Re: How's Your FIFA Career Mode Going?
Sunderland AFC
2015/16
JANUARY
FA Cup
Sunderland 1-0 Exeter
89' Rodwell
Sunderland left it late to beat Exeter City at home in their FA Cup encounter, Jack Rodwell heading in the winner from Duncan Watmore's deep cross.
The Grecians resisted wave after wave of Black Cats attack for close to 90 minutes, nearly forcing a replay that could have seen them ultimately progress to the fourth round of the cup.
Jermain Defoe suffered a minor calf strain early in the second half but is expected to be fit for Aston Villa.
Premier League
Sunderland 2-0 Aston Villa
45' Buckley
72' Defoe
Will Buckley's opener and Jermain Defoe's late free kick proved enough to help Sunderland pick up all three points against relegation strugglers Aston Villa.
Playing at home on the back of a confident FA Cup win, Sunderland poured forward in attack, very rarely allowing Villa considerable time on the ball.
Black Cats boss Indi Blue chose to rest Costel Pantilimon for the first time in the league this season, giving Vito Mannone a much-awaited debut.
MARQUEE SIGNING
Wesley Sneijder bags £17.5 million deal with Sunderland
Sunderland have signed former Inter Milan midfielder and Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder from Galatasaray on a two-year deal worth a reported £100,000 per week.
Sneijder, who would have been a free agent in the summer and was free to speak with other clubs as early as January 1, will wear the number 10 shirt and occupy a key role with Indi Blue's Sunderland side. The Dutchman is expected to slot right into the first team, having made over 25 appearances for Galatasaray this season in all competitions.
"I'm very happy to be joining Sunderland," said the former Real Madrid player at his official unveiling. "I've wanted to play in the Premier League for a long time, so it's nice to have another dream of mine come true. I'm looking forward to working with a brilliant manager and some gifted teammates."
Premier League
Tottenham 0-3 Sunderland
62' Sneijder
82' Sneijder
87' Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder scored a hat-trick on his Sunderland debut, becoming the first player in Premier League history to achieve the feat with three successfully converted penalties, as the Black Cats crushed Tottenham 3-0.
Sunderland won their first spot kick when Sneijder was fouled by Hugo Lloris. Eric Dier then gave away two more late on, getting himself sent off in the process.
The win means Sunderland have done the double over Spurs for the first time in over 50 years.
FA Cup
Arsenal 2-3 Sunderland
9' Buckley
14' Alexis
34' Lens
74' Giroud
90' Rodwell
Jack Rodwell scored late on to seal Sunderland's thrilling 3-2 win against Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Will Buckley gave the visitors an early lead before Alexis Sánchez equalised shortly thereafter. Jeremain Lens put Sunderland 2-1 up before the break, but Olivier Giroud headed in Arsenal's second with just over 15 minutes left.
Rodwell then evaded two markers to bring down Buckley's soaring cross with a silky touch, before coolly slotting past a helpless Petr Čech.
Premier League
Swansea 1-1 Sunderland
29' Sigurðsson
88' Coates
Sebastián Coates headed in his first goal for Sunderland to rescue a point at a rainy Liberty Stadium in Swansea.
The home side had taken a relatively early lead with yet another sublime free kick from Iceland superstar Gylfi Sigurðsson, and it seemed they would manage to hold on for a victory that would have put them nine points clear of the relegation heap.
Uruguay defender Coates ruined those chances with a thundering header from Jeremain Lens' free kick.
P22: W10 D5 L7 (5th)
DEADLINE DAY
Emanuele Giaccherini's £2.1 million move to Nantes is off over a wage issue
Liverpool have signed Lee Cattermole from Sunderland for £4.7 million
Athletic Club have resisted a £10 million bid from Sunderland for Iñaki Williams
Jordi Gómez has left Sunderland for Italian side Frosinone for just £1 million
Aston Villa have signed Wes Brown on a free after he was released by Sunderland
FEBRUARY
Premier League
Liverpool 1-2 Sunderland
58' Sneijder
63' Sneijder
90' Lallana
Wesley Sneijder scored twice to help Sunderland do the double over Liverpool, and made it five goals in two starts since his transfer from Galatasaray.
The Dutchman scored his first after making a run that allowed Jermain Defoe to set him up cleanly. His second was a stunning free kick from 32 yards, curling the ball around the wall and into the far corner.
Adam Lallana scored a late consolation, bringing his personal tally to 12 goals in all competitions.
Premier League
Sunderland 1-1 Bournemouth
24' Fletcher
37' Arter
Harry Arter's equaliser cancelled out Steven Fletcher's intelligent goal, allowing Bournemouth to hold on for a rare point away from home to Sunderland.
Fletcher faked a pass to an onrushing Will Buckley, forcing his marker to abandon him, giving the Scot enough time to pick out his spot and put the ball cleanly into the back of the net.
Arter restored parity not 15 minutes later, sliding onto the end of Callum Wilson's through ball to secure a draw.
FA Cup
Rotherham 1-2 Sunderland
7' Derbyshire
34' Watmore
82' Fletcher
Duncan Watmore and Steven Fletcher combined to score two goals that helped Sunderland beat Rotherham United and progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Matt Derbyshire gave the Yorkshire-based home side an early lead, but Watmore was put through by Fletcher and kept his composure to restore parity before the break. The young Englishman returned the favour late on, lofting in a cross for Fletcher to head home with relative ease.
Sunderland will face Chelsea in the next round.
Premier League
Sunderland 3-1 Manchester City
11' Sneijder
52' Buckley
58' Buckley
84' Otamendi
Will Buckley illuminated the Stadium of Light, scoring two of Sunderland's three goals (including the winner) as the Black Cats romped to a dominant and significant win over Manchester City.
Wesley Sneijder scored his sixth goal in five games to open Sunderland's tally before Buckley showcased his immense growth this season with two superb solo efforts. The Oldham native's progress under his former coach at Brighton has been a highlight of Sunderland's season.
Nicolás Otamendi picked up City's only goal.
Premier League
Sunderland 0-1 Manchester Utd
21' Thiago
Thiago Alcântara netted his first goal for Manchester United since signing from Bayern Munich in January to help the Red Devils register a much-needed win over Sunderland.
United, who were previously winless in three games, are chasing qualification for the Champions League. This victory puts them in fourth place ahead of local rivals Manchester City.
Younès Kaboul had a rare poor game, failing to register a single tackle or interception while registering a 36% pass completion rate.
P26: W12 D6 L8 (7th)
MARCH
Premier League
Southampton 1-2 Sunderland
4' Davis
42' Lens
65' Defoe
Jermain Defoe scored in front of a capacity crowd at St. Mary's as Sunderland re-ignited their charge for European football.
Steven Davis curled in his fifth of the season to give the Saints an early lead. Jeremain Lens then restored parity just before the break. The resulting blow to home morale allowed Defoe to creep in behind unnoticed and score one of his easiest goals all season.
The result bumps Southampton down to a dismal 11th place.
Premier League
Sunderland 2-1 Everton
11' Fletcher
32' Barkley
81' Lens
Jeremain Lens scored a superb late winner to help Sunderland beat Everton at the Stadium of Light.
Steven Fletcher and Ross Barkley both netted in the first half, forcing the match into a more controlled space as both sides tried to remain tight at the back.
But it was the Dutchman who had the last laugh, dribbling expertly past John Stones and flicking the ball past Phil Jagielka to round Tim Howard and pass into an empty net.
FA Cup
Chelsea 2-4 Sunderland
2' Defoe
19' Costa
42' Costa
48' M'Vila
51' Sneijder
73' Rodwell
Sunderland staged one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the FA Cup to qualify for the semi-finals at Chelsea's expense.
Jermain Defoe score in the second minute to boost the visitors' morale, but a Diego Costa brace sent Sunderland into the break with a question mark on their confidence. In the second half, long-range goals from Yann M'Vila and Jack Rodwell sandwiched Wesley Sneijder's game-winning free kick.
Chelsea have now lost just twice in all competitions this season.
Premier League
Newcastle 1-0 Sunderland
27' Cissé
Papiss Demba Cissé scored from the spot as Newcastle United picked up a first win in seven Tyne-Wear derbies.
The Senegal striker brought his tally for this Premier League season to 11 goals with a clever routine, stuttering in his run-up before sending the ball hurtling down the middle.
Sunderland were unable to find a reply despite having nearly an hour to do so. Yann M'Vila and Jermain Defoe were particularly laboured after their stellar performances against Chelsea.
P29: W14 D6 L9 (4th)
APRIL
Premier League
Sunderland 1-1 West Brom
30' Sneijder
81' Gardner
Craig Gardner's late equaliser against his former side helped West Brom draw at Sunderland, extending the Baggies' undefeated streak to five games.
Wesley Sneijder scored yet another free kick in the first half, and Sunderland's watertight defence ensured that the 1-0 lead stood for as long as possible. However, they were powerless to prevent Gardner from scoring a free kick of his own to rescue a point.
Lynden Gooch made a late cameo to record his 10th appearance this season.
Premier League
Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace
21' Lens
33' Fletcher
81' Gayle
Sunderland continued their unexpected surge towards Champions League qualification with a routine home win against Crystal Palace.
Jeremain Lens poked in the first after being teed up by Will Buckley. The Dutchman then broke down the right from a Palace set piece, spotting Steven Fletcher's clever run to deliver a sumptuous cross directly onto the Scot's left foot for a simple finish.
Dwight Gayle scored a late goal to set up a nervous ending that Sunderland saw out.
Premier League
Sunderland 2-0 Leicester
3' Kaboul
66' Fletcher
Younès Kaboul bagged his first goal for Sunderland in his 40th appearance, and helped the Black Cats record a clean sheet against Leicester.
Steven Fletcher scored Sunderland's second after being subbed on for Jermain Defoe, who will miss the FA Cup semi-final at West Brom through a minor ankle injury.
Leicester had their best chance of the night when Jamie Vardy's accurate cross found Shinji Okazaki in acres of space, only for the Algerian to sky his shot.
FA Cup
West Brom 2-0 Sunderland
33' Rondón
37' Rondón
Salomón Rondón scored twice in quick succession to help West Bromwich Albion knock Sunderland out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage.
Sunderland, without Jermain Defoe through injury, looked to Steven Fletcher as their spearhead with Danny Graham on the bench. But a rare collapse in team performance levels allowed the Venezuelan forward to out-muscle and out-pace Sunderland's defence to register a four-minute brace.
Indi Blue was visibly annoyed with the result, refusing to speak with the press.
Premier League
West Ham 2-2 Sunderland
29' Valencia
36' Kouyate
51' Defoe
58' Defoe
Jermain Defoe scored twice against his boyhood club as Sunderland clawed back from 2-0 down to draw at West Ham.
Enner Valencia's penalty and Cheikhou Kouyate's header put the Hammers in control, but a late dismissal for Mark Noble opened up their midfield. Wesley Sneijder obliged, exploiting the space to set up Defoe for a second-half brace.
Unfortunately, Sneijder was stretchered off just before injury time with a knee injury. He was taken to hospital for scans and tests.
CRITICAL INJURY
Sneijder season ends with ACL damage
Wesley Sneijder was today ruled out for the rest of the season after Sunderland's talisman was found to have torn his anterior cruciate ligament.
The Dutch attacking midfielder, who will undergo surgery to repair the damage, is expected to return to training in time for the start of the next season, with a full recovery earmarked for the middle of September.
"I'm so sorry to all our fans. I'm going to recover and come back stronger. Let's get behind the boys now!" Sneijder posted on Instagram with a photo of him sitting on a bed and watching a match featuring his former team Ajax.
Sneijder's injury is expected to have an adverse impact on Sunderland's season. The maestro was the focal point of the Black Cats' attack, and has registered eight goals and five assists in 15 appearances across all competitions.
Premier League
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
27' Buckley
Sunderland claimed a home win against Arsenal in the absence of Wesley Sneijder, whose season ended with an ACL tear at West Ham.
Will Buckley, taking up Sneijder's role, scored the only goal with a well-timed run into the box. The Englishman met a lovely cutback from Charis Mavrias, starting wide left where Buckley normally plays.
Arsenal, still reeling from a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Juventus in their Champions League semi-final, were unable to conjure any decisive chances.
Premier League
Stoke 1-2 Sunderland
39' Lens
61' Bojan
71' Lens
Jeremain Lens scored a sensational pair of free kicks to help Sunderland continue their winning ways, this time away at Stoke City.
Lens' opener was a straightforward effort from 21 yards out, curling past Jack Butland and into the top corner. The second was a more beautiful goal, taken around the wall and going in off the crossbar.
Bojan picked up Stoke's equaliser after Lens' first, beating Valentin Roberge for pace and skill before placing the ball past Costel Pantilimon.
P35: W18 D8 L9 (3rd)
MAY
Premier League
Norwich 1-1 Sunderland
26' Redmond
71' Lens
Chelsea confirmed their retention of the Barclays Premier League crown, beating Bournemouth 2-0 as Jeremain Lens rescued a point for Sunderland at Norwich City.
Nathan Redmond gave the home side a deserved advantage, but a lapse in judgment from Robbie Brady allowed Lens to soar through unmarked for a late opportunity. Sunderland were unable to muster a winning goal despite creating several more chances.
The draw also all but confirms Norwich's own relegation to the Championship.
Premier League
Sunderland 0-2 Chelsea
42' Hazard
88' Hazard
Eden Hazard scored a sensational brace to help Chelsea win and put Sunderland at risk of losing out on Champions League football next season.
The tricky Belgian scored first from distance, cutting in past Adam Matthews before unleashing a finessed shot into the far corner. His second was a venomous shot from the edge of the box, set up by a clever hoick from John Terry.
Sunderland need a point in their final match at Watford to finish in fourth.
Premier League
Watford 1-0 Sunderland
70' Capoue
Etienne Capoue's clumsy goal helped Manchester City ensure Champions League qualification at Sunderland's expense.
The Black Cats, suffering a delayed-onset hangover from Wesley Sneijder's injury, failed to register a shot on target all game and will now play in next season's Europa League from the group stage onwards.
City thumped Swansea 3-1 courtesy a Wilfried Bony hat-trick to finish a point ahead of Sunderland, for whom the final league position is still a considerable success.
P38: W18 D9 L11 (5th)
SEASON RECAP
Final Table
1. Chelsea – 93
2. Arsenal – 82
3. Manchester Utd – 73
4. Manchester City – 64
5. Sunderland – 63
6. Everton – 55
7. Liverpool – 54
8. Newcastle – 54
9. Tottenham – 50
10. Crystal Palace – 50
11. Leicester – 47
12. West Brom – 46
13. Swansea – 46
14. Southampton – 42
15. Aston Villa – 42
16. Watford – 38
17. West Ham – 35
18. Stoke – 30
19. Bournemouth – 29
20. Norwich – 28
Promoted from Championship
Fulham, Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday
Golden Boot
Alexis Sánchez, Arsenal (18)
Golden Glove
Petr Čech, Arsenal (16)
Key Players
Pantilimon kept 10 clean sheets and was named the league's player of the season. Sturdy.
Kaboul captained us commendably and started all 38 league fixtures. Reliable.
Buckley, Rodwell, Defoe, Lens and Sneijder together have 50 goals and 22 assists. Quintet.
END-OF-SEASON PRESSER
Fifth place. Much higher than anyone expected of Sunderland. Surprised?
Not entirely. These players are a lot better than our last few league finishes suggest. And we did get rid of the toxicity surrounding the club. I think all that set us up nicely for a top-half finish. But as anyone involved with this club will tell you, signing Wesley in January swung things entirely in another direction. We started winning games that we'd normally have drawn or lost.
Some people would say you're punching above your weight.
I disagree. I'd say this is the level both Sunderland and Newcastle ought to be aiming for. You can't have stadiums that fill up with 50,000 fans every week and finish 15th, 16th, 17th season after season. You can't have the resources of a Premier League club and not recruit the right players. Give credit to Ellis Short for realising these things and making efforts to rectify.
You still won games you shouldn't have won.
Of course we did. That's why you sign players like Sneijder, don't you? To give you that extra edge. Without him, we were playing at a higher level than the club has been at for the past few years. But it was still nowhere near our best. Wes came in and suddenly, everyone was performing better than maximum. When you have a catalyst like him who can raise the level of the other 10 players, you know you've hit the transfer market jackpot.
Sneijder is undoubtedly world-class. But your thoughts on Will Buckley?
Bucks has grown incredibly since we last worked together at Brighton, and his progress this season has been remarkable. Everything from his passing and dribbling to his shooting and awareness has improved to a level where he's able to contribute in every phase of play. I think he's probably grown more than any of us over the last nine or ten months.
You started the season playing on the break, tried to be tidier with the ball as it went on, and ended playing outright possession football.
It's the natural progression of our players. As I saw improvement across the board in training, I brought in drills and tactics that focused more on having the ball. And once Wes came in to complete the picture, there was no reason to keep limiting ourselves. What you see now is how we want to be remembered and recognised.
Is that something you've been working on for the Europa League?
Not specifically, no. But I wouldn't be telling the whole truth if I didn't admit that it's influenced me to some degree. To do well in Europe, you need to pay attention to what you do in midfield and the final third. That's why we try to move the ball about quickly, keep our options open in attack, and get back to our holding shape as we transition to defence.
Speaking of which, what are your thoughts on failing to qualify for the Champions League?
To finish one point short hurts irrespective of what your goals were or who you are. Knowing you came so close to achieving something so great yet lost out by the skin of your teeth, that's never easy. But at the same time, it gives us tremendous motivation to push for that success next season.
There's been a lot of talk about a mass clear-out this summer.
Sounds to me like you're starting to believe your own gossip columns! There will be a few additions and a couple of departures, but nothing drastic. We have a solid team. Strengthening the core and adding depth to our ranks should be enough to help us keep making progress. I believe in the players at my disposal, so why waste money on personnel I don't need to sign?
Will you be bringing Yann M'Vila back to the club permanently?
Yann has been a key player for us this season, but he doesn't fit with the direction we're heading in. He'll head back to Rubin Kazan and we won't be making a move to renew his loan or bring him in on a fresh contract. We all wish him nothing but the best for whatever he chooses to do next.
Thanks, everyone. Unfortunately that's all I have time for. See you in July!
MANAGER'S THOUGHTS
What. A. Season.
If you had handed me a fifth-place finish with 18 wins at the start of the season, I'd have bit your hand clean off. Yeah, we miss out on Champions League football by a hair, but it's something to look forward to. Plus, this gives us an opportunity to win the Europa League and make history. I'm really excited for the end of August so I can find out who my group stage opponents will be. Fingers crossed we get one of the famous Italian clubs!
Transfer-wise, I will be moving on a bunch of deadwood players like O'Shea, Roberge and Jones. Mannone will leave so he can get regular action, and Larsson is someone who's dispensable now that I know what I need from my midfield. Vergini will return from loan and be shown the door for good this time, and Giaccherini has already asked to leave. Fletcher is the only one I'm not sure of, but for a decent price I could definitely be persuaded.
I'm also clear on recruitment. A high-calibre centre back to partner Kaboul and a midfield general are priority. Then there's the matter of a deputy for Pantilimon, a utility player, backup for Sneijder in case he gets hurt again, and a physically gifted striker in case Fletcher gets sold. Once that's done, I can look at rounding out my reserves and possibly upgrading elsewhere.
To do all this, the board has given me a grand total of £36 million with a further £150,000 added to our existing wage budget. Moving out a lot of the deadwood will help bump up that wage budget and let us bring in some really good talent. It's going to be a very exciting summer on Wearside!
Thanks for reading this super-long post. You guys are mint.
2015/16
JANUARY
FA Cup
Sunderland 1-0 Exeter
89' Rodwell
Sunderland left it late to beat Exeter City at home in their FA Cup encounter, Jack Rodwell heading in the winner from Duncan Watmore's deep cross.
The Grecians resisted wave after wave of Black Cats attack for close to 90 minutes, nearly forcing a replay that could have seen them ultimately progress to the fourth round of the cup.
Jermain Defoe suffered a minor calf strain early in the second half but is expected to be fit for Aston Villa.
Premier League
Sunderland 2-0 Aston Villa
45' Buckley
72' Defoe
Will Buckley's opener and Jermain Defoe's late free kick proved enough to help Sunderland pick up all three points against relegation strugglers Aston Villa.
Playing at home on the back of a confident FA Cup win, Sunderland poured forward in attack, very rarely allowing Villa considerable time on the ball.
Black Cats boss Indi Blue chose to rest Costel Pantilimon for the first time in the league this season, giving Vito Mannone a much-awaited debut.
MARQUEE SIGNING
Wesley Sneijder bags £17.5 million deal with Sunderland
Sunderland have signed former Inter Milan midfielder and Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder from Galatasaray on a two-year deal worth a reported £100,000 per week.
Sneijder, who would have been a free agent in the summer and was free to speak with other clubs as early as January 1, will wear the number 10 shirt and occupy a key role with Indi Blue's Sunderland side. The Dutchman is expected to slot right into the first team, having made over 25 appearances for Galatasaray this season in all competitions.
"I'm very happy to be joining Sunderland," said the former Real Madrid player at his official unveiling. "I've wanted to play in the Premier League for a long time, so it's nice to have another dream of mine come true. I'm looking forward to working with a brilliant manager and some gifted teammates."
Premier League
Tottenham 0-3 Sunderland
62' Sneijder
82' Sneijder
87' Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder scored a hat-trick on his Sunderland debut, becoming the first player in Premier League history to achieve the feat with three successfully converted penalties, as the Black Cats crushed Tottenham 3-0.
Sunderland won their first spot kick when Sneijder was fouled by Hugo Lloris. Eric Dier then gave away two more late on, getting himself sent off in the process.
The win means Sunderland have done the double over Spurs for the first time in over 50 years.
FA Cup
Arsenal 2-3 Sunderland
9' Buckley
14' Alexis
34' Lens
74' Giroud
90' Rodwell
Jack Rodwell scored late on to seal Sunderland's thrilling 3-2 win against Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Will Buckley gave the visitors an early lead before Alexis Sánchez equalised shortly thereafter. Jeremain Lens put Sunderland 2-1 up before the break, but Olivier Giroud headed in Arsenal's second with just over 15 minutes left.
Rodwell then evaded two markers to bring down Buckley's soaring cross with a silky touch, before coolly slotting past a helpless Petr Čech.
Premier League
Swansea 1-1 Sunderland
29' Sigurðsson
88' Coates
Sebastián Coates headed in his first goal for Sunderland to rescue a point at a rainy Liberty Stadium in Swansea.
The home side had taken a relatively early lead with yet another sublime free kick from Iceland superstar Gylfi Sigurðsson, and it seemed they would manage to hold on for a victory that would have put them nine points clear of the relegation heap.
Uruguay defender Coates ruined those chances with a thundering header from Jeremain Lens' free kick.
P22: W10 D5 L7 (5th)
DEADLINE DAY
Emanuele Giaccherini's £2.1 million move to Nantes is off over a wage issue
Liverpool have signed Lee Cattermole from Sunderland for £4.7 million
Athletic Club have resisted a £10 million bid from Sunderland for Iñaki Williams
Jordi Gómez has left Sunderland for Italian side Frosinone for just £1 million
Aston Villa have signed Wes Brown on a free after he was released by Sunderland
FEBRUARY
Premier League
Liverpool 1-2 Sunderland
58' Sneijder
63' Sneijder
90' Lallana
Wesley Sneijder scored twice to help Sunderland do the double over Liverpool, and made it five goals in two starts since his transfer from Galatasaray.
The Dutchman scored his first after making a run that allowed Jermain Defoe to set him up cleanly. His second was a stunning free kick from 32 yards, curling the ball around the wall and into the far corner.
Adam Lallana scored a late consolation, bringing his personal tally to 12 goals in all competitions.
Premier League
Sunderland 1-1 Bournemouth
24' Fletcher
37' Arter
Harry Arter's equaliser cancelled out Steven Fletcher's intelligent goal, allowing Bournemouth to hold on for a rare point away from home to Sunderland.
Fletcher faked a pass to an onrushing Will Buckley, forcing his marker to abandon him, giving the Scot enough time to pick out his spot and put the ball cleanly into the back of the net.
Arter restored parity not 15 minutes later, sliding onto the end of Callum Wilson's through ball to secure a draw.
FA Cup
Rotherham 1-2 Sunderland
7' Derbyshire
34' Watmore
82' Fletcher
Duncan Watmore and Steven Fletcher combined to score two goals that helped Sunderland beat Rotherham United and progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Matt Derbyshire gave the Yorkshire-based home side an early lead, but Watmore was put through by Fletcher and kept his composure to restore parity before the break. The young Englishman returned the favour late on, lofting in a cross for Fletcher to head home with relative ease.
Sunderland will face Chelsea in the next round.
Premier League
Sunderland 3-1 Manchester City
11' Sneijder
52' Buckley
58' Buckley
84' Otamendi
Will Buckley illuminated the Stadium of Light, scoring two of Sunderland's three goals (including the winner) as the Black Cats romped to a dominant and significant win over Manchester City.
Wesley Sneijder scored his sixth goal in five games to open Sunderland's tally before Buckley showcased his immense growth this season with two superb solo efforts. The Oldham native's progress under his former coach at Brighton has been a highlight of Sunderland's season.
Nicolás Otamendi picked up City's only goal.
Premier League
Sunderland 0-1 Manchester Utd
21' Thiago
Thiago Alcântara netted his first goal for Manchester United since signing from Bayern Munich in January to help the Red Devils register a much-needed win over Sunderland.
United, who were previously winless in three games, are chasing qualification for the Champions League. This victory puts them in fourth place ahead of local rivals Manchester City.
Younès Kaboul had a rare poor game, failing to register a single tackle or interception while registering a 36% pass completion rate.
P26: W12 D6 L8 (7th)
MARCH
Premier League
Southampton 1-2 Sunderland
4' Davis
42' Lens
65' Defoe
Jermain Defoe scored in front of a capacity crowd at St. Mary's as Sunderland re-ignited their charge for European football.
Steven Davis curled in his fifth of the season to give the Saints an early lead. Jeremain Lens then restored parity just before the break. The resulting blow to home morale allowed Defoe to creep in behind unnoticed and score one of his easiest goals all season.
The result bumps Southampton down to a dismal 11th place.
Premier League
Sunderland 2-1 Everton
11' Fletcher
32' Barkley
81' Lens
Jeremain Lens scored a superb late winner to help Sunderland beat Everton at the Stadium of Light.
Steven Fletcher and Ross Barkley both netted in the first half, forcing the match into a more controlled space as both sides tried to remain tight at the back.
But it was the Dutchman who had the last laugh, dribbling expertly past John Stones and flicking the ball past Phil Jagielka to round Tim Howard and pass into an empty net.
FA Cup
Chelsea 2-4 Sunderland
2' Defoe
19' Costa
42' Costa
48' M'Vila
51' Sneijder
73' Rodwell
Sunderland staged one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the FA Cup to qualify for the semi-finals at Chelsea's expense.
Jermain Defoe score in the second minute to boost the visitors' morale, but a Diego Costa brace sent Sunderland into the break with a question mark on their confidence. In the second half, long-range goals from Yann M'Vila and Jack Rodwell sandwiched Wesley Sneijder's game-winning free kick.
Chelsea have now lost just twice in all competitions this season.
Premier League
Newcastle 1-0 Sunderland
27' Cissé
Papiss Demba Cissé scored from the spot as Newcastle United picked up a first win in seven Tyne-Wear derbies.
The Senegal striker brought his tally for this Premier League season to 11 goals with a clever routine, stuttering in his run-up before sending the ball hurtling down the middle.
Sunderland were unable to find a reply despite having nearly an hour to do so. Yann M'Vila and Jermain Defoe were particularly laboured after their stellar performances against Chelsea.
P29: W14 D6 L9 (4th)
APRIL
Premier League
Sunderland 1-1 West Brom
30' Sneijder
81' Gardner
Craig Gardner's late equaliser against his former side helped West Brom draw at Sunderland, extending the Baggies' undefeated streak to five games.
Wesley Sneijder scored yet another free kick in the first half, and Sunderland's watertight defence ensured that the 1-0 lead stood for as long as possible. However, they were powerless to prevent Gardner from scoring a free kick of his own to rescue a point.
Lynden Gooch made a late cameo to record his 10th appearance this season.
Premier League
Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace
21' Lens
33' Fletcher
81' Gayle
Sunderland continued their unexpected surge towards Champions League qualification with a routine home win against Crystal Palace.
Jeremain Lens poked in the first after being teed up by Will Buckley. The Dutchman then broke down the right from a Palace set piece, spotting Steven Fletcher's clever run to deliver a sumptuous cross directly onto the Scot's left foot for a simple finish.
Dwight Gayle scored a late goal to set up a nervous ending that Sunderland saw out.
Premier League
Sunderland 2-0 Leicester
3' Kaboul
66' Fletcher
Younès Kaboul bagged his first goal for Sunderland in his 40th appearance, and helped the Black Cats record a clean sheet against Leicester.
Steven Fletcher scored Sunderland's second after being subbed on for Jermain Defoe, who will miss the FA Cup semi-final at West Brom through a minor ankle injury.
Leicester had their best chance of the night when Jamie Vardy's accurate cross found Shinji Okazaki in acres of space, only for the Algerian to sky his shot.
FA Cup
West Brom 2-0 Sunderland
33' Rondón
37' Rondón
Salomón Rondón scored twice in quick succession to help West Bromwich Albion knock Sunderland out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage.
Sunderland, without Jermain Defoe through injury, looked to Steven Fletcher as their spearhead with Danny Graham on the bench. But a rare collapse in team performance levels allowed the Venezuelan forward to out-muscle and out-pace Sunderland's defence to register a four-minute brace.
Indi Blue was visibly annoyed with the result, refusing to speak with the press.
Premier League
West Ham 2-2 Sunderland
29' Valencia
36' Kouyate
51' Defoe
58' Defoe
Jermain Defoe scored twice against his boyhood club as Sunderland clawed back from 2-0 down to draw at West Ham.
Enner Valencia's penalty and Cheikhou Kouyate's header put the Hammers in control, but a late dismissal for Mark Noble opened up their midfield. Wesley Sneijder obliged, exploiting the space to set up Defoe for a second-half brace.
Unfortunately, Sneijder was stretchered off just before injury time with a knee injury. He was taken to hospital for scans and tests.
CRITICAL INJURY
Sneijder season ends with ACL damage
Wesley Sneijder was today ruled out for the rest of the season after Sunderland's talisman was found to have torn his anterior cruciate ligament.
The Dutch attacking midfielder, who will undergo surgery to repair the damage, is expected to return to training in time for the start of the next season, with a full recovery earmarked for the middle of September.
"I'm so sorry to all our fans. I'm going to recover and come back stronger. Let's get behind the boys now!" Sneijder posted on Instagram with a photo of him sitting on a bed and watching a match featuring his former team Ajax.
Sneijder's injury is expected to have an adverse impact on Sunderland's season. The maestro was the focal point of the Black Cats' attack, and has registered eight goals and five assists in 15 appearances across all competitions.
Premier League
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal
27' Buckley
Sunderland claimed a home win against Arsenal in the absence of Wesley Sneijder, whose season ended with an ACL tear at West Ham.
Will Buckley, taking up Sneijder's role, scored the only goal with a well-timed run into the box. The Englishman met a lovely cutback from Charis Mavrias, starting wide left where Buckley normally plays.
Arsenal, still reeling from a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Juventus in their Champions League semi-final, were unable to conjure any decisive chances.
Premier League
Stoke 1-2 Sunderland
39' Lens
61' Bojan
71' Lens
Jeremain Lens scored a sensational pair of free kicks to help Sunderland continue their winning ways, this time away at Stoke City.
Lens' opener was a straightforward effort from 21 yards out, curling past Jack Butland and into the top corner. The second was a more beautiful goal, taken around the wall and going in off the crossbar.
Bojan picked up Stoke's equaliser after Lens' first, beating Valentin Roberge for pace and skill before placing the ball past Costel Pantilimon.
P35: W18 D8 L9 (3rd)
MAY
Premier League
Norwich 1-1 Sunderland
26' Redmond
71' Lens
Chelsea confirmed their retention of the Barclays Premier League crown, beating Bournemouth 2-0 as Jeremain Lens rescued a point for Sunderland at Norwich City.
Nathan Redmond gave the home side a deserved advantage, but a lapse in judgment from Robbie Brady allowed Lens to soar through unmarked for a late opportunity. Sunderland were unable to muster a winning goal despite creating several more chances.
The draw also all but confirms Norwich's own relegation to the Championship.
Premier League
Sunderland 0-2 Chelsea
42' Hazard
88' Hazard
Eden Hazard scored a sensational brace to help Chelsea win and put Sunderland at risk of losing out on Champions League football next season.
The tricky Belgian scored first from distance, cutting in past Adam Matthews before unleashing a finessed shot into the far corner. His second was a venomous shot from the edge of the box, set up by a clever hoick from John Terry.
Sunderland need a point in their final match at Watford to finish in fourth.
Premier League
Watford 1-0 Sunderland
70' Capoue
Etienne Capoue's clumsy goal helped Manchester City ensure Champions League qualification at Sunderland's expense.
The Black Cats, suffering a delayed-onset hangover from Wesley Sneijder's injury, failed to register a shot on target all game and will now play in next season's Europa League from the group stage onwards.
City thumped Swansea 3-1 courtesy a Wilfried Bony hat-trick to finish a point ahead of Sunderland, for whom the final league position is still a considerable success.
P38: W18 D9 L11 (5th)
SEASON RECAP
Final Table
1. Chelsea – 93
2. Arsenal – 82
3. Manchester Utd – 73
4. Manchester City – 64
5. Sunderland – 63
6. Everton – 55
7. Liverpool – 54
8. Newcastle – 54
9. Tottenham – 50
10. Crystal Palace – 50
11. Leicester – 47
12. West Brom – 46
13. Swansea – 46
14. Southampton – 42
15. Aston Villa – 42
16. Watford – 38
17. West Ham – 35
18. Stoke – 30
19. Bournemouth – 29
20. Norwich – 28
Promoted from Championship
Fulham, Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday
Golden Boot
Alexis Sánchez, Arsenal (18)
Golden Glove
Petr Čech, Arsenal (16)
Key Players
Pantilimon kept 10 clean sheets and was named the league's player of the season. Sturdy.
Kaboul captained us commendably and started all 38 league fixtures. Reliable.
Buckley, Rodwell, Defoe, Lens and Sneijder together have 50 goals and 22 assists. Quintet.
END-OF-SEASON PRESSER
Fifth place. Much higher than anyone expected of Sunderland. Surprised?
Not entirely. These players are a lot better than our last few league finishes suggest. And we did get rid of the toxicity surrounding the club. I think all that set us up nicely for a top-half finish. But as anyone involved with this club will tell you, signing Wesley in January swung things entirely in another direction. We started winning games that we'd normally have drawn or lost.
Some people would say you're punching above your weight.
I disagree. I'd say this is the level both Sunderland and Newcastle ought to be aiming for. You can't have stadiums that fill up with 50,000 fans every week and finish 15th, 16th, 17th season after season. You can't have the resources of a Premier League club and not recruit the right players. Give credit to Ellis Short for realising these things and making efforts to rectify.
You still won games you shouldn't have won.
Of course we did. That's why you sign players like Sneijder, don't you? To give you that extra edge. Without him, we were playing at a higher level than the club has been at for the past few years. But it was still nowhere near our best. Wes came in and suddenly, everyone was performing better than maximum. When you have a catalyst like him who can raise the level of the other 10 players, you know you've hit the transfer market jackpot.
Sneijder is undoubtedly world-class. But your thoughts on Will Buckley?
Bucks has grown incredibly since we last worked together at Brighton, and his progress this season has been remarkable. Everything from his passing and dribbling to his shooting and awareness has improved to a level where he's able to contribute in every phase of play. I think he's probably grown more than any of us over the last nine or ten months.
You started the season playing on the break, tried to be tidier with the ball as it went on, and ended playing outright possession football.
It's the natural progression of our players. As I saw improvement across the board in training, I brought in drills and tactics that focused more on having the ball. And once Wes came in to complete the picture, there was no reason to keep limiting ourselves. What you see now is how we want to be remembered and recognised.
Is that something you've been working on for the Europa League?
Not specifically, no. But I wouldn't be telling the whole truth if I didn't admit that it's influenced me to some degree. To do well in Europe, you need to pay attention to what you do in midfield and the final third. That's why we try to move the ball about quickly, keep our options open in attack, and get back to our holding shape as we transition to defence.
Speaking of which, what are your thoughts on failing to qualify for the Champions League?
To finish one point short hurts irrespective of what your goals were or who you are. Knowing you came so close to achieving something so great yet lost out by the skin of your teeth, that's never easy. But at the same time, it gives us tremendous motivation to push for that success next season.
There's been a lot of talk about a mass clear-out this summer.
Sounds to me like you're starting to believe your own gossip columns! There will be a few additions and a couple of departures, but nothing drastic. We have a solid team. Strengthening the core and adding depth to our ranks should be enough to help us keep making progress. I believe in the players at my disposal, so why waste money on personnel I don't need to sign?
Will you be bringing Yann M'Vila back to the club permanently?
Yann has been a key player for us this season, but he doesn't fit with the direction we're heading in. He'll head back to Rubin Kazan and we won't be making a move to renew his loan or bring him in on a fresh contract. We all wish him nothing but the best for whatever he chooses to do next.
Thanks, everyone. Unfortunately that's all I have time for. See you in July!
MANAGER'S THOUGHTS
What. A. Season.
If you had handed me a fifth-place finish with 18 wins at the start of the season, I'd have bit your hand clean off. Yeah, we miss out on Champions League football by a hair, but it's something to look forward to. Plus, this gives us an opportunity to win the Europa League and make history. I'm really excited for the end of August so I can find out who my group stage opponents will be. Fingers crossed we get one of the famous Italian clubs!
Transfer-wise, I will be moving on a bunch of deadwood players like O'Shea, Roberge and Jones. Mannone will leave so he can get regular action, and Larsson is someone who's dispensable now that I know what I need from my midfield. Vergini will return from loan and be shown the door for good this time, and Giaccherini has already asked to leave. Fletcher is the only one I'm not sure of, but for a decent price I could definitely be persuaded.
I'm also clear on recruitment. A high-calibre centre back to partner Kaboul and a midfield general are priority. Then there's the matter of a deputy for Pantilimon, a utility player, backup for Sneijder in case he gets hurt again, and a physically gifted striker in case Fletcher gets sold. Once that's done, I can look at rounding out my reserves and possibly upgrading elsewhere.
To do all this, the board has given me a grand total of £36 million with a further £150,000 added to our existing wage budget. Moving out a lot of the deadwood will help bump up that wage budget and let us bring in some really good talent. It's going to be a very exciting summer on Wearside!
Thanks for reading this super-long post. You guys are mint.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Aside from that we have three league games and open our COC and Europa League campaigns. Our Europa League group consists of FC Utrecht, Red Bull Salzburg and Genoa.
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Byrne 37'
Twumasi 55' (Sprained knee, out 3 weeks)
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