Sunderland: Premier League season review 2014/15
Sunday 24 May 2015 21:15, UK
We look back on Sunderland's 2014/15 campaign, with top quotes, stats and pundit views...
Sunderland
Finishing position: 16th (-2 on last season)
Total points: 38 (same as last season)
FA Cup: Knocked out in fifth round by Bradford City
Capital One Cup: Knocked out in third round by Stoke
Season review
“No more miracles and no more suffering,” was Gus Poyet’s pledge ahead of the 2014/15 campaign, after somehow keeping Sunderland in the Premier League with a dramatic run of results at the end of last season. Despite going winless in their first six this term, five draws – including a 1-1 with Manchester United and 2-2 with Tottenham – suggested Sunderland were on course for a better season, with a subsequent 3-1 win over Stoke appearing to be the breakthrough they needed.
However, humiliation followed with an 8-0 drubbing at Southampton. Creditably Sunderland showed character to come back from that defeat, valiantly losing to Arsenal before winning 3-1 at Crystal Palace. Five draws and a loss at home to Manchester City followed before Adam Johnson scored a last-minute winner against Newcastle to move Sunderland up to 14th, four points clear of the relegation zone. The ship appeared to have been stabilised – but that was as good as it got for Poyet. Despite signing Jermain Defoe in January, Sunderland managed just one win – against Burnley – in their 12 Premier League games after the derby, and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Bradford. Poyet’s tenure ended with a 4-0 home defeat at Aston Villa, in which all the goals came in the first half, sparking a mass exodus from the Stadium of Light. Experienced Dutchman Dick Advocaat was quickly installed, with Sunderland just one point above the drop zone.
Advocaat’s reign started with defeat at West Ham but, after returning from the international break, Sunderland scored a vital morale-boosting win over rivals Newcastle, with Defoe netting one of the goals of the season to seal a fifth straight Tyne-Wear derby win. A 4-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace suggested Sunderland’s derby delight may have once again been a false dawn, but incredibly the Black Cats bounced back and a five-game undefeated run left them celebrating survival at Arsenal with one match to spare.
Star player: Costel Pantilimon
There were few stand-out performers for Sunderland throughout the campaign, but goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon deserves huge credit for his role in their survival. The former Manchester City shot-stopper helped the Black Cats keep an impressive total of 11 clean sheets, three of which came in the final four games of the season as they clinched survival. The 28-year-old also saved 76.43 of the shots he faced - the highest ratio of any goalkeeper to have made more than 25 appearances this season.
Quotes of the season
“It’s the most embarrassing time I’ve had on a football pitch. I learned a lot about the players - the bad side as some gave up and I know who they are for the future” – Gus Poyet after an 8-0 defeat to Southampton
“I’ve never been in tears before but this was for a special reason” – Dick Advocaat couldn’t help crying after Sunderland drew with Arsenal to seal their survival
“Words can’t describe how I felt, it was quite emotional for some reason. It was a massive game and I just wanted to do well. The lads have worked so hard and put the effort in, I think that is why it was emotional, I just wanted the three points so badly and I am delighted we got them" – Jermain Defoe after his winner against Newcastle brought him to tears
Stats of the season
- Sunderland have had fewer shots (408) than any other Premier League side
- Lee Cattermole received his 14th booking of the season against Leicester, the joint-most in a Premier League season, level with Mark Hughes, Robbie Savage and Cheick Tioté
- The Black Cats have won five successive league derbies against Newcastle United for the first time in their history.
Niall Quinn's view
"Things looked very bad six weeks ago. Dick Advocaat came in to a demoralised dressing room and a demoralised stadium. He's come in and organised them. It's been Tony Pulis-like, in that he stopped them knocking the ball around for the sake of it and got them going more direct. He's brought a belief into it and taken a lot of the panic and emotion out of what Sunderland do. He's very matter of fact and straight-talking and he got them switched down a bit."
