Sunderland aim to exorcise Goodison demons

Steve Bruce hopes Sunderland can lay their Goodison Park ghosts to rest on Saturday after years of poor results against Everton.

“The game there last year was probably our worst of last season,” he said. “In the first half we were absolutely inept.”

That match finished 2-0 to the home side, continuing a dismal record for Sunderland of not having won at Everton since 1996.

But the Black Cats boss is the first to admit that Everton are no pushovers and not only is he full of praise for opposite number David Moyes but sees the Merseysiders as role models for Sunderland to emulate.

“We’ve got to get ourselves established in the Premier League like Everton,” he said. “They seem to have been in the top flight in this country since the year dot.”

“David Moyes has maybe not had the financial muscle of other clubs but you have to admire what he does.”

“It shows you how tough the Premier League is when a club like Everton are still in the bottom half of the table.”

“But he has done a fabulous job over the years and he’s given them huge stability.”

“When he first went in there, they were always at the bottom but he’s turned them round and they had a wonderful result last week, winning in the FA Cup at Chelsea.”

“That’s my vision of where Sunderland should be – cemented in the Premier League year-in, year-out and regularly finishing in the top 10.”

A trip to Everton hardly promises to be the solution to ending Sunderland’s run of three successive defeats.

And it won’t get any easier over the subsequent three games with trips to Arsenal and Manchester City sandwiching a Stadium of Light clash against Liverpool.

But Bruce points to the way Sunderland have already upset the odds this season as evidence that they won’t be overawed by the task ahead.

“I remember after losing against Newcastle that we had Stoke at home, Tottenham away and Chelsea away,” he said.

“Everybody said ‘here we go’, but we picked up seven points from it.”

“We know they’re tough games but that’s the way the Premier League is.”

“It’s important we stick in there and keep ourselves in the top 10.”

“If we can do that, then come April and May when we’ve got a few coming back from injury, we’ve got an outstanding chance of having a good season.”

Bruce may hand a recall to Ahmed Elmohamady ahead of Steed Malbranque in Sunderland’s midfield on Saturday while Belgian Under-21 keeper Simon Mignolet is on stand-by to deputise for injury doubt Craig Gordon who is troubled by a sore knee.

But Fraizer Campbell, Lee Cattermole and Danny Welbeck will not be involved despite edging closer to a return.

Fri 25 February, 2011

Sunderland aim to exorcise Goodison demons

Steve Bruce hopes Sunderland can lay their Goodison Park ghosts to rest on Saturday after years of poor results against Everton.

“The game there last year was probably our worst of last season,” he said. “In the first half we were absolutely inept.”

That match finished 2-0 to the home side, continuing a dismal record for Sunderland of not having won at Everton since 1996.

But the Black Cats boss is the first to admit that Everton are no pushovers and not only is he full of praise for opposite number David Moyes but sees the Merseysiders as role models for Sunderland to emulate.

“We’ve got to get ourselves established in the Premier League like Everton,” he said. “They seem to have been in the top flight in this country since the year dot.”

“David Moyes has maybe not had the financial muscle of other clubs but you have to admire what he does.”

“It shows you how tough the Premier League is when a club like Everton are still in the bottom half of the table.”

“But he has done a fabulous job over the years and he’s given them huge stability.”

“When he first went in there, they were always at the bottom but he’s turned them round and they had a wonderful result last week, winning in the FA Cup at Chelsea.”

“That’s my vision of where Sunderland should be – cemented in the Premier League year-in, year-out and regularly finishing in the top 10.”

A trip to Everton hardly promises to be the solution to ending Sunderland’s run of three successive defeats.

And it won’t get any easier over the subsequent three games with trips to Arsenal and Manchester City sandwiching a Stadium of Light clash against Liverpool.

But Bruce points to the way Sunderland have already upset the odds this season as evidence that they won’t be overawed by the task ahead.

“I remember after losing against Newcastle that we had Stoke at home, Tottenham away and Chelsea away,” he said.

“Everybody said ‘here we go’, but we picked up seven points from it.”

“We know they’re tough games but that’s the way the Premier League is.”

“It’s important we stick in there and keep ourselves in the top 10.”

“If we can do that, then come April and May when we’ve got a few coming back from injury, we’ve got an outstanding chance of having a good season.”

Bruce may hand a recall to Ahmed Elmohamady ahead of Steed Malbranque in Sunderland’s midfield on Saturday while Belgian Under-21 keeper Simon Mignolet is on stand-by to deputise for injury doubt Craig Gordon who is troubled by a sore knee.

But Fraizer Campbell, Lee Cattermole and Danny Welbeck will not be involved despite edging closer to a return.

Fri 25 February, 2011

Albion look to exorcise Blackburn demons

West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo is looking for a big improvement from his side at Blackburn on Sunday.

Matteo’s men lost 3-1 at the Hawthorns to Rovers last month in a game they should have won.

“I will expect a similar type of game against Blackburn to the one that we had at the Hawthorns,” Di Matteo said.

“But playing at home they may be a bit more offensive and we will have to be aware of that.”

“We are also going to have some defenders back for this game and that is going to make us stronger than when we played them before.”

“Hopefully we can match them better on Sunday with the players that we will have back in the side.”

Defender Jonas Olsson is back to play his first Premier League game since suffering an Achilles injury against Fulham in October.

“Being without Olsson has been a blow for us,” Di Matteo said, adding: “We have badly missed him and he has been out for a long time.”

“He will not regain his match fitness in one game. It will probably take him a few weeks before he will be fully match fit.”

“He is a very influential player for Albion and we are very pleased that is again available for us.”

In other team news, midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, who signed a contract extension with the club on Friday, has shaken off sore calf muscles suffered during last weekend’s win over Blackpool.

Graham Dorrans twisted his foot in training this week and is doubtful.

Former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Steven Reid is definitely out. He starts training next week after recovering from a knee injury.

Fri 21 January, 2011

Albion look to exorcise Blackburn demons

West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo is looking for a big improvement from his side at Blackburn on Sunday.

Matteo’s men lost 3-1 at the Hawthorns to Rovers last month in a game they should have won.

“I will expect a similar type of game against Blackburn to the one that we had at the Hawthorns,” Di Matteo said.

“But playing at home they may be a bit more offensive and we will have to be aware of that.”

“We are also going to have some defenders back for this game and that is going to make us stronger than when we played them before.”

“Hopefully we can match them better on Sunday with the players that we will have back in the side.”

Defender Jonas Olsson is back to play his first Premier League game since suffering an Achilles injury against Fulham in October.

“Being without Olsson has been a blow for us,” Di Matteo said, adding: “We have badly missed him and he has been out for a long time.”

“He will not regain his match fitness in one game. It will probably take him a few weeks before he will be fully match fit.”

“He is a very influential player for Albion and we are very pleased that is again available for us.”

In other team news, midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, who signed a contract extension with the club on Friday, has shaken off sore calf muscles suffered during last weekend’s win over Blackpool.

Graham Dorrans twisted his foot in training this week and is doubtful.

Former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Steven Reid is definitely out. He starts training next week after recovering from a knee injury.

Fri 21 January, 2011