Repeatedly. It is safe to assume this had nothing to do with the Sunderland manager’s choice of shampoo and was all about the dawning realisation that heis facing possibly his biggest managerial challenge.
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Sunderland have won just one league game in 15, and conceded 26 goals this season, the worst in the league.
Sam Allardyce branded Yann M’Vila’s decision to commit a foul in the penalty area “stupid” as Sunderland lost 1-0 to Southampton.
Allardyce would relish a boost prior to the fortnight’s hiatus, but realises the magnitude of Sunderland’s task against a Southampton side unbeaten on the road this season.
“They [our defence] kept us in the game until we gave away the stupid penalty”, said Allardyce.
Even the Sunderland manager, Sam Allardyce, is putting little faith in another one of those miracles coming along.
‘We have good competition in all the positions in the team.
“That’s the last thing that these players should have on their minds”.
“Any contract to be talked about now would be something that we may consider but more often than not if it is a senior player it would be put on hold”. But Yoshida’s handball in the box hasn’t been given. A few of Clasie’s interchanges with Tadic doubled as mini masterclasses in ball manipulation. “Sometimes teams are more resolute after a drubbing and it can prove a catalyst”, they continued.
Having seen his side ship six at Everton last weekend, the Sunderland boss understandably adopted a more cautious approach against the Saints, and while that paid dividends at the back, it meant they lacked the cutting edge to threaten the visitors.
Then came one those moments of self destruction so wearingly familiar to Sunderland fans.
Saturday’s clash with Sunderland comes after the Black Cats’ defensive horror-show at Goodison, with the Saints boasting an impressive attacking form, netting 18 times this season. Tellingly Stekelenburg’s sole proper save featured the diversion of an Adam Johnson volley.
Koeman told Southampton’s YouTube channel: “They are close, but still it’s too fast for them to be part of the team”.
“An outstanding performance”, enthused Southampton’s manager.
Borini said: “We gave it away against Southampton and against Everton… you don’t need to throw away games like that”. Sure, he arrived with dashing good looks and well-chiselled features that made it seem as though the modelling industry’s loss was football’s gain, but not much was known of him in terms of his actual footballing abilities outside of the fact that he’d developed a reputation of sorts on social media for his predilection for scoring on Sundays.
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On planet Sunderland finishing 17th would represent an equivalent achievement.
