[Lord Snooty]

Sunderland v Huddersfield Town
The Sky Bet Championship
Wednesday November 29th - 19:45 ko
at the Estádio da Luz

Huddersfield Town travel to Sunderland to the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night for another Darren Moore masterclass in how to play football with ten defenders.

Hopefully we will have Danny Ward back after his comeback was halted on Saturday by a bout of illness. Talking of comebacks, can we have Stephen Chicken back at the Examiner, please. The new chief football writer at the Unexamined wrote in advance of the Southampton game at the weekend that Danny Ward hadn't played yet this season due to the form of Lee Nicholls, but did play a full game for Wales in the international break.

Really?

Sunderland have a very young side and dominated their game at Plymouth on Saturday, but still lost 2-0. They had 24 shots and 14 corners, but their kids couldn't find the back of the net, so it should be a stroll in the park for our experienced back three of Michal Helik, Tom Lees and Matty Pearson, who have over 1,300 professional matches played between the three of them.

Now, the thing is, the game of football is really all about scoring goals. So can we please have a go at this, Mr Darren?


Tickets:
Adults - £32
Over 65s - £29
Under 22s - £24
Under 16s - £14



A brief history of Sunderland AFC: Formed in 1879, the club has won six top-flight titles (1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and 1936) in the First Division, and has finished runners-up five times. The club has also won the FA Cup twice (1937 and 1973) and been runners-up twice (1913 and 1992), as well as winning the FA Charity Shield in 1936 and being finalists the following year. Sunderland have also been Football League Cup finalists in 1985 and 2014.

When formed all that time ago, it was by a bunch of school teachers and the team were known as Sunderland & District Teachers Association Football Club. That lasted a year when in 1880 they became just Sunderland Association Football Club.

They turned professional in 1885 and appointed their first manager, Tom Watson, in 1888. That same year, the Football League was formed. Sunderland weren't in it, but were elected a couple of years later in place of Stoke and actually went and won the title in their second season. They then retained the title in 1893 and came close to a hat trick of titles, but finished as runners up to Aston Villa, six points behind.

Not to be denied that third League title, they won it the following season, making it three out of four and played the Scottish champions, Heart of Midlothian, in a one off match at Tynecastle at the end of the season to decide who would be world champions. Sunderland won it 5-3, but their entire line up was made up of Scotsmen, so this was the first time that Scotland claimed to be the football world champions.

Johnny Campbell was top scorer at the club throughout this period and in 1896, his stepbrother Robert Campbell joined the club as manager when Watson moved to Liverpool.

Having had four different home grounds since their formation, in 1898 they moved into Roker Park, which would be their home for the next 99 years.

Campbell only stayed for three seasons and was replaced by Alex Mackie, who guided the club to it's fourth title in 1901/02. They had some bad financial moments in the next few seasons, which led to some directors being suspended and the club ended up selling Alf Common (pictured below) to Middlesbrough for a record fee, the first one thousand pound transfer.

In 1907/08 there was a remarkable game played at Sid James' Park against local rivals Newcastle United. Future Town goalkeeper Leigh Richmond Roose, who I have written about many times before, played for Sunderland in this one which became their record victory. Billy Hogg and George Holley both scored hat tricks in an amazing 9-1 win.

Bob Kyle was by now the manager after Mackie had left during the financial foul play and he won the title with the club in 1912/13. They almost became the first team to do the League and Cup double, but got beat by Aston Villa 1-0 in the Final.

Kyle remained in charge up until 1929, in which time they challenged Huddersfield Town for the League title in 1923/24, but failed. When he did eventually resign, he was replaced by Johnny Cochrane, who led them to their fifth and final Football League title in 1936. They scored 109 goals in that season with Raich Carter (pictured below) and Bobby Gurney both scoring 31 each. But during the season, they had a tragedy when goalkeeper Jimmy Thorpe died from injuries received during a game.

Sunderland won the FA Cup for the first time in 1937, beating Preston North End at Wembley in the Final. The score was 3-1 with both Carter and Gurney on the score sheet again, with Eddie Burbanks getting the third. They almost made it back to Wembley in the following season, but were beaten by Huddersfield Town in the semis.

Cochrane retired soon after this and was replaced by Bill Murray. He stayed on until 1957, with his time at the club peaking with a 3rd place finish in the First Division, but also a 20th placed finish which was the closest they had come to relegation. His time ended in disgrace as the club were fined, but not docked points, for making illegal payments to players.

Alan Brown took over, but the rot had already set in and in his first season, Sunderland were relegated for the first time, ending a 68 year stint in the top flight. They had six sesons in Division Two, with goal scoring sensation Brian Clough banging them in. But he was forced to retire through injury in 1962 and it would be 1964 before they got back up again.

Brown left to manage Sheffield Wendy after the promotion, but returned four years later. He was still in charge when they got relegated again. When he left the club for a second time, former Newcastle United centre half Bob Stokoe took over.

It was he who led them out at Wembley in 1973 in the FA Cup Final against the self styled Champions of Europe, Leeds United. Ian Porterfield scored the only goal of the game when Sunderland became the first 2nd Division team to lift the famous trophy. Despite Porterfield scoring the winner, it was goalkeeper Jim Montgomery who was the hero of the hour that Stokoe famously ran on to embrace at full time. His run onto the pitch, wearing raincoat and trilby hat with his arms aloft, is the statue now standing outside the Stadium of Light.

As Cup winners, they entered the European Cup Winners Cup in the next season, but lost in the 2nd round to Sporting Lisbon. Stokoe led them back up to the First Division though in 1976, but suffered ill health and retired shortly after. Jimmy Adamson took the job on, but couldn't keep them up, so after one season they were back down in the 2nd Division again.

As managers came and went over the next few seasons, it was Ken Knighton who had them promoted again in 1980 as runners up to Leicester City. He was sacked four games from the end of the next season with the team near the bottom. Mick Docherty (Tommy's lad) took the caretaker's role, guiding them to safety. They did stay up for five seasons this time, reaching the League Cup Final in 1985 prior to being relegated. It was Len Ashurst in charge by now who led them out at Wembley. It didn't go to plan though. Clive Walker missed a penalty and Gordon Chisholm scored an own goal as Norwich City beat them 1-0.

Former Southampton boss, Lawrie McMenemy took the manager's job on, but couldn't repeat the success he'd had with the Saints. Sunderland missed a second successive relegation by just four points. Could things get any worse?

Yes! The following season saw them relegated to the 3rd Division for the first time. This was 1987 and the Football League had just introduced the Play Offs. In those first Play Offs, the team that finished 3rd bottom of the 2nd Division played the team who finished 5th in the 3rd Division. And so Sunderland came up against Gillingham.

After a 3-2 defeat in the first leg in which future Irish football legend, Tony Cascarino scored a hat trick for the Gills, the teams headed up to Roker Park for the 2nd leg. Gillingham extended their lead in the 2nd minute but by the 21st minute, the Black Cats had drawn level with an Eric Gates double. Cascarino restored the lead after half time and Sunderland were relegation bound until Gary Bennett equalised late on to take the tie to extra time. However, it was that man Cascarino again, scoring his fifth goal of the tie, which meant that Sunderland must score twice or face losing on the dreaded away goals rule. Keith Bertschin scored to make the aggregate score 6-6, but it wasn't enough and so Sunderland went down to Division Three.

They came straight back up as champions though, replacing Huddersfield Town who were relegated at the end of 87/88.

Denis Smith was now the manager and he got them to the Play Offs at the right end of the table in 1990 and not only that, it was a semi final against their bitter local rivals, Newcastle United. It was 0-0 at Roker in the first leg, but Gates gave them an early lead at Sid James' Park. They held out for the rest of the tie, securing the win in the 86th minute through Marco Gabbiadini. They even survived a pitch invasion by a bunch of angry Geordies.

The Final was a two legged affair when the Play Offs began, but this time it was a one off match at Wembley Stadium. They lost 1-0 against Swindon, but unbelievably still managed to get promoted. Swindon were denied promotion due to financial foul play and so the losing finalists went up instead. This annoyed Newcastle who thought they should've gone up, having finished 3rd in the table.

Straight back down again though. But against all odds, they made it to the FA Cup Final again as a 2nd Division team. They lost this one though, 2-0 to Liverpool. It was Malcolm Crosby who led them out at Wembley, but his reign didn't last long as Terry Butcher came in to do the job. Not very well though. He had them down the wrong end of the table and was sacked and replaced by Huddersfield Town legend, Mick Buxton.

Mick kept them up and got them as high as 12th by the end of the season, but the Board, in it's wisdom, decided to let the experienced manager go to be replaced by the monkey's head himself, Peter Reid. He managed to build on the strong foundations that Buxton had laid down and Sunderland went up as champions in 95/96.

This meant that they would play for the first time in the Premier League. Just the one season again as relegation inevitably followed.

They had hoped to open the new Stadium of Light as a Premier League team, but in the words of William S Shakespeare, "shit happens"! And so it would be as a 2nd tier team that they kicked off the 97/98 season. The season would end with a trip to Wembley. Kevin Phillips top scored with 29 goals as they finished 3rd and beat Sheffield United in the semis. The Final would be a classic, which ended up in defeat for the Black Cats.

Charlton Athletic were the opponents and Sunderland had future Town manager, Lee Clark (pictured below) in their line up. They went in at half time, a goal down after Clive Mendonca scored for the Addicks. Niall Quinn equalised shortly after the break and then Phillips put them ahead before Mendonca levelled it up again at 2-2 in the 71st minute. Quinn got another, two minutes later, but five minutes from time, Richard Rufus equalised to take the game into extra time. Nicky Sumerbee put Sunderland ahead again, but then Mendonca completed his hat trick to make it 4-4 and take it to penalties.

The first 13 penalties were all scored as it went to sudden death. Michael Gray was the one who cocked up with his poor shot being easily saved by Saša Ilić. And so Sunderland had to play another season of 2nd tier football.

Not to worry, they won the title, running away with a record 105 points.

And what's more, they didn't come straight back down as Phillips won the Golden Boot, bagging 30 Premier League goals with the team finishing in 7th place. A place they replicated in the following season, with KP once again top scorer, this time with just 14.

They narrowly avoided relegation in the next season, but couldn't beat the drop in 2003, finishing bottom of the PL with only 19 points.

Phillips left the club and headed down to Southampton. He was replaced by Town legend, Marcus Stewart, who was top scorer for the next two seasons. Mick McCarthy was manager now and he got them to the Play Offs, where they lost on penalties to Crystal Palace in the semis.

As with their previous Play Off failure, they followed it up by winning the title of what by now was called the Championship.

They did come straight back down though this time, finishing bottom and scored less than their previous low points tally, just 15. So bad were they that two future Town players, Tommy Miller and Dean Whitehead finished as joint top scorers with three goals each.

Irish Mick had been dismissed before the team were relegated, but with millions to spend in parachute payments, they spent it wisely. Firstly bringing in Roy Keane as manager and then buying Craig Gordon in a record fee for a goalkeeper. David Connolly top scored as Keane won the title for the Black Cats in his first season.

His second season was a struggle though and he left to be replaced by his assistant, Ricky Sbragia, who in turn resigned at the end of the season, having secured their Premier League status.

New owners came in and appointed ex Town boss, Steve Bruce. He lasted a couple of seasons, the start of what would be their longest stay in the Prima Donna League of ten seasons. A few famous names took on the manager's job, including the likes of Martin O'Neill, Paolo di Canio, Gus Poyet, Dick Advocaat, Sam Allardyce and David Moyes, who eventually took them back down.

Simon Grayson got the job when Moyes left, but didn't last long as the club suffered a double relegation to drop to the 3rd tier for only the second time in their history.

It was a four year stay down there this time with 2019/20's finish of 8th in League One being their lowest ever position. In that time, they made the Play Offs in 2019, losing to Charlton again. That was their second defeat at Wembley in that season, having lost in the Pizza Paint Pot Windscreens Trophy to Portsmouth.

Two years later, they won the Trophy, with Lynden Gooch scoring the only goal of the game against Tranmere Rovers. That same season however, saw them fail in the Play Offs again, losing in the semis to Lincoln City.

Fear not, they did actually go and win the Play Offs in the next season, beating Sheffield Wendy in the semis, which got them a game with Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley. Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart got the goals in a 2-0 win and Sunderland were back in the Championship.

They made it to the Championship Play Offs in that first season back, but were beaten at the semi final stage by Luton Town.





Head to Head



Sunderland lead the head to head with 38 wins to Town's 24, with 27 draws.

We'd been avoiding each other in the league for the last twenty odd seasons, with last year's meetings being the first since 1998/99. We didn't win either of them. Ex Town Premier League flop, Alex Pritchard, who was booed throughout the game for some odd reason, scored the first for the Mackems and Amad Diallo got a late second as we lost 2-0. We were 1-0 down at half time at the Stadium of Light in the return match, but under the leadership of Neil Warnock, our brave lads fought back to equalise from a brilliantly finished goal from Josh Koroma.

Way back in time, our first meeting came shortly after we had been promoted to the First Division in 1920. It was at Leeds Road and Town were top of the league after the first six games. A crowd of 31,000 turned up for the visit of Sunderland, but the match ended up goal less. A week later, Town travelled up to Roker Park and were beaten 2-1 in front of a 45,000 gate, with Sam Taylor scoring for us. The points dropped, saw Town slip down to sixth.

We had to wait until our 8th meeting before we got our first win over Sunderland. That was in the 1923/24 season, one hundred years ago, as previously mentioned in the History section, we were rivals for the League title, which we obviously won in the end. We were in third position as the teams met at Roker, with Town losing 2-1. A week later, they came down to ours and two goals from Charlie Wilson and one from Billy Smith secured the points for the bright blue n white in a 3-2 victory.

Sunderland were favourites for the title, but faded badly at the end of the season, finishing third behind us and Cardiff City.

We had to wait a few years more for our first win at Roker Park. That didn't come until 1931/32, the 12th time of asking. Herbert Chapman couldn't get a win there for us and he'd moved to Arsenal a while back when Clem Stephenson managed us to that first time that we quietened the Roker Roar. It was the completion of the first league double, having beaten them 4-1 at Leeds Road, we went there and won 3-1 in March 1932 in a season that we finished in 4th place. Dave Mangnall scored twice in the game, which would be his 9th league game in a row that he scored in, a club record. Billy Smith got the other goal.

The first of the two FA Cup meetings came in 1938 at the semi final stage. Sunderland were the holders of the trophy as the two sides met at Ewood Park in Blackburn. However, they were out done by our South African winger George Wienand, who by all accounts ran the Sunderland defence ragged. Town won it 3-1 in front of a 47,904 crowd, with goals from Pat Beasley, Bobby Barclay and Willie MacFadyen and went on to play Preston in the Final, but lost 1-0. Here's a bit of action from both semis.

They got their own back in 1950 at the 3rd round stage when Town traveled north to be beaten 6-0, a club record defeat for the FA Cup.

Things got worse a couple of years later when we lost 7-1 at their place in the league, which would've been a club record defeat had we not lost 8-0 at Middlesbrough a year earlier.

Our biggest league win over Sunderland was a 4-0 win at home on Christmas Eve 1955. Len Quested scored, as did Jackie Marriott, with Jimmy Glazzard adding the 3rd and 4th. That sadly, was the last meeting of the two clubs in the First Division, since when there have only been thirteen seasons that we have shared a league table, all in the 2nd tier.

We are well overdue a league victory over Sunderland. We haven't had one since 1985/86 when Mick Buxton was in charge. That was a 2-0 win at Leeds Road with two goals from Terry Curran, in front of only 7,150 spectators.

However, since that time, we have been drawn three times against them in the League Cup and strangely, given our piss poor record in this competition, we won all three, all whilst being at least one league below them. First came a 1991/92, 2nd round, two legged affair with the first leg played at Roker Park.

We won it 2-1, with goals from Simon Charlton and Phil Starbuck. We were in the 3rd Division and they were in the 2nd, but when they came to Leeds Road for the 2nd leg, the Terriers, managed by Eoin Hand, absolutely hammered them 4-0, in what was possibly the highlight of those dark days. Goals came from Iffy Onuora, Iwan Roberts (2) and Gary Barnett got us through to round three, where we were beaten by Swindon Town.

We drew Sunderland again in the next season. Again it was at Roker first, but this time, a 1st round match. And believe it or not, we won at theirs again. Three goals to two this time, with Starbuck and Roberts scoring again. Neil Parsley, who went on to win the Player of the Year award, scored his one and only goal for the club.

We lost the 2nd leg 1-0, which took the game into extra time, but we held out to win the tie on the away goals rule.

We had a superb League Cup win at the Stadium of Light. That was in 2003 as a 4th tier team under the management of Peter Jackson, we won 4-2 with goals from Tony Carss, Jon Stead, Andy Holdsworth and Andy Booth. By now, the early rounds of the competition had gone back to one legged games and so we were through once more.

So what's going on down at the Estádio da Luz? Managed nowadays by Tony Mowbray, who unlike most players/managers doesn't have a long list of clubs associated with himself. At the age of 59, with around 1500 games behind him, he's only ever been involved with eight clubs.

As a player, he turned out 424 times for Middlesbrough, 95 times for Celtic and ended with 152 for Ipswich Town. A total of 671 first team matches, as a defender.

In management, he has over 850 games on his CV. He started out with four matches as caretaker at Ipswich when George Burley had been sacked. His first proper job came in 2004 when he got the Hibs job. After that he went to West Brom, then back to Celtic, which was followed by a return to Middlesbrough, then Coventry, Blackburn and now Sunderland, who he joined in August last year after Alex Neil buggered off to Stoke.

His playing achievements list three promotions, two with Boro and one with Ipswich. In management, he has the Championship title with the Baggies in 2008 and a runners up promotion with Blackburn from League One in 2018.

Saturday's line up at Plymouth:

1 Anthony Patterson - 23 year old keeper from North Shields.
32 Trai Hume - 21 year old right back, NI international.
13 Luke O'Nien - Ex Wycombe midfielder.
5 Daniel Ballard - Another Norn Irn defender.
2 Nial Huggins - Welsh left back, born in York.
39 Pierre Ekwah - 21 year old French midfielder.
10 Patrick Roberts - Once highly rated England youth international, now 26.
24 Dan Neil - 21 year old midfielder from South Shields.
7 Jobe Bellingham - 18 year old midfielder with a famous brother (pictured below).
20 Jack Clarke - Ex Leeds winger.
15 Nazariy Rusyn - Ukranian forward signed on deadline day.

Subs:
9 Luís Silva Semedo - 20 year old Portuguese striker signed from Benfica.
12 Eliezer Mayenda - 18 year old Spanish striker signed from Sochaux
17 Abdoullah Ba - 20 year old French midfielder.
21 Alex Pritchard - Ex Spurs, Town Premier League legend.
22 Adil Aouchiche - 21 year old French midfielder.
23 Jenson Seelt - 20 year old Dutch centre back from PSV.
25 Nectarios Triantis - 20 year old Aussie defender.
30 Nathan Bishop - Ex Mansfield keeper, beaten by Port Vale's Kian Harratt in the Play Off Final.
46 Bradley Dack - Ex Blackburn midfielder with an eye for goal.

Sunderland in popular culture: Lauren Laverne, now of BBC Radio fame, is from Sunderland and started out in a punk band called Kenickie. Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics was born there. Emeli Sandé was born there but brought up in Aberdeenshire.

The punk band, The Toy Dolls came from Sunderland and had this absolute banger of a one hit wonder.....












Recent form - last 6 matches:

Town 1-1 Southampton
Hull 1-0 Town
Town 0-0 Watford
Leeds 4-1 Town
Town 0-4 Cardiff
Town 2-1 QPR

Plymouth 2-0 Sunderland
Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham
Swansea 0-0 Sunderland
Sunderland 3-1 Norwich
Leicester 1-0 Sunderland
Stoke 2-1 Sunderland

Town are 21st in the Championship table with 16 points. Sunderland are 9th with 26.

Leading scorers:

Terriers:
Michal Helik (4)
Jack Rudoni (3)

Mackems:
Jack Clarke (9)
Daniel Neil (3)
Jobe Bellingham (3)


November the 29th down the ages: How did we get on in previous matches played on this date?

On this date in 1967, Huddersfield Town played in the fifth round of the League Cup for the first time and so far, the only time.

It was played against Fulham at Craven Cottage, a team who were currently bottom of the First Division. The Cottage Pies weren't the yo-yo club that they are now. They got relegated at the end of this season and didn't get back to the top tier until 2001.

They still had Johnny Haynes playing for them at this time and he played in this one. He had been England captain and had played in three World Cups and became the first footballer to earn £100 a week. He now has a statue at the stadium.

They also had a young goalscorer in the side who would go on to play for England. He'd also go on to be a star player for Leeds Urinals. I talk of course, about Allan Clarke. Yes, that prick!

We had Frank Worthington though. He'd just got on a run of games, taking the number 9 shirt off Brian Clark and was finding the back of the net. He'd scored his first ever first team goal in the previous round, a 2-0 win at home to West Ham. He'd scored the only goal of the game in the match against QPR at the weekend, his first ever league goal. He scored in this game as well, a 1-1 draw.

Sunderland Anagrams: Some football related, some not, but all mentioned in this somewhat lengthy article. Sorry if it was too long. You didn't have to read it all, but thanks if you did. Thanks for just reading a bit of it even. Or even if you just looked at the pictures

1. Extra Pilchard 
   
2. Adverse Twat 
   
3. Morton Byway 
   
4. Rascally Made 
   
5. Everest Cub 
   
6. A Whitened Head 
   
7. Phil Pinks Evil 
   
8. Bum Knit Cox 
   
9. Long Hair Cub 
   
10. Unreal Ale Vern 
    

[ritchiebaby]

"another Darren Moore masterclass in how to play football with ten defenders" - if DM really needs a further lesson, he should ask Craig Levein about his famous 4-6-0 Scotland formation in Prague 10 years ago (approx). Scotland lost 0-1 and Levein was slated for his tactics. Sound familiar?

Anyway No1 is Alex Pritchard and No 10 is Lauren Laverne.

[theo_luddite]

Nice one Snoots,

and well done for putting a terrific description of 1. Alex Pritchard at No. 2

---

of course 2 is really Dave Stewart.

and 3 is Melton Mowbray. Sorry, Tony Mowbray.

[Lord Snooty]

Hadn't thought of that, theo.

[theo_luddite]

Hull jumped to the top of The Yorkshire League last night as Rotherham failed to reproduce last Friday night's result or form.
Maybe they only turn up for the tellybox cameras?



All 'ull's games have been at home so far while Boro, who have barely got started yet, have their 3rd game on Saturday at L666s followed by a home game v Hull on December 13th.

Boro have two fixtures over Xmas/New Year at Rotherham and Town and when Wendies play Hull on New Years Day, everyone will have played at least 5 games and some will be on 6.

[jjamez]

6 is Dean Whitehead

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7 is town legend Kevin phillips

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5 is Steve bruce

[Lord Snooty]

[theo_luddite]

iFollow commentary goes for a ball of chalk yet again and we haven't kicked off yet.

---

Someone has put 10 bob in the meter, or fixed the fuse.

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4 is Big Sam Allardyce

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8 is Mick Buxton

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Helik for centre forward

---

defending? Offside or not he was on his own at the back post

[theo_luddite]

Where having a go, more of the same 2nd half please!

[Lord Snooty]

Rubbish referee. Again!

Liner gives correct decision of throw in to Sunderland. Ref overturned it, book's Lees and they score from the free kick.