OPPO: Sheffield United
VENUE: Bramall Lane
RESULT: 0-1 (Kyle 68)
TEAM: Poom, Breen, McCartney, Healey, Arca, Whitley, Williams, Butler (Thornton 76), Oster, Kyle, Stewart (Bjorklund 86).
SUBS NOT USED: : Ingham, Smith, Proctor
GIT IN BLACK: Paul Danson (Leics)
ATTENDANCE: 27,008
MCCARTHY’S COMMENTS
“There were chances at both ends, it was a dogged scrap – we were bullied everywhere and intimidated but we showed we can cope with that.
“I enjoyed the result but we didn’t play as well as we could have done in the first half, but it was a different game in the second half. The first half was a big disappointment – poor on quality and passion. The second half was a different game, a bit of a ding-dong – high on effort and perspiration but not inspiration.
“Julio’s red card was unnecessary – he’d done nothing really nasty. But it showed we could manage with 10 men.
“’Kevin was a much-maligned player before this season. He has worked hard at his game and deserves his reward. It’s all the sweeter when he does well and scores, and don’t forget that at the end, when corners and free-kicks were coming in to our box, he was back there heading them out. I have told Kevin he will play better than that and get nothing from the game but a lot of what he does for us goes unappreciated.
“To come here at any time and win is an achievement. We knew United would keep going until the end and we had to match them. It was a resilient performance.
“I thought the referee did well in a tough game. Neil and myself were whingeing at him all day but that’s how we are. When we stop complaining you will have to nail the lids down on us.”
Kevin Kyle fired his sixth goal in seven games to hand Sunderland a vital victory. Kyle’s strike was a goal worthy of winning any game, a diving header from Marcus Stewart’s left-wing cross in the 68th minute.
The result could have gone either way, with both sides relucatant to take a gamble in the final third, but the Blades failed to capitalise when they were on top.
There were few chances for Sunderland who had goalkeeper Mart Poom to thank for keeping them in the game in the early stages.
The victory will send a chilling warning to the rest of Division One’s promotion hopefuls.
McCarthy’s men got more of a grip on the game after a slow start and forced the Blades on to the back foot but only in spells.
The Black Cats lacked any quality in the final third, something epitomised by Stewart’s tame effort in the 32nd minute.
Poom did well to stop Phil Jagielka’s shot just after the break as it changed direction after deflecting off Colin Healy.
Stewart raced onto a quick throw-in, crossed from the left flank and Kyle did the rest, hurling himself at the cross to bury a header into the bottom corner.
Sunderland delivered perhaps the most significant result yet under Mick McCarthy.
…a match of major commitment but little end-product
(Kyle’s goal) offered further encouragement that his own side can mount a genuine challenge for an immediate return to the Premiership.
The dismissal of Arca took some of the gloss off the victory, but it was not enough to disguise the fact that Sunderland were good value for it.
Sunderland were better balanced and more cohesive than the Blades.
Arca’s dismissal added to the pressure on Sunderland, but there was rarely a hint that they would lose their discipline and the introduction of Bjorklund, in place of Stewart, offered them extra protection in the final few minutes.
Observer MoTM: Kevin Kyle – “…striking up a useful understanding with Marcus Stewart….prepared to undertake defensive duties when his team were under the cosh.”
”Luck favours Sunderland”
Sunderland rode their luck and then reinforced their promotion aspirations with a classic headed winner.
Two defences intent on confronting the best forwards in the land next season had looked distinctly uneasy in an open contest
United produced the more composed, imaginative football and, with a little luck, would have had the advantage at the interval.
Sunderland’s more direct style represented a constant danger and in Arca, they had a player capable of conjuring the unexpected.
Sunderland shook themselves from their slumber to engineer an opening.
Arca, advancing from his left-back position, proved a repeated threat to United.
Sunderland survived intense pressure before Arca retaliated with another penetrating run. Suddenly United were on the retreat.
With his team defending against wave after wave of attacks from the home side, midway through the second half Kyle pounced on Marcus Stewart’s cross.
The telling strike knocked the wind out of top of the table Sheffield United and condemned them to their first defeat this season.
United will certainly be kicking themselves for losing this one having had chances in either half to have won at a canter.
The Blades bossed large chunks of the game but even when they did threaten, they found the keeper in outstanding form.
When Arca was given his marching orders Blades fans sensed another comeback. From the free-kick home defender Rob Kozluk volleyed over and Sunderland held firm.
People player ratings: POOM 8 – Williams 6, Breen 6, McCartney 6, Arca 6 – Oster 7, Healey 6, Whitley 6, Butler 6 (Thornton 75 mins, 6) – Kyle 7, Stewart 6 (Bjorklund 85).
The Sunderland team now toiling to get back into the Premiership is unrecognisable from that which performed so abjectly in it a few months ago.
The two players who took the leading roles yesterday were Mart Poom and Kevin Kyle.
Poom excelled at more orthodox goalkeeping activities yesterday.
Ten-man Sunderland maintained their march up Division One as Kevin Kyle’s second half winner condemned Sheffield United to their first home defeat of the season.
Mick McCarthy’s improving side were good value for their third away victory, hitting the home side on the break in the first period and slowly taking control in the second.
Marcus Stewart also turned in an eye-catching display and it was his fine cross on 68 minutes that the diving Kyle headed home
A single effort from Scotland international Kevin Kyle sealed all three points for Sunderland at Bramall Lane.
The game looked to be heading for a stalemate before giant striker Kyle found the back of the net for his sixth strike of the season
The Blades failed to make their numerical advantage count
