SUNDERLAND 1 CITY 1
League Division 1
3rd November 1990
Attendance 23,137
scorers
City White(52)
Sunderland Davenport(27)
Ref M Peck
City Coton, Harper. Pointon, Reid, Hendry, Redmond, White, Heath, Quinn, Megson, Ward – Subs Allen(60), I Brightwell(unused)
Sunderland Norman, Kay, Hardyman, Bennett, Ball, Owers, Bracewell, Armstrong, Davenport, Gabbiadini, Cullen – Subs Brady(57), Ord(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
IAN MURTAGH WRITING IN THE NEWCASTLE EVENING CHRONICLE 5TH NOVEMBER 1990
Sunderland Defender Kevin Ball will this week dig deep into the record books, yet in his heart he knows it is a pointless exercise.
The solid central defender was a member of the Portsmouth side which suffered relegation in their first season in the top flight three years ago and with Roker now hovering just one place and one point above the danger zone, Ball’s mind momentarily recalled that previous brief encounter with the First Division.
He said: “It should be interesting to see where Portsmouth were after 13 games but really there is no comparison between that team and Sunderland.
I’ve said all along that we’re a far better side and I think this result has just proved that.2
Mild satisfaction rather than disappointment at two home points thrown away was the general mood in the Roker camp after the 1-1 draw with much improved Manchester City.
Added Ball: “This match has answered a few questions. Everyone knows we have played well this year without getting the points our performances deserve. But I’m sure the fans were wondering how we would react to that 6-0 drubbing at Derby. We might not have won but the lads have proved there is a lot of character in the side. Defeat was unthinkable but we showed we can compete and almost beat a team doing well this season.”
That Sunderland failed to hand City their first league defeat since the opening day of the campaign owed as much to poor finishing as the moment of madness by Tony Cullen which presented them the equaliser.
So keen to impress on his recall, Cullen tried to dribble the ball out of defence only to lose possession to Neil Pointon and from Mark Ward’s cross David White scored.
But long before Peter Davenport had notched up his fifth goal for the club, Sunderland should have been ahead, Marco Gabbiadini, who’s finishing did not match his approach work, allowed Tony Coton to smother his shot when clean through in the fourth minute while Gordon Armstrong wasted a clear shooting chance from 18 yards out.
After the break, although substitute Kieran Brady miskicked from close range and Gabbiadini missed the target with a free header, the visitors too, had their chances and could indeed have won but for Ball’s, timely intervention on the line to keep out Niall Quinn’s goal-bound effort.
Roker boss Dennis Smith might well Rue Sunderland’s lack of reward so far this season but anything other than a draw would have been unfair for either side.
