Short on goals and cheer as Sunderland’s slide continues
DISAPPOINTMENT for the resolute souls that populate the Stadium of Light comes almost as often as the chill winds off the North Sea that batter it.
A drab afternoon, which saw a rare appearance from Black Cats owner Ellis Short, meant both.
There was endeavour, yes, but another blank for Sunderland – their eighth in 10 matches – saw their barren run in front of goal stretch to six hours.
David Moyes’s basement dwellers earned a point when they needed three and noises from the club are that they will stand by the Scot as they rebuild.
But American Short has previous for punting managers in March and his presence for just the second time this season was a talking point for the punters, if not for Moyes.
‘If you own a football club you are entitled to watch it,’ the disappointed Scot said. ‘I spoke to Ellis Short today — I saw him this morning. All good.’
It was only after the break that Sunderland came to life, creating more chances in five minutes than they had in the first 45.
Fabio Borini, Adnan Januzaj and Seb Larsson went close but Billy Jones prompted howls of derision when he inexplicably made a meal of a Larsson’s pinpoint cross from six yards out.
‘We made the chances to win the game,’ bemoaned Moyes. ‘We didn’t finish. No fault on the players, they did everything they could.
‘In my head I have games we have to win and games I hope to draw in the run in. We’ll have to turn a draw into a win now.’
‘Both teams missed chances,’ reasoned Clarets manager Sean Dyche.
‘We are annoyed at not winning away from home,’ he added after claiming just the third point away from Turf Moor.
They could have done, but Scott Arfield saw his late shot deflected over the bar before England man Tom Heaton again denied Borini a Sunderland winner at the death.
Then came the whistle — and a chorus of boos almost as inevitable as the result.