No more shades of Grayson
Struggling Sunderland sack Simon as Wolves reclaim top spot
LONDON: Sunderland’s desperate start to the season in the second- tier English Championship cost manager Simon Grayson his job after a 3-3 home draw with bottom side Bolton Wanderers.
Despite Paddy McNair’s late equaliser they remained in the bottom three – a long way from the pre-season hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League – having won just once in 15 Championship matches.
Their 19-match winless home run, dating back to last December, equals the English record.
The club issued a statement almost as soon as the final whistle had sounded, confirming 47-yearold Grayson’s tenure at the club was over just four months after replacing David Moyes.
“Simon and his team have worked tirelessly to achieve the best for the football club during their time here,” read the club statement on Tuesday.
“While we hoped that Simon’s experience in the Football League would help us to a successful season, results have not been good enough for a club of this stature.
“In order for us to improve upon our current position we believe a fundamental change is necessary.”
At the other end of the table, Sheffield United’s stay at the top proved to be brief as the Blades, who had won nine of 11 matches going into the game, went down 1-0 to Queens Park Rangers.
Idrissa Sylla’s early goal gave Ian Holloway a perfect present on his 300th match in charge of the London club.
Big- spending Wolverhampton Wanderers, who lost to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, took
advantage of Sheffield United’s slip as they beat Norwich 2-0.
Goals from Willy Boly and Leo Bonatini gave the Chinese-owned club a one-point advantage over Cardiff City, who beat Ipswich 3-1, at the top of the table.
Sheffield United are third, a further point in arrears.
Bristol City maintained their superb form and stayed on the coat-tails of the top three with a 2-0 win at Fulham.
Prolific striker Bobby Reid scored his 10th goal of the season as they extended their unbeaten away run to seven games.
Derby County are also a side in form and made it four successive wins with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over a Leeds team whose blistering early- season form is now a distant memory.
Leeds slid to their fifth defeat in six matches, which may place question marks over manager Thomas Christiansen’s job.
The Leeds boss, though, could point to a controversial penalty being awarded to Derby when Tom Lawrence appeared to be fouled outside the box.