Boo-rini! A point but fans vent fury
Beleaguered Moyes target of protests despite point for Sunderland
ON the day that Sunderland finally scored a goal and ended their losing run, their supporters finally turned on manager David Moyes. It has, remarkably, taken 32 matches for anger to replace apathy among fans and there was no doubting the target of their dissent.
For every time the boss ventured into his technical zone it fired up the band, a chorus of ‘ We want Moyes out’ the song of choice. Even when he caught a loose ball late in the game it sparked a fresh round of jeers, as if reminding Moyes that an improved performance had done little to quell unrest.
And Sunderland were better, albeit in the context of not being able to get much worse. They scored for the first time in 11 hours and 41 minutes and, thanks to Fabio Borini’s 90th- minute equaliser, moved to within nine points of safety with six matches left.
But forget about the mathematical permutations, Sunderland are down and their fans know it.
Moyes has presided over a miserable season and the only surprise is that it has taken this long for the crowd to turn.
The Scot said: ‘I heard them (the fans), it’s to be expected. The team aren’t doing well now so I have to accept that. They deserve to take their frustration out on somebody, and obviously that’s the manager. I have no issue with it.’ But he added: ‘I just remember to myself that I have the third or fourth best win record in the Premier League.’
What he has this season, however, is the worst record in the Premier League and his team are headed for the Championship.
Sunderland were trailing to Andre Ayew’s fifth-minute opener when the boos began and the identity of the man who brought parity — the recalled Wahbi Khazri — merely added to the irritation on the terraces, for this was the Tunisian’s first start since October.
James Collins restored the visitors’ advantage after the break before substitute Borini blasted home at the death. His celebration — a knee-slide in front of the dugout — wore the look of frustration with his manager. But Moyes said: ‘I don’t care where they celebrate, I’m just delighted they scored.’
Sunderland might even have nicked a win after West Ham’s Sam Byram was sent off inside stoppage-time, a trip on Adnan Januzaj earning him a second booking.
There were 10 minutes added after Borini’s goal following a head injury to Sunderland’s Billy Jones — he was taken to hospital suffering from concussion — but the draw was a fair outcome.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic agreed. ‘ When you are leading twice you are disappointed not to win, but I have to say it was a fair result,’ he said. The Hammers didn’t have to work awfully hard for their early breakthrough. Sam Byram sent a cross to the far post where Andy Carroll returned with a miss-kick. The hosts had neglected the presence of Ayew — lurking unmarked in the six-yard area — and he toed home.
Khazri levelled on 26 minutes when his corner eluded all inside the goalmouth before bouncing into the back of the net via the post. There was suspicion of a foul by Victor Anichebe on goalkeeper Darren Randolph, but the freak nature of the goal had perhaps distracted referee Andre Marriner.
Khazri was denied a second when Randolph snaffled his low steer towards the bottom corner, while at the other end Ayew hooked over from close range after Carroll had again returned a Byram cross.
That was a let-off for the hosts but they had no such luck within two minutes of the start of the second half. Again, it was all so simple. Robert Snodgrass centred a rightwing corner and Collins headed in from four yards.
But West Ham faded thereafter and Khazri led the home revival, firing on to the roof of the net from distance before teeing up Didier Ndong, who skied over the bar.
In the end it was an error by Randolph which presented Borini with his chance, the keeper flapping clear to the edge of the area where the Italian returned with interest into the bottom corner.
His celebration was certainly of interest, too. Has Moyes lost some of his players as well