I believe that this is the first match under the new manager, Wilkinson. Should be a good listen. Free audio available from either teams website. 10 AM kick off time.
Should be very much worth staying up to listen to from over here-- and I will, provided that my RealPlayer is working. At the very least, it should be a more competitive match than the Everton v Arsenal game we're getting on free-to-air TV here in Australia. Anyone have the direct links to the webcasts? Better early than never... Cheers, William
Sunderland: Macho, Wright, Babb, Craddock, Gray, Piper, Reyna, McCann, Kilbane, Phillips, Stewart. Subs: Quinn, Bellion, Bjorklund, Thirlwell, Ingham from www.safc.com No Flo he was left out of the 16 here is the rest of the match preview This was Howard Wilkinson's first game in league football for six years, his last coming at Elland Road in September 1996 - a 4-0 defeat against Manchester United. One of Wilkinson's main jobs was to get Sunderland to rediscover their scoring touch, as before the visit of the Hammers they had grabbed just four goals in nine Premiership games. West Ham's problems have been at the other end. They have the weakest defence in the top flight and had conceded 16 goals in eight games before today's clash. The Sunderland faithful were given a huge boost before kick off with the news that Kevin Phillips was back in business after a six-week lay-off following a hernia operation. Phillips was named alongside Marcus Stewart for the first time, with £8m striker Tore Andre Flo not included in the 16 named by Wilkinson. The news was not so good on the goalkeeping front, with Thomas Myhre failing a late fitness test to join Thomas Sorensen on the crocks' list. It meant a start for transfer-listed keeper Jurgen Macho. Wilkinson made six changes to the side that lost 3-0 at Arsenal two weeks before, Peter Reid's last in charge; with Macho, Stephen Wright, skipper Michael Gray, Matt Piper, Phillips and Stewart all coming in. Sunderland: Macho, Wright, Babb, Craddock, Gray, Piper, Reyna, McCann, Kilbane, Phillips, Stewart. Subs: Quinn, Bellion, Bjorklund, Thirlwell, Ingham
http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1084707&segment=92182 West Ham audio. Real player needed.
Since most will want the Sunderland viewpoint. http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1084702&segment=92181
First couple of minutes and nothing to much happening. No mentions of Claudio yet. West Ham struggle in the back a bit but Pearce clears it away.
Repka falls down ... Stewart pressures but a poor ball is shielded out for a goal kick by James. 13 minutes in, 0-0 Defoe tries to take on Piper, Piper pulls him down, earns a free kick ... much to the consternation of fans. Kick results on a poor shot from Di Canio.
Sunderland corner is given. James collects easily. Cole plays a poor ball to Defoe, missed hom by 10 yards atleast. Sunderland earn thier second corner of the match. Sunderland fans seem very withdrawn. James collects the corner, again.
Kilbane cross to Phillips. Strong save from James keeps this one scoreless. 18 minutes gone, 0-0. West Ham sound a bit confused in the back, much to my dismay.
Corner number three for Sunderland. From the right side, Claudio takes ... everyone misses it, Defoe plays it away. GOAL!!!!! Sinclair scores for West Ham on a great ball from Di Canio. 23 minutes in, West Ham 1 Sunderland 0
Free kick to Sunderland. Reyna to take. Two man wall for West Ham. Hits the wall, wins a fourth corner for Sunderland. Sunderland player is down. Reyna takes the corner. Scramble in front of the goal. Wide of the goal, James gathers safely. Carrick commits a foul for which he will be booked.
Joe Cole tries to get through a couple of players, earns a free kick. Minto plays it short to Di Canio. Not much happens after that. Stewart almost gets a free run at James but Lomas, I beleive, recovers in time to poke it away. Sunderland earn yet another corner. Reyna plays one in. Tough bounce for Craddock. "On another day, that is in the back of the net. Such is life." 31 minutes in, WHU 1 Sunderland 0
James gets a nudge as he goes for a punch on a cross. Ref makes the call. Sunderland supporters unhappy about that one. Defoe with a cross ... shot by Cole is away for a corner. Di Canio takes. Minto handball ends the sequence. Reyna back header into the box ... cleared away by Pearce with the left foot after a bit of a scramble. WH troubles in the back. Repka plays it safe for a Sunderland corner. Headed away by Minto.
West Ham break. Joe Cole shot, blocked and no one there to poke the rebound home. 38 minutes in WH 1 Sunderland 0 Sunderland are getting a bit more of the ball now. Lomas long ball finds Cole ... tries to bring it back on his left foot and is dispossed.
Sunderland get another corner. Yet another Sunderland corner, the eight of the half. Pearce with a knock. Yet to take the corner. Pearce to come off with a shoulder injury. As is a West Ham fan, escorted by 3 police. Appeal for a penalty as Repka knocks Phillips. Nothing given. Cole clatters into Claudio. Needless foul. WH struggling to get to the half. Two man wall. Cross comes over. Corner to Sunderland, number 9. Everyone misses it.
Sunderland sound a bit more ambitious. Phillips shot saved. James had it covered as it was straight at him. Offsides call ruins a Sunderland goal by Phillips. WH very lucky.
Sunderland are pouring on the pressure. West Ham are struggling. Cole marshalls one out of play. James to take the goal kick. Correction, Phillips offsides. Repka should be shot. or benched, which ever is easier.
Sunderland cross just misses the head of Phillips. Repka just stopped and allowed Phillips to go up for it. Did not connect. Reyna "pulling the strings for Sunderland". Sunderland knocking it about. Reyna with a give away ... resulting cross is to Di Canio who cannot get off a shot. Di Canio cross to Defoe ... manages a shot from nowhwere but goes well wide.
Sinclair ... in the box out of nowhere. Pokes it with his right foot. Wins a corner. Goes short. Sunderland eventually clear the West Ham pressure. Lomas whips one across ... misses Defoe by about four yards. Nothing really good comes from out it. Di Canio shot, parried away by Macho. This one is picking up.
Reyna plays one in and Repka just muffs it totally. Somehow Sunderland are unable to put one home. Repka and James are not on the same page at all. Quinn on for Stewart. Pearce off for Breen. About 18 minutes left to go.
Sunderland hit the post. Quinn, I beleive, half volley hits the post as everyone stands and watches. Repka clears. Cisse on for Sinclair. Phillips called for offsides. Carrick commits a foul to stop a break. Reyna just came off, a thigh problem according to the West Ham announcer.