Sunderland

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Sunderland legend Marco Gabbiadini described the Black Cats as a 'Benidorm Man City' after their loss against Millwall at the weekend.

As a pundit on BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport, the former striker responded to a text criticising the Club's coaching staff: "Sometimes formations, I don't particularly care too much. This is a modern thing where coaches blow their own trumpet about.

"It's more about your attitude, your application to the game and Sunderland's problem on Saturday was that, one of the basic things you were taught when I was a young player was, if there was space in front of you, you ran into it.

"You ran into that space and you took that space from the opposition. So, if you picked the ball up on the halfway line and there was nobody in front of you, you travelled that 15 yards, as much as you could, as quick as you could, so then it caused the problems.

"Then they had to, someone either had to shuffle across the midfield or somebody had to come out from the back four to challenge you or they dropped off and marked all of the other players and let you have the ball. Then, when you get to the goal then that's a different problem because then they have to come in and gauge and stop you from having a shot.

"But every time we got the ball, all we did was look for the next pass. Every time.

"Now, that's admirable if...

"I had this analogy in my head at the weekend. You know when you go to Benidorm and you see the Elvis singer? You know what he's trying to do but he looks a bit like Elvis and he sounds a bit like Elvis.

"I think we're like Man City. We're the Benidorm Man City.

"We're trying to play this type of football, which we saw fail for Man City the other night by the way against one of the top teams in the world, because all they did was shut up shop.

"So, it doesn't matter how many passes you've had. If you don't get behind or cause danger or shoot at the goal and make the goalkeeper make saves or people block things, you don't get anywhere.

"And that's what our issue at the moment is that, we're trying to be something that we can't be because we haven't got the tempo, the passing speed, the leg speed to do those things but what can you do instead?

"Well that's the problem that the coach has got because for me, we might as well just try and play as much football as we can in the final third and get there as quick as we can but that goes against everything that this Club's been about for the last two or three seasons.

"That is for me what the issue is, is that Millwall were totally happy with us having the ball. We could have had the ball for 95% of that possession on Saturday if they could have let us do that because they just didn't care about it.

"They were just waiting for those opportunities and sadly it came from a little incident where I thought it was a freekick actually. The referee tried to play an advantage and we lost it straight away and then they were on us. But, it's bad."

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Martin O'Neill has been appointed as the Chair of the League Manager Association to succeed Howard Wilkinson, who will be retiring at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The Irishman grew up as a Sunderland supporter and managed the Black Cats from 2011-2013. During O'Neill's tenure at the Stadium of Light, he enjoyed notable wins over Man City and Liverpool in the Premier League alongside knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup.

He was sacked after a run of eight games without a win left Sunderland just one point above the relegation zone with seven games remaining in the season. Paolo Di Canio took over and the Black Cats survived the drop.

O'Neill also took charge of Northern Ireland, Aston Villa and Celtic among plenty others during his managerial career.

How do you remember O'Neill's time at Sunderland? Have your say here.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentary duo Nick Barnes and Gary Bennett have been immortalised as Lego figurines after a season of milestones for the pair.

Saturday's loss to Millwall marked Benno's 1,000th game commentating on the Black Cats, a feat Barnesy achieved earlier in the season away to Stoke. This is also the duo's 20th year together.

Sharon Cutter and family have created replicas of the commentary team in Lego form with former Sunderland captain Benno in his iconic Vaux-era red and white stripes and Barnesy showing off his signature tweed.

We asked for your reaction to Sunderland's 1-0 loss to Millwall. Here are some of your comments:

Paul: This guy Dodds has got to go. Since he took over they have gone into virtual free fall. Like most after last season we had high hopes and the management has gone from average to poor. At 66 I can’t wait much longer!!!!

Jim: Par for the course ex-player returns and scores the winner! Sooner this season finishes the better.

Malcolm: Over 40,000 paying customers every home game and the management serve this tepid fare. The decision, if it can be dignified thus, to make do with Mike Dodds until next season is a bit of an insult to fans who turn up, home and away, in vast numbers. The aim, surely, is to win every game rather than just “get through” to the end of a season?

Stan: 6 points from last 27 is a season average of 31 points for 46 games, so on current form down to league 1 in April next year. Sorry days.

David: Just typical Sunderland, two ex-players on the opposition’s team sheet one of them scores against us. It’s a joke. Seriously has anyone ever run any stats on this.

Colin: I just want this season to end, it has been an absolute disaster, a team that lacks quality, skill, experience, a sense of direction, leadership and guidance, the sooner KLD & Speakman are out of this club the better.

Richard: Inept. Muddled selections led to poor play. We have excellent defenders, when fit. Except for Neil, Clarke, Rigg and disappearing Roberts the remainder are very poor. I hope for a major change in Management at the end of season.

Jeff: I will go as far as to say this team simply cannot play at their own Stadium. You can blame the fans, the refereeing and even the opposition because they turned up. Sheffield Wednesday will be playing for their lives, another defeat is likely.

Gary: Yet again no penetration in the final third and caught on the break, then away team simply sit in and defend, this has to be addressed before next season or we will be relegated it’s that simple.

Nigel: Limping into the end of the season. I hope the club hierarchy have plans in place for a new manager and plan to fill the obvious gap(s) in the squad. The status quo is doing the young players a disservice.

Johnny: Just end the season. KLD and Speakman have a big summer ahead.

Duncan Watmore came back to haunt Sunderland as the former Black Cats forward scored the deciding goal in Millwall's 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light.

It puts an end to a recent upturn in form and a good run of clean sheets from Mike Dodds' side.

News of Dan Neil's injury broke before the game but Corry Evans made his first appearance after a long time sidelined.

What did you think of the result and the performance? Have your say here.

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An ankle injury picked up in training means Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil will miss the rest of the season.

In a statement on the Club website, The Black Cats say: "Sunderland AFC confirms that Dan Neil will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

"The midfielder has enjoyed another stellar campaign in the Sky Bet Championship, but an ankle injury sustained in training rules him out of the Club’s final three league fixtures.

"Neil will continue his rehabilitation throughout the summer and he is expected to return to action in pre-season."

Nick Barnes has completed his commentary notes for Sunderland v Millwall.

The BBC Radio Newcastle commentator for the Black Cats' beloved colourful books have been published and been part of exhibitions in the past.

You can hear commentary from Barnesy alongside Gary Bennett for Sunderland v Millwall on BBC Radio Newcastle on Saturday from 15.00 BST.

We asked for your predictions and general pre-match thoughts ahead of Sunderland v Millwall. Here are some of your comments:

Linda: Sunderland's last several games hasn't been very good. I therefore think if not a 0-0 draw, Millwall may win by 1 goal. Sunderland, pull your act together for next season!

Darren: This season sees me err on the negative side of things. Since Mowbray left the performances have been mostly poor. Yes, we've found some solidity at the back, but our strikers are sadly lacking. I'm going for another. Having said that I'll say we'll scrape a 1-0 win in a pretty dour game, though watch Honeyman and Watmore spoil the party.

Richard: Scrappy 1-0 (own goal) win.

Colin: Another clean sheet but will we find the net? I think we will, so 2-0 win.

• Sunderland are unbeaten across their last five league games against Millwall (W1 D4), with three of the last four meetings between these two sides finishing 1-1.

• Millwall have won just one of their last ten away league games against Sunderland (D3 L6), whilst two of the Lions’ losses in that time have seen them concede exactly six goals.

• Sunderland have failed to win any of their last five home league games (D2 L3); the Black Cats haven’t endured a longer such run since a run of six matches which ended in January 2021.

• Millwall have lost each of their last three away league games and will be looking to avoid recording four in succession for the first time since September 2019.

• Former Sunderland forward Duncan Watmore has scored two goals in his last three league appearances for Millwall, after only netting once across his first 28 Championship outings this season.

Mike Dodds has spoken to Nick Barnes ahead of Sunderland v Millwall.

The interim head coach has given an update on the returns of Dennis Cirkin and Corry Evans alongside a reflection on the Black Cats' recent form and an assessment of Saturday's visitors.

You can also listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds here.

Sunderland host Millwall at the Stadium of Light this Saturday with the chance to climb into the top half of the Championship.

After five clean sheets in their last six games, The Black Cats have found some solid form to finish the 2023-24 campaign. If results go their way, Mike Dodds' side could finish the weekend in 11th.

With just three games left to go, Sunderland have nothing to fight for with the play-offs and relegation both now ruled out.

Millwall are in a similar mid-table position, relatively safe from dropping into League One but finishing in the bottom three is still mathematically possible.

What are your general pre-match thoughts and predictions? Have your say here.

Sunderland legend Marco Gabbiadini has shared his thoughts on Sunderland's 1-0 away win against West Brom.

As a pundit on BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport, Marco said: "I was surprised how poor West Brom are.

"If you think that they're a team that are probably in a similar position to what we were last season and they just... I kept having to check the table because you just looked at them and thought what on earth are you about here.

"Even before the sending off, they didn't really take the game to us. They didn't cut us open. They didn't really show any intent. Players were slow to the ball.

"Jack Clarke again came into the side. He had a good performance against Leeds the other night and again he was carrying the ball metres and metres and metres before anyone was really engaging him.

"In the end, maybe their frustration, was borne out in those two challenges which caused the red card.

"It was a strange afternoon. A, because of how poor West Brom were and probably how we didn't have to do too much either. They didn't really try to hurt us in the second half.

"We did our job. We kept it tight. We played some nice stuff at times. I thought Bellingham was excellent up front again, made himself available all the time.

"We didn't really have to go and put too much pressure on. Neither team really mounted a great amount of pressure during the game for a 10 or 15 minute spell or anything like that but, you know a nice way to win.

"Sometimes you just do get games like that where you cruise through it, everyone does their job and they deserved it with a fine goal."

We asked for your reaction to Sunderland's 1-0 win against West Brom. Here are some of your comments:

Alex: Rigg at 16 is showing great potential, I hope we can hold onto him. The clean sheets are encouraging too even if we should have got one or two more against ten men. Let’s hope the Millwall game has us moving up the table.

Milo: Is this a win I see before me? Wasn't particularly pretty but a win is a win...

Peter: Well done Mike Dodds turning Sunderland back to winning ways.

Ian: I thought it was a very professional performance. They did the basics well and Patterson had a fairly comfortable afternoon.

Malcolm: What might have been sums up my feelings about a thoroughly botched season.

Colin: Well it was three points against 10 men, but it still doesn't cover up this teams deficiency, I only hope and pray next season is a vast improvement, but I'm not holding my breath.

Jim: Pleasantly surprised and happy to keep another clean sheet.

Richard: Solid performance. Where would we be with a centre forward? Should have speculated by loaning Moore from Bournemouth.

Alex: Very professional performance. A little nervy for a spell ten minutes from time.

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Dan Ballard says being booed by West Brom fans gave him a boost during Sunderland's 1-0 win at The Hawthorns.

The defender received a hostile reception from the Baggies' supporters after a strong challenge on Josh Maja in the reverse fixture left the striker side-lined with injury.

Ballard says the reaction is 'fair enough' and 'fans can do what they want' but admitted he felt tired going into the game and the boo during his first touch inspired a better performance.

You can listen to the full interview here.

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Sunderland's interim head coach has reflected on his side's win away against West Brom.

The Black Cats' boss emphasised the importance of a professional performance and admitted he would have liked a better attacking intent but liked the lack of involvement from goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

You can listen to the full interview here.

Pierre Ekwah earned Sunderland a 1-0 win over 10-man West Brom at the Hawthorns.

The French midfielder netted in extra time of the first half shortly after Brandon Thomas-Asante was dismissed for the home side, picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Dan Ballard.

The result also means it's Sunderland's fifth clean sheet in six games.

What did you think of the result and the Black Cats' performance? Have your say here.

Nick Barnes has completed his iconic commentary notes ahead of Sunderland's trip to West Brom.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator is famous for his colourful book that has been published in the past and showcased in museums.

You can hear Barnesy's commentary alongside Black Cats legend Gary Bennett on BBC Radio Newcastle on FM, DAB and Freeview from 15:00 BST.