield experience is helping Everton sustain a good run of form in all competitions.

In fact, they are unbeaten in six games in all tournaments, their last defeat coming against local rivals Liverpool. Due to European involvement, Everton may be slightly sharper than Sunderland, but the fitness of the squad could go against them.

Sunderland are scrapping points here and there, which has been good enough to keep them out of the relegation zone at this moment in time. The Black Cats held local rivals Newcastle a couple of weeks ago, in a performance that showed tremendous effort and enthusiasm.

If Sunderland keep up this sort of level of play, they should stay up. However, they must win a couple of games before January if they are to stay out of trouble. Sunderland have a much fitter squad than Everton, so manager Keane may find a way to use this to his advantage.

Both sides are good battlers, and both should also be reasonably happy with their respective positions in the league. Everton have had a busier schedule recently, which could have a negative or positive effect on their performance. Sunderland have a fit squad of hungry players. This should prove to be a good game of football, so long as Sunderland do not crack under the pressure.

Prediction: Everton Too Solid

[Brasil]

HT		Everton [3 - 1] Sunderland
12'	[1 - 0]	A. Yakubu
17'	[2 - 0]	T. Cahill
43'	[3 - 0]	S. Pienaar
45'	[3 - 1]		D. Yorke
Copyright © 1998-2007 LiveScore.com

[Brasil]

81'		Everton [5 - 1] Sunderland
12'	[1 - 0]	A. Yakubu
17'	[2 - 0]	T. Cahill
43'	[3 - 0]	S. Pienaar
45'	[3 - 1]		D. Yorke
62'	[4 - 1]	T. Cahill
73'	[5 - 1]	A. Yakubu
Copyright © 1998-2007 LiveScore.com

[Brasil]

90'		Everton [7 - 1] Sunderland
12'	[1 - 0]	A. Yakubu
17'	[2 - 0]	T. Cahill
43'	[3 - 0]	S. Pienaar
45'	[3 - 1]		D. Yorke
62'	[4 - 1]	T. Cahill
73'	[5 - 1]	A. Yakubu
80'	[6 - 1]	A. Johnson
85'	[7 - 1]	L. Osman
88'			P. McShane
Copyright © 1998-2007 LiveScore.com