Sunderland 1 Chelsea 2:REGARDING WHO had more of a day to forget, it was a toss-up between Steve Bruce and Fernando Torres. The pair narrowly edged out Niall Quinn, who felt compelled to reassure supporters he had not resigned as Sunderland chairman, despite strong rumours to the contrary.
For his part, Daniel Sturridge left clutching a tin of Quality Street. At least life was sweet for someone.
It wasn’t a bad 90 minutes’ work either for Andre Villas-Boas, who afterwards was keen to point out the extra 24 hours’ rest that Chelsea’s forthcoming Champions League opponents, Bayer Leverkusen, will enjoy before the match at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. In reality however, this match could have counted as a warm-down for the visitors, such was the ease with which they secured a seventh consecutive victory at this venue and maintained their unbeaten start to the season. That is a run that stands in stark contrast to Sunderland’s first five games, which have yet to produce a victory.
Fernando Torres will be refreshed, at least, should his services be required against the German club, though his was an enforced inactivity, the Spaniard’s thunderous features betraying his thoughts as he watched from the bench for 75 minutes as Sunderland were ruthlessly dismantled. With Raul Meireles providing a constant supply of ball from midfield in the course of an impressive debut, rarely had a single-goal winning margin seemed so comprehensive. However Bruce might like to dress it up from Sunderland’s point of view, an eighth defeat in nine home games is a record that will spell trouble for any manager.
There was to be no appearance on the scoresheet from Torres, who saw Sturridge double Chelsea’s advantage with an impish backheel. Sturridge’s forward partner, Nicolas Anelka, had won the free-kick that was thumped against the woodwork by Juan Mata in the lead-up to the opener, which was converted at the second attempt by John Terry.
Ominously for Torres, Sturridge, who missed the first part of the season through suspension but shone here, also played a part in that opening goal. Sturridge said: “The future hopefully is for me to continue in the team, and the team winning games.” The sweets were a belated birthday gift from a fan, he said, before adding: “It’s been frustrating with the ban, but it’s pleasing the manager has put his faith in me.”
How Bruce must wish for such an embarrassment of riches up front, given the departure of Asamoah Gyan on loan to Al Ain in the UAE, rather embarrassingly just 24 hours after Sunderland’s manager had insisted his record signing was staying put.
Nicklas Bendtner, with a debut to promise much despite a costly early miss, could well prove more prolific than the inconsistent Ghanaian, but it was Ji Dong-won who scored an injury-time consolation for the hosts. It was only their second goal in eight hours’ football this season. Not that many in a relatively modest crowd below 37,000 were still there to see the South Korean score from close range.
Despite a top-10 finish last May, Sunderland’s last two seasons have been blighted by post-Christmas declines. This time the malaise has set in somewhat earlier.
“I can understand people’s tensions with it,” Bruce said. “I’ll accept the flak that comes my way because I’m convinced we’ll be fine.” It will take more than bullish words from the manager to convince most.
“It’s time for a steady hand,” said Quinn, who was in the boardroom enjoying a restorative post-defeat tipple when he learned of the erroneous rumours circulating that he had, supposedly, resigned. The Sunderland chairman said: “We need a realistic appreciation of what we’re trying to achieve and a determination to see it through.”
While Quinn remains, Bruce intimated that Gyan, his move driven largely by financial motives thanks to a three-fold pay rise, had burned his bridges with Sunderland, certainly while Bruce was at the helm. That is a threat that does not carry quite as much weight as it would have done a matter of weeks ago.
Guardian Service
