OPPO: Walsall
VENUE: Stadium of Light
RESULT: 1-0 (Stewart 42)
TEAM: Poom, Breen, Williams (Clark 82),Bjorklund, McCartney, Quinn (Smith 62), Healy, Oster, Whitley, Stewart, Kyle
SUBS NOT USED: : Ingham, Leadbitter, Proctor
BACK IN BLACK: Paul Robinson
ATTENDANCE: 36, 278
MCCARTHY’S COMMENTS
“It was hard-earned, frustrating and scrappy. But we played better than that last season and lost. We frustrated ouselves when the first 10 passes did not find a red and white shirt.
“But we won the game and we could have scored more goals. It was frustrating – but don’t try to knock it down.
“I’ll take a scrappy three points. I said after the midweek draw against Cardiff that we would have more games like that – but we had enough chances to score considerably more goals.
The supporters have had to put up with a lot over the last two seasons and we have had to earn back their respect and belief. That is coming. There’s a nice atmosphere around the place.”
It was not a good display by Mick McCarthy’s men who even found it a slog against Walsall’s 10 men in the second half.
Sunderland failed to click into gear in a frustrating afternoon for boss McCarthy.
In truth the Black Cats would have won by a greater margin had Walsall keeper James Walker not been in such fine form.
McCarthy will be relieved to have watched his side play poorly and still pick up three points to keep themselves in the promotion chase.
Sunderland who needlessly gave away possession a number of times in the opening five minutes and it was a sign of things to come.
It was a nervous start by new boy Quinn as a couple of his attempted passes went astray but the little midfielder continued to look for the ball and his game improved.
The Black Cats broke the deadlock against the run of play three minutes before half-time.
Sunderland continued to make hard work of it and sloppy play by them led to Jorge Leitao robbing Poom as he looked to clear but the referee blew for a foul.
Sunderland got better in the last 20 minutes, with Smith putting in some decent deliveries from the left flank, but still they kept their fans on the edge of their seats and McCarthy teaing his hair out.
Sunderland moved up to fourth thanks to a solid 1-0 win.
The visitors, without the inspiriational Paul Merson, never recovered from a three-minute spell just before half time in which Marcus Stewart scored.
Marcus Stewart struck the only goal of the game in the first half, but must be wondering how he failed to finish with a hat-trick.
Sloppy work by the recalled Joachim Bjorklund put Sunderland in early trouble.
Some wayward passing made it difficult for Sunderland to get going.
It was 20 minutes before Sunderland mustered their first shot and Jeff Whitley’s scuffed 20-yarder failed to trouble James Walker.
Whitley pounced on 42 minutes when he released Marcus Stewart through the right channel for his fifth goal of the season.
John Oster got free and went sprawling on the edge of the box from a Baird challenge – although by this stage he was not the last defender. Referee Paul Robinson pointed to the penalty spot and issued a red card to Baird – then to add insult to injury the official changed his decision and gave a free-kick on the edge of the area
Walsall refused to throw in the towel and despite being a man down still had plenty of possession but not the cutting edge.
People player ratings: Poom 6 – Williams 6 (Clark, 81 mins), *BREEN 8, Bjorklund 6, McCartney 7 – Oster 6, Whitley 7, Healy 6, Quinn 6 – (Smith, 63 mins, 5), Stewart 6, Kyle 5.
Sunderland made hard work of beating Walsall.
Marcus Stewart scored the winner just before the dismissal when he raced clear on to Jeff Whitley’s pass to score his fifth goal of the season.
Marcus Stewart’s first-half strike decided a disappointing game.
…a game where chances were at a premium.
Sunderland failed to take advantage of their extra man in a dour second half.
Sunderland controlled much of the possession but struggled to get behind the Saddlers defence.
The final half hour was mainly battled out in midfield and Sunderland were able to hold on for another valuable win.
