HA’WAY BACK WHEN ROKER ROCKED IN SHOCKER
SUNDERLAND 1 CARDIFF CITY 2 SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1979
Manager Billy Elliott insisted: “We’re not out of it yet”, but a shock home defeat to Cardiff City proved pivotal in dashing Sunderland’s promotion dreams.
In their penultimate match of an exciting Second Division promotion race, Sunderland were odds-on favourites to beat the visitors, who eased their fears of the drop with a welcome victory.
But, to the horror of a 36,526 Roker Park crowd, Elliott’s side slumped to a 2-1 defeat to drop from top spot to third in the space of 90 dreadful minutes.
Elliott told the Echo: “We’ve still got to believe that we can still make it by beating Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground – if one or two of the others drop points we would go up.
“I thought we had everyone in the right mood, knowing that it had to be a maximum effort all round.
But when you have three or four players just going through the motions, it makes it dificult.”
Sunderland’s performance was a million miles away from the riveting 6-2 midweek victory over Shefield United which took the Rokermen into pole position.
Elliott added: “We lost because we played badly.
“It did not help having to adjust our midfield game when Mick Buckley had to stand down, but playing in front of our biggest league crowd of the season had nothing to do with the overall display.
“I thought the crowd was wonderful – they backed the lads all the way.”
Buckley was ruled out just before kick-off, with Gordon Chisholm stepping in.
The Scot pressurised CardiffkeeperRonHealeyata corner as Sunderland looked for an early breakthrough, though the visitors went closer when Jones did well down the right and fed Stevens, whose shot came back off the Sunderland post.
Cardiff went ahead in the 26th minute when John Buchanan’s lobbed cross from the left caught Joe Bolton on the wrong side of striker Ronnie Moore, who went on to fire a fierce strike beyond the reach of keeper Barry Siddall.
Sunderland tried in vain to get back into the game before the break, with leftback Bolton going closest to an equaliser when he headed wide a cross from right-back Steve Whitworth.
Cardiff’s Dave Roberts then headed clear as Alan Brown got in a goalbound effort.
Sunderland improved on the restart and their pressure helped win a 59thminute penalty when Brown was pulled down by centreback Phil Dwyer, but Healey, diving across to his left, kept out Wilf Rostron’s spot-kick.
Siddall made a great save to deny Tony Evans a second goal for Cardiff, after Bolton raced back to put the striker under pressure in the act of shooting.
But the Welsh side did double their lead soon after, in 64 minutes, when Buchanan drove a strong shot through a crowded goalmouth and past a helpless Siddall.
Sunderland got back into it a minute later, Jackie Ashurst collecting a clearance on the left, just inside the penalty area, and he turned sharply to fire in a right-foot shot which proved too hot for keeper Healey to handle, as the ball ended in the back of the net.
Shaun Elliott then headed home a Mick Docherty freekick as Sunderland pressed hard for a leveller, but had the goal disallowed by the referee.
Then, with the hosts’ last chance, Ashurst was only inches away with a 25-yard drive.
Sunderland went on to win 2-1 at Wrexham on the final day of the season, extending their all-time unbeaten away record to 13, but ended fourth, a point behind Brighton and Stoke, while Crystal Palace won the title, a further point better off.