SHEFFIELD UNITED 0 – SUNDERLAND AFC 1
Mick McCarthy was largely optimistic about his side’s resilience during a hard-fought battle with top-of-the-table Sheffield United where the Black Cats came out on top.
The first half ended goalless but Kevin Kyle added to his ever-increasing goal tally in the 68th minute and despite going down to 10 men after Julio Arca was dismissed for a second yellow card, the Lads held on to beat Sheffield and go up to third in the table.
McCarthy praised his team’s staying power, saying “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.
McCarthy said that he wouldn’t protect his players if he thought they’d been deservedly dismissed, but referring to Arca’s early bath for a second bookable offence, he said “Julio’s red card was unnecessary – he’d done nothing really nasty. But it showed we could manage with 10 men.
New loan signing Alan Quinn wasn’t available to play today as he was serving a ban for receiving his fifth yellow card of the season when the Owls lost to Bournemouth last month, but McCarthy spoke highly of the 24 year old Dubliner.
“He’s a player I’ve admired for a long time. He can play wide midfield or central midfield, he’s a very good footballer who should fit into the way we play.
“It’s a mutually beneficial agreement – Michael Reddy isn’t going to play again for Sunderland I’ve told him that – so it’s a good deal all round.”
TEAM: Poom ,Williams ,McCartney ,Breen ,Whitley ,Healy ,Arca (sent off 85) ,Oster ,Butler ,Kyle ,Stewart
Subs: Tommy Smith, Ingham, Proctor, Thornton, Bjorklund,
