Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Sunderland 0 Blackpool 2

Sunderland were made to pay the ultimate price for a series of embarrassing misses as Blackpool's DJ Campbell helped maintain the newly-promoted Tangerines' spectacular start to the life in the Premier League. The player, who first tasted top flight action when Black Cats boss Steve Bruce brought him to Birmingham City, scored twice in the second half to earn his side yet another win on the road. Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was able to draft the in-form Lee Cattermole and Danny Welbeck straight back into the starting line-up for this afternoon's Barclays Premier League clash with Blackpool. Skipper Cattermole missed the Boxing Day trip to Manchester United through suspension, while Welbeck was ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement with the Old Trafford club. They were joined by David Meyler as Cristian Riveros, Steed Malbranque and Bolo Zenden dropped to the bench alongside Titus Bramble, who was included after six weeks out with a knee injury. Blackpool manager Ian Holloway replaced the suspended Charlie Adam with Ludovic Sylvestre and was also able to call upon a long-term absentee as Alex Baptiste returned to the bench after knee surgery with the Seasiders tasting action for the first time since December 11. The game, assistant referee Sian Massey's first in the Premier League, began at a brisk tempo with the home side attempting to make an early impact in the wake of their 2-0 defeat at United.
It was Blackpool who took the lead with 52 minutes gone after Phillips forced Bardsley to concede a right-wing corner.David Vaughan played the corner short to Neil Eardley, who cut inside on to his left foot to send in a cross which Ian Evatt flicked on for Campbell to volley home from close range. The visitors might have increased their lead within a minute when Phillips fired in a rasping shot which flew just wide of Gordon's right post. Sunderland were stung back into life and launched a series of raids deep into enemy territory, but too often their final ball lacked the required quality to trouble Kingson and his defenders. There was little wrong with Henderson's firmly-struck 58th-minute cross to the near post, by Gyan could not keep the ball down as he slid in to meet it. Bruce immediately made his move when he replaced Meyler with Kieran Richardson in the search for greater creativity. However, the visitors might have increased their lead twice within a minute as the home side wilted. (Daily Mail)