Match Comments:
A Stress for the fans. MICK McARTHY revealed last week that his old mate Dario Gradi told him after the clash with CREWE that he’d give himself a heart attack if he keeps up his current animated touchline antics. MM must have been suffering from soaring blood pressure yesterday as he watched the Wearsiders do their best to snatch defeat from a game they dominated virtually from start to finish.
Transfer News?
MM’s search for another experienced striker could be coming to an end with CLYDE WIJNHARD arriving for trials this week.
Match Comments:
Mick McCarthy has turned to youth in a bid to get the Wearsiders back in the big time – five of his six summer recruits are under the age of 24 – but it was golden oldie Stewart who fired their goal. After losing to Peter Reid’s Coventry on the opening day of the season, McCarthy’s men thought they had found their feet with an impressive midweek win over Crewe. This, however, was a struggle and the Wearside faithful let their feelings known at the end. QPR are still searching for their first championship win after conceding a heart-breaking last-gasp goal at the SOL. They looked to be heading for a morale-boosting victory against much-fancied SUNDERLAND until STEPHEN CALDWELL headed a 90th minute equalizer. The QPR boss groaned: We deserved to win the game but we’ve got to be able to defend set-pieces. We had the players on to do so. MM said. I told my players not to get caught napping at the back and that’s exactly what they did although they were both good finishes.
Transfer News?
Southampton boss is making a shock move for JULIO ARC. Sturrock wants the skilful left-sider and is lining up a 1.5million move for him before the transfer window shuts. JULIO ARCA is yet to sign a new contract despite agreeing the details with chairman BOB MURRAY last month.
Don Hutchison desperate to sign for a premier club to get him away from the Hammers as the CHAMPIONSHIP doesn’t suit his style of play.
Match Comments:
MM blows Hot’n Cald as Steve Caldwell climbed to save a vital point for SAFC with a dramatic 90th minute equalizer.
MM says: We didn’t deserve to lose. It was a bit of a relief to score late on. We were caught by two fantastic goals. We knew they would hit us on the break. I have to give my players a pat on the back for keeping going and not losing at home. MM also revealed striker KK has been withdrawn from the Scotland squad to face Hungary this week and will see a specialist on Tuesday about a hip injury.
Transfer News?
CLYDE WIJNHARD will hold talks tomorrow with SUNDERLAND. Wijnhard, a former AJAX and LEEDS player, saw a deal with OLDHAM collapse when he failed to agree personal terms on a long-term basis. Wijnhard, 30, was top scorer with Portuguese club Beira Mar last season but is now a free agent.
Match Comments:
The BLACK CATS had earlier battered the Londoners for long periods with MARCUS STEWARTS first half equalizer looking likely to open the floodgates. Rangers were still appealing to referee MIKE PIKE as winger JOHNNY OSTER strode forward down the right before sending in a cross which was met by Stewart with a neat near post finish – something of a trademark for the veteran striker.
Match Comments:
Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy claimed his side did not deserve to lose after twice hitting back to cancel out two wonder goals.”Rangers scored two fantastic goals and you sometimes have to give credit to the opposition,” he said. “But I felt we could have defended better.” It would have been an injustice if we had not got something, but sometimes it does happen. “I always felt we were going to have the lion’s share of possession and that’s what we did.
Match Comments:
At the bottom, promoted Queen’s Park Rangers were denied victory at Sunderland by Steve Caldwell, who headed home a corner as the match went into added time. The 2-2 draw, after they had led twice, left QPR ahead of only Brighton.