Moyes’ worst day as Black Cats drop
Sections of supporters call for Sunderland manager to go after they are relegated to Championship, writes Steven Morrissey
DAVID Moyes suffered his worst day in football as Sunderland’s 10-year stay in the Premier League drew to a painful conclusion.
Yesterday’s 1-0 home defeat by Bournemouth – who had not won away from home since December 31 – coupled with Hull’s draw at Southampton condemned the Black Cats to the drop with four games remaining. The Black Cats nearly had a reprieve when Southampton were awarded a penalty for Alfred N’Diaye’s foul on Maya Yoshida, but Dusan Tadic’s stoppage-time spot-kick was saved by Eldin Jakupovic.
Moyes, who had admitted the club was in a relegation fight as early as August 21 after defeat by Middlesbrough in just the second game of the campaign, afterwards described the day as the most difficult of his managerial career.
He said: “Yes, yes, it’s the worst day. I hoped it would never come around at any time but I’m disappointed for the supporters, disappointed that we couldn’t give them more.
“They come here in their thousands week in, week out, they travel in their thousands as well. I know that cash isn’t easy up this part, so I appreciate every penny they put into the club by watching the team.”
Josh King’s 88th-minute strike settled a game of little quality and prompted fresh calls from sections of the home fans for Moyes to go.
He had insisted in the run-up to the game that he wanted to stay and continue with his longterm plan to address the problems which have blighted the club in recent years, but was in no mood to make snap decisions in the immediate aftermath of a devastating defeat.
Aside from King, Jamie Vardy was the only other player on target in the Premier League’s four 3pm kick-offs, the England striker’s fine goal two minutes before halftime earning Leicester a 1-0 win at West Brom.
Shinji Okazaki intercepted a back-pass and slid in Vardy for a superb lofted finish over Ben Foster as the champions’ revival under Craig Shakespeare continued.
The match between Stoke and West Ham at the bet365 Stadium finished 0-0.
In the late kick-off, Burnley registered their first success on the road this season and eased their relegation fears as goals from Ashley Barnes and Andre Gray secured a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.
Barnes struck after just eight minutes, and Tom Heaton kept Palace at bay before substitute Gray hit a late second from George Boyd’s excellent pass.
Meanwhile in League Two, Colchester beat relegated Leyton Orient 3-1 in bizarre circumstances, with the last five minutes played out in front of an empty stadium after an earlier announcement said the game had been abandoned.
United had been leading 3-1 when the Matchroom Stadium contest was suspended by referee Carl Boyeson after 85 minutes because of a crowd invasion involving about 750 people. Orient fans staged a sit-down protest calling for owner Francesco Becchetti to quit the club, forcing the referee to bring the players off the field.