RED-HOT ROKER OFF TO A FLIER
SUNDERLAND 3 SOUTHAMPTON 1 SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1984
Sunderland turned on the style to give real optimism to the Roker fans on the opening day of the 1984/85 First Division campaign.
Southampton, runnersup the previous campaign, were put to the sword in the sunshine as Len Ashurst’s new-look Sunderland side kicked off in positive fashion.
Ashurst handed debuts to four men – Gary Bennett, Steve Berry, Howard Gayle and Clive Walker – and the crowd of 18,152 lapped up a bright and breezy first-day performance.
Geoff Storey, in the Echo, was enthused by the Wearsiders’ efforts, talking up “an attacking display reminiscent of just over a decade ago when Sunderland lifted the FA Cup”.
Sunderland needed just two minutes to force Peter Shilton – so often a hero for visiting sides at Roker Park – to pick the ball out of the back of the net.
Incredibly, debutant Bennett got the goal two minutes into what proved to be a long association with the club.
Shilton made a brilliant save to keep out Colin West’s powerful, early header, spectacularly turning it over the bar after Gordon Chisholm’s finely judged cross to the back post.
From the corner, Sunderland were ahead. The flag-kick was forced out to right-back Barry Venison, whose centre was slid home by Bennett, to the delight of an ecstatic home crowd.
Saints were rocked, and they were soon in disarray as Sunderland doubled their lead six minutes later.
Nick Pickering made a crucial interception as the Rokermen defended a corner and he led the breakaway.
Venison raced from well inside his own half and, though he had Bennett up in support, he neatly sidestepped two challenges before going on to expertly beat Shilton with a cracking finish.
Saints’ Joe Jordan headed a Wallace centre against the bar as the visitors tried in vain to stay in the game.
But Sunderland killed off the game with a third goal on 71 minutes.
Mark Wright was pulled up for a foul on Colin West and the resulting set piece saw Mark Proctor assume command, curling a stunning shot from 22 yards into the top corner, leaving Shilton clutching at thin air.
Saints finally pulled one back a minute from time, beating an inspired Chris Turner. David Armstrong’s delightful close control took him past three defenders, and he calmly pushed his eventual shot out of Turner’s reach.