ANICHEBE GAMBLE PAYS OFF FOR MOYES
IN Victor Anichebe, David Moyes might have found the most unlikely source to power Sunderland’s Premier League life support.
The striker with a profligate goal record, unwanted by any other club and a last resort for Sunderland, proved to be the battering ram behind their first Premier League win on Saturday.
Anichebe shrugged off Simon Francis to hammer in an unstoppable equaliser and then won the penalty for Jermain Defoe’s winner — all achieved with a cracked rib suffered in the first half.
Moyes rolled the dice on the 28-year-old, taking on a free agent in whom he saw something at Everton despite a record of just 24 goals in 189 Premier League appearances. ‘It was a little bit of a gamble,’ Moyes admitted. ‘But the transfer deadline had gone and we hadn’t got a striker, so in the back of my mind I always felt that we could bring Victor in.
‘I’d have liked to have added another striker before and it wasn’t to be. His goalscoring record wasn’t really the thing I was bringing him for. There weren’t many but I’ve always believed in Victor.’
The fans have taken to him, too. ‘You see how long the fans travel for each game, sometimes I think it’s crazy but it’s their love for the club,’ said Anichebe.
Eddie Howe was frustrated to see his Bournemouth side lose out to the league’s basement side, particularly given their dominance on Saturday.
He withdrew £15million Jordon Ibe at half-time — the 11th time he has done so in 11 games this season. ‘ Jordon has struggled with consistency,’ Howe said.
SUPER STAT: Anichebe is only the third player to score a Premier League goal for Sunderland this season, after Jermain Defoe and Patrick van Aanholt. BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Boruc 6; Smith 6, Francis 5, Cook 5, Daniels 6; Gosling 7, Arter 6 (Mousset 77min); Stanislas 7 (Fraser 81), Wilshere 7.5, Ibe 4.5 (Afobe 46, 5.5); King 6. Subs not used: Federici, Mings, Ake, Pugh. Booked: Arter, King, Smith. Scorer: Gosling 11. SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Pickford 8; Jones 6, Djilobodji 6.5, Kone 7, Van Aanholt 7; Watmore 8.5 (Love 90), Ndong 6.5, Pienaar 4.5, McNair 6.5 (Denayer 72, 6.5); Anichebe 7.5, Defoe 6.5 (Gooch 90). Subs not used: Mika, Januzaj, Manquillo, Khazri. Booked: Pienaar, Anichebe, Gooch. Sent off: Pienaar. Scorers: Anichebe 33, Defoe 74 (pen). Man of the match: Duncan Watmore. Referee: Mike Dean 7.