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Sunderland 1-0 Town
Sunderland 1-0 Town
Saturday, 18th Aug 2001 18:04

Town fell to a disappointing 1-0 loss away at Sunderland as a Kevin Phillips penalty won the game. Except for the odd period Town looked well below par and rarely threatened until Pablo Couñago came on as a second half sub.

Town lined up with new man Matteo Sereni in goal with the expected defence of Makin, McGreal, Bramble and Hreidarsson in front of him. The midfield saw Reuser, Magilton, Holland and Wright while up front Marcus Stewart was joined by Finidi George. Finidi’s advanced position was a surprise and he rarely looked comfortable there.

Town’s first attack saw Reuser fall on the edge of the area, but Graham Poll saw no foul. New keeper Sereni showed his kicking prowess early on. The Italian kicks the ball in an unusual manner with his leg almost horizontal. This seemed to allow him to gain great distance. In the ninth minute a long kick found Stewart well inside the Sunderland half.

Town’s first opportunity saw Martijn Reuser take a freekick from just outside the area after Holland was pulled down. His kick hit the wall and Holland hit a rebound which was cleared.

Sunderland came close to scoring on 19 when Kevin Phillips headed across goal and Lilian Laslandes just failed to connect at Sereni’s left post.

The half was tight and chances were far and few between. Freekicks however were not with Graham Poll giving the impression that professional referees are paid by the whistle parp.

Finidi George showed some skills but didn’t look on top of his game up front. On 31 he had a header saved by Sorensen, but overall he looked better when he was dropping deeper.


Sunderland took the lead on 36 when Titus Bramble was caught in possession in the box. Kevin Kilbane challenged him and Bramble handled him to the ground. It looked like Kilbane had made more of it than there was but contact was made and Graham Poll had no doubt it was a penalty. Kevin Phillips stepped up and hit the ball to Sereni’s right with the keeper going the wrong way.

Phillips almost added a second when he found himself unmarked in the box, but headed over. Phillips was proving a major thorn while at the other end Stewart had been quiet.

At half-time fans were unhappy at Titus giving away such a poor goal and felt that a substitution might get Town’s passing game going.

Matteo Sereni made his first real saves early in the second half. The first was from Phillips as he broke after a Town attack. His cross catching was impressing, although a couple of his kicks went astray. He was also showing that he was prepared to control things in the box, speaking to all his defenders before the game and giving a special word to Titus Bramble as the players came out at half-time. Overall there was much to be impressed with from the new signing.

In the 54th minute Pablo Couñago replaced Jim Magilton who had been on the end of a rather clumsy Stefan Schwarz tackle just before half-time. Finidi George went to right midfield where he looked far more comfortable. Couñago immediately made an impact and Town looked more positive than they had previously.

Sereni continued to do well and grasped a low Kilbane cross as Phillips was lurking.

On 67 Jermaine Wright hit a shot over after a Finidi George cross was cleared. George was getting more involved wide, but George Burley might suggest that he does a bit more chasing back than he did this afternoon. Perhaps the extra pace of the English game was getting to him.

Jamie Clapham replaced John McGreal as Hermann Hreidarsson went to centre-half. Niall Quinn came on for the home side.

Martijn Reuser missed a good opportunity when Clapham had won the ball and Reuser had received a Stewart pass. As Reuser ran in on the penalty area Couñago was screaming that he wanted the ball, but Reuser mis-hit a shot wide.

Couñago went closest to scoring for Town when he headed a Stewart cross goalwards but Sorensen was equal to it. Seconds later the Spaniard, looking like he could get a fine partnership with Stewart going, hit a low curling shot just by Sorensen’s post.

Chris Makin was booked for a foul on Michael Gray, one of his best mates. Earlier Hutchison had been booked for a foul on Clapham. The second half was not without it incident with Marcus Stewart appearing to fell Stefan Schwarz while Finidi George got involved with Gavin McCann. Clearly there were frustrations boiling over.

With three minutes left Niall Quinn almost added a second but he headed his effort well over.

Referee Poll played four minutes injury time most of which came from Sorensen’s timewasting. Despite the ball nearly falling for Martijn Reuser Town couldn’t get an equaliser and Graham Poll blew his whistle for one last time.

Not the best of performances, although the performances of Sereni and Couñago was particularly heartening. Although the game had few chances the keeper did as much as he could to keep the game goalless and it was only an error by Bramble that allowed Sunderland to score.

At the other end Pablo looked well up to the job when he came on while Finidi George appeared more comfortable when he dropped back to wide midfield. It may take him a little while to settle into the side, especially against more physical sides like Sunderland. A bad start then, but two home games should get things back on the right track.

Sereni, Makin, Hreidarsson, Bramble, McGreal (Clapham 71), Wright, Holland, Magilton, (Couñago 54), Reuser, Stewart, George. Unused: Naylor, Wilnis, Branagan.

Att 47,370


Photo: Action Images



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