Watmore lives up to his billing and has Big Sam dreaming of safety for Sunderland
SAM ALLARDYCE warned that it could take time for his impact to be felt at the Stadium of Light. Really, Sam?
Six weeks into his Wearside tenure, the Black Cats are out of the bottom three for the first time this season.
Here is proof, if ever it was needed, of the influence a manager can have. The squad Allardyce inherited had been robbed of its selfbelief by Dick Advocaat’s decision to quit, as he feared a first relegation of his career.
Allardyce is another who has never been demoted from the top flight and, on recent evidence, it is a record he is set to protect.
Yes, Sunderland were aided here by Mike Dean’s harsh decision to dismiss Ryan Shawcross early in the second half, but they also made their own luck thanks to the daring raids of man of the match Duncan Watmore, a first-half replacement for the injured Jermain Defoe.
Allardyce tried to play down the hype surrounding the 21-yearold on the eve of the game, pulling a grimace when he was reminded of Defoe’s comparison of Watmore with Gareth Bale. But after he forced the challenge that saw Shawcross sent off and then smashed the gameclinching second goal, Allardyce was happy to shower his young winger with the praise he undoubtedly deserved.
‘A new contract, an Honours degree and now the winning goal — we just have to keep his feet on the ground, eh?’ said the Sunderland boss.
‘But I had no hesitation in bringing him on when Jermain was injured. The impact of Duncan
was the major factor in us winning the game.
‘He caused them so many problems. They had to resort to fouling him and that got Ryan Shawcross sent off. I thought the decision was fair enough.’
Shawcross had already been booked for a foul on Steven Fletcher when, just two minutes after half-time, he appeared to nick the ball with Watmore threatening to break clear on goal.
Dean thought different and his decision incensed Stoke manager Mark Hughes.
‘The ref should use common sense,’ he said. ‘Ryan feels he got a touch on the ball and he should have given him the benefit of the doubt.
‘Even at that point I didn’t think they created a great deal of problems for us.
‘They needed another break to win the game because the ref got the decision for the free- kick (which led to Sunderland’s first goal) totally wrong. Adam Johnson dived to jump out of a non-tackle.’
From the free-kick Johnson rolled the ball to Patrick van Aanholt and the wing-back hammered it into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Watmore then skipped clear before firing beyond Jack Butland from a narrow angle to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since May. Allardyce said: ‘We had to find two pieces of outstanding quality to win the game.
‘But we have got goals in the team and Duncan has added his name to that.
‘We’re not getting carried away though. Confidence is great and this lifts everyone.
‘But we have to try to continue to improve. I don’t want to do what they have had to do in last four years and win huge amounts of games late in the season.’ With Allardyce, you get the feeling they could be safe before then.