After so many great escapes, Black Cats’ luck finally runs out
David Moyes, a manager once sacked by Manchester United, still rated yesterday his “worst day in football” as Sunderland’s exit from the Premier League was finally confirmed. But at least he had plenty of time to prepare for their fate.
Josh King’s late goal for Bournemouth – and Hull’s draw at Southampton – ended a decade in the top flight for Sunderland, but their return to the Championship has appeared inevitable for most of the season.
“We want Moyes out” was the chant from Sunderland’s fans immediately after they went behind. Now they wait to see if Ellis Short accedes to their demands, because the manager’s immediate reaction to relegation suggested he wants to stay, with the club’s owner releasing a statement that, perhaps pointedly, did not mention Moyes at all.
“We need to improve, both on and off the field, and despite the bitter disappointment of today there is a strong determination to do so throughout the club,” said Short. “There is significant work to be done over the summer and when the season is concluded, we in- tend to share our plans to move forward with our supporters”.
Moyes sounded a little more upbeat. “Sunderland will bounce back in the future – there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “I would like to bounce back with them and the job now is to try and get prepared and ready.”
Given time to think, though, the Scot sounded less definitive about his plans. “We would better off talking about it in time. I’ve managed in the Championship before, but today is not the time to talk about that,” he said.
He was also reluctant to analyse what has gone wrong and his responsibility for Sunderland’s decline. He said later: “Today is the wrong time to give snap reasons. It’s a question for a week or two down the line, but I would like to make sure we get Sunderland back in the Premier League, that’s for sure.”
The reality is that Moyes’s squad were not equipped for the demands of the Premier League – and he knew it from the start of the season. “I thought they fought right to the end, but I know what a Premier League team and squad look like and I’ve felt we’ve been short of a little bit of quality,” he said.
“It would have been a frustrating manger’s chair for just about any manager – and today has been frustrating for me because I have not been able to keep them up. It’s my worst day in football.
“I hoped it would never come around, so I am disappointed for the supporters and disappointed we couldn’t give them what they wanted.
“They come in their thousands week in, week out and I know cash isn’t easy in this part of the world, so we appreciate every penny they put into the club watching the team.
“My thoughts are with them and I’m just sorry we couldn’t do a better job. We are also concerned about a lot of people involved with the club. They are important as well.”
Whoever is in charge next season will face a formidable task unless Short releases money for new players. Looking at their current squad, it could be some time before they return to the Premier League, but at least they did show some fight here, literally so when player as from both teams squared up to each other after Fabio Borini flattened Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook.
Sunderland even threatened to score a rare goal, particularly when Jermain Defoe, on target 14 times this season, was on a one-man mission in the first-half to end a drought that stretches back nearly three months.
Borini also had two shots saved by Artur Boruc, but Bournemouth went closest to a breakthrough when King hit the inside of the post and he eventually claimed the winner in the 88th minute from Ryan Fraser’s cross.
Moyes said: “The performance didn’t matter – it was about the result. But we made four or five decent chances. We had nine men injured and still played as well as they can do. There is no criticism of their effort and commitment.
“I think we’ve had a period where we’ve had some good games and not picked up points. Our performances have probably improved but not our points total.”
Eddie Howe, the Bournemouth manager, said: “I have sympathy for Sunderland and the position they are in. I thought their supporters were really good for them and their team gave everything.
“They only lost the game because of their sheer will to win, which meant we were able to catch them on the counter-attack. David is an outstanding manager and I think he will come back from this.” The win moved Bournemouth into the top half of the table and left them with 41 points. “It’s massive for this football club to get to the 40-point mark. I’m delighted with the result, but not so pleased with the performance.”