Hull 1, Sunderland 4
Malbranque Celebrates
By The Black Cats
December 21 2008
Sunderland were deserved winners at the KC Stadium yesterday when the Black cats beat Phil Brown's high flying Hull City by 4 goals to 1. Taking Sunderland goal tally to 8 in the last 2 matches doing their goal difference no harm at all. Steed Malbranque opened the scoring in the 10th minute after Danny Collins found him 10 yards out from the edge of the Hull 18 yard box in too much space.
Malbranque made no mistakes, controlling the ball before hitting an unstoppable volley into the top left hand corner of Boaz Myhill's net.
Hull then levelled courtesy of some poor defending in a goal mouth scramble in which Martin Fulop made a cracking save. In the end the ball fell to Nick Barmby who slotted the ball home.
The game became very open and either side could have gone on to take the lead.
Sunderland stand in Captain Kieran Richardson got himself on the score sheet with a long effort which took a wicked deflection leaving the Hull City 'keeper stranded. It just goes to show, if there's nothing on have a dig - anything can happen.
Five minutes after Richardson put the wearsiders in front Sam Ricketts was sent off for a second yellow card after fouls on Steed Malbranque.
Once Hull were down to 10 men there was only going to be one winner; Sunderland.
Kenwyne Jones added a third goal with a header from 6 yards out after a great cross from The Black Cats on SportNetwork.Nets man of the match Steed Malbranque.
Djibril Cissé then sealed the win when he was put through 1 on 1 with Boaz Myhill via a great ball from that little French International again, Steed Malbranque. Cissé, always deadly in these situations made no mistakes, volleying the ball past the despairing Myhill into the corner of the net.
All in all a great performance and a great result for the lads.
Ricky Sbragia, Sunderland Caretaker Manager, has now had 3 good results since taking over from Roy Keane. I for one would be very happy if he were to be appointed next Manager.
Even the players were overheard saying "Well done Gaffer." and "Give him the job" during a post match interview. Obviously the players have a new found freedom under Sbragia and while results keep coming in long may it continue.
Ha'way The Lads!
Lucky? Deserved winners more like!