Sunderland v Leicester 11/09/99 3.00
Sunderland (1) 2 Leicester (0) 0 FT
Butler 28
McCann 82

Dark afternoon in 'The Light'

By Peter Gilbert 11.9.99

After having watched Man. Utd. and Liverpool on TV flailing away at Anfield with all the composure of a hippo at a garden party, the idea that Leicester City are in any way inferior to the so called 'big 5', appears quite ludicrous.  On our day we're a match for anyone especially teams parading over priced and over inflated playboys.

This afternoon though we knew it was never going to be such an encounter.   It was always going to be an event when we'd have to roll our sleeves up and compete in a 'no holds barred'  afternoon if we are to progress towards the conclusion we feel we so richly deserve. Stringing a few results together might enable Keegan to see beyond the end of his nose.

Sunderland;  this is real football country and the gladiatorial entrance of the two teams was absolutely breathtaking.    It makes you wonder why we can't play the Post Horn Gallop long and loud too and then perhaps we'd get fired up like this lot, most of whom were wearing their team shirt.

A marauding fiery start was what we expected and that's what we got, with both teams running around like headless chickens.   Whoever could settle first might reap a reward. Territorially City made a good start with Savage feeding Heskey who's low cross was heading for Cottee but it was cut out for a corner.   Lennon made early headway in midfield and Heskey's powerful running gave us some encouragement.
Guppy showed his class early on with great control and accurate crosses.   Elliott looked solid and Taggart was showing some intelligent touches.    Bould was booked after 10 mins. as he manhandled Heskey in desperation, so threatening was his running.
Sunderland showed their ability to break out and attack quickly when a sweeping move ended up with Quinn heading the ball into Tim Flower's grateful arms.   Summerbee showed us his crossing skills as did Gray, as they swung the ball in from the wings clearly stating their intentions.
We would need to stand firm under an aerial bombardment and Sinclair, Elliott, Taggart and Flowers looked up to the job as a unit until Elliott went down under a challenge clutching his back.   After treatment he carried on.
The officials were wearing earpieces so they could talk to each other which should be interesting.    I wonder if their ears are full of the sounds of puffing and panting especially during a ding dong battle like this which although scrappy was certainly 'end to end'.
A City corner was followed promptly by a Sunderland corner which wasn't a particularly good one but it found Butler unmarked about 10 yards out and his looping header eluded the City defence, who were pre-occupied with Quinn, and the ball found it's way into the back of the net. A bad goal to concede but it gave the Mackhems more heart with Quinn finding space and Elliott apparently struggling. in the frantic Stadium of Light atmosphere.

City's problems manifested themselves in the fact that Cottee was not being allowed to get into the game and Heskey's promising start was being snubbed out. Cottee though battled away and won a free kick on the edge of the box, but Guppy's kick struck the wall and set Sunderland away with Taggart defending well.
Martin O'Neill was struggling under a man to man marking job from the 4th official but he worked hard at inspiring his team to lift their game as half time approached.
But it remained 'even Steven's' at half time except  for the goal that had slipped in from a dubious corner.

Sunderland went straight at us at the start of the second half after one of Peter Reid's 'inspirational' little chats in the dressing room punctuated no doubt with his now famous preference for the vernacular.
We felt that if we could get our game together and play football we still might get something here but we were being hustled out of it and we were not able to assert ourselves at all.
Sunderland continued to rely on the long ball aimed at Quinn, not pretty or subtle but it was damaging us and our rhythm.   They're not a good side but they are determined to stop the opposition playing and we only struggled from their clutches sporadically.   We had started brightly but we soon fizzled out.
Taggart received a yellow card for a foul on Phillips, Cottee went off and Marshall came on which might have afforded a change in our game plan.   Maybe now it would be our turn to exert some muscle into the situation.   Certainly we did seem to immediately up the tempo which sadly resulted in Taggart receiving his second yellow card and off he went.
Sunderland players started diving about lead by Stefan Schwarz (naturally) and Robbie Savage was spoken to.   Schwarz continued to dive, it's cheating let's make no bones about it, they paid a lot for him and presumably this was what they were looking for since he didn't make any other significant contribution.
Izzett forced a full length dive from 'keeper Sorensen as he cut in from the left. With Savage dropping into defence City looked a bit light in midfield but still managed to apply some pressure and keep our hopes alive in front of the 40.000 + crowd.
Gilchrist replaced the now booked Savage and immediate Sunderland pressure brought out two top class saves from Flowers.   Moments later Sinclair kicked the ball from his own goal line.   In an instant Lennon replied with a brilliant run after an interchange with Impey, but the final shot flew just over the top.    Schwarz went off after a satisfactory afternoon of diving and he could congratulate himself on his collection of booked City players.    He received the applause warmly.'Ya I do vell- I dive - I get bookings.'
Sorensen was booked for time wasting after complaining about the ball which he wanted replacing.I bet the ref. and his assistants had a great laugh about that on their head sets. Further subs. were introduced from Sunderland as they continued to break up the play, with Quinn replaced by Dichio with 10 mins. to go.
City pushed up on the strength of a free kick but the ball broke free and Sunderland found themselves 2 on 2.    They carved an opening and the ball was slotted away by McGann after a smart exchange of play with Phillips.
Guppy replied with a shot, Heskey had a header kicked off the line by Michael Gray with barely 5 mins. to play and it all became rather desperate.
Lennon though was not going quietly and he took them on pugnaciously but to no avail. Sunderland could in fact have conceded more had it not been for Frank Sinclair- no less, clearing off the line.
A disappointing afternoon and we went home with no points and a little unhappy with our performance. Maybe the 'Break for England' did us no favours as we had been in a rich vein of form in our previous games

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Butler, Bould, Gray, Summerbee, Ball, Schwarz (Williams, 74), McCann (Roy, 86), Quinn (Dichio, 79), Phillips.

Subs not used: Marriott, Fredgaard.

Booked: Bould, Quinn, Sorensen, McCann.

Leicester: Flowers, Sinclair, Elliott, Taggart, Impey, Savage (Gilchrist, 71), Lennon, Izzet, Guppy, Heskey, Cottee (Marshall, 57).

Subs not used: Fenton, Arphexad, Zagorakis.

Booked: Taggart, Savage.

Sentoff: Taggart 62.

Attendance: 30,105.

Referee: A D'urso