In preparation for their Premier League campaign, Sunderland spent around £40,000,000 in the 2007–08 season . Signings included the club's record signing of Craig Gordon for £9,000,000,[ 2] Michael Chopra for £5,000,000,[ 3] and Kieran Richardson for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £5,500,000.[ 4] Roy Keane began his managerial tenure in the Premier League with a win over Tottenham Hotspur through a last minute goal from Michael Chopra .[ 5] In an attempt to bolster their goalscoring chances, Sunderland signed Kenwyne Jones from Southampton for £6,000,000.[ 6] The club came close to their first Tyne-Wear derby victory at home in 17 years when they drew with Newcastle United . They had taken the lead before half time, but Shola Ameobi equalised an hour into the game. Michael Chopra missed the opportunity to win the game by heading the ball onto the crossbar.[ 7]
A tribute was paid to 1973 FA Cup Final goalscorer Ian Porterfield in a game against Reading . Sunderland marked the occasion by winning 2–1.[ 8] A win over Aston Villa sparked a three-game winning streak,[ 9] when Sunderland overcame West Ham United and Fulham to extend their lead over the relegation area.[ 10] [ 11] They sealed their Premier League safety in a 3–2 win over local rivals Middlesbrough through a 90th-minute goal from Daryl Murphy .[ 12] They finished the season in fifteenth place, on 39 points.[ 13]
Game
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
Notes
1
20 July 2008
Sporting CP
Away
3–1
—
O'Donovan , Nosworthy , Stokes
[ 14]
2
22 July 2008
Vitória de Setúbal
Away
1–1
—
Richardson
[ 15]
3
28 July 2008
Cobh Ramblers
Away
4–0
—
Murphy , Stokes (2), O'Donovan
[ 16]
4
30 July 2008
Nottingham Forest
Away
1–0
12,573
Richardson
[ 17]
5
3 August 2008
Ajax
Home
0–1
19,768
[ 18]
6
7 August 2008
Athlone Town
Away
6–0
—
Richardson , Chopra (2), Leadbitter , Diouf , Murphy
[ 19]
7
9 August 2008
Shamrock Rovers
Away
Postponed
—
[ 20]
Source:
Premier League Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Overall
Home
Away
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
38
9
9
20
34
54
−20
36
6
3
10
21
25
−4
3
6
10
13
29
−16
Last updated: 4 December 2018.
Source: 11v11
Results per matchday
edit
Matchday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Ground H A H A H A H A H A A H A H H A H A H A A H H A H A A H H A A H H A H A A H Result L W L D W L D D W L L L W L L L W W D L D L W D W D L D L L L L W L L D L L Position 18 12 18 16 6 11 14 12 9 10 14 17 11 16 18 18 17 12 14 15 13 14 11 13 11 10 12 13 14 14 17 17 15 15 16 16 16 16
Source:
Statto.com A = Away;
H = Home;
W = Win;
D = Draw;
L = Loss
Game
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
Notes
1
16 August 2008
Liverpool
Home
0–1
43,259
[ 21]
2
23 August 2008
Tottenham Hotspur
Away
2–1
36,064
Richardson , Cissé
[ 22]
3
31 August 2008
Manchester City
Home
0–3
39,622
[ 23]
4
13 September 2008
Wigan Athletic
Away
1–1
18,015
Bramble (O.G. )
[ 24]
5
20 September 2008
Middlesbrough
Home
2–0
38,388
Chopra (2)
[ 25]
6
27 September 2008
Aston Villa
Away
1–2
38,706
Cissé
[ 26]
7
4 October 2008
Arsenal
Home
1–1
40,199
Leadbitter
[ 27]
8
18 October 2008
Fulham
Away
0–0
25,116
[ 28]
9
25 October 2008
Newcastle United
Home
2–1
47,936
Cissé , Richardson
[ 29]
10
29 October 2008
Stoke City
Away
0–1
26,731
[ 30]
11
1 November 2008
Chelsea
Away
0–5
41,693
[ 31]
12
8 November 2008
Portsmouth
Home
1–2
37,712
Cissé
[ 32]
13
15 November 2008
Blackburn Rovers
Away
2–1
21,798
Jones , Cissé
[ 33]
14
23 November 2008
West Ham United
Home
0–1
35,222
[ 34]
15
29 November 2008
Bolton Wanderers
Home
1–4
35,457
Cissé
[ 35]
16
6 December 2008
Manchester United
Away
0–1
75,400
[ 36]
17
13 December 2008
West Bromwich Albion
Home
4–0
36,280
Jones (2), Andy Reid , Cissé
[ 37]
18
20 December 2008
Hull City
Away
4–1
24,917
Malbranque , Zayatte (O.G. ), Jones , Cissé
[ 38]
19
26 December 2008
Blackburn Rovers
Home
0–0
44,680
[ 39]
20
28 December 2008
Everton
Away
0–3
39,146
[ 40]
21
10 January 2009
Middlesbrough
Away
1–1
29,310
Jones
[ 41]
22
17 January 2009
Aston Villa
Home
1–2
40,350
Collins
[ 42]
23
27 January 2009
Fulham
Home
1–0
36,539
Jones
[ 43]
24
1 February 2009
Newcastle
Away
1–1
52,084
Cissé
[ 44]
25
7 February 2009
Stoke City
Home
2–0
38,350
Jones , Healy
[ 45]
26
21 February 2009
Arsenal
Away
0–0
60,104
[ 46]
27
3 March 2009
Liverpool
Away
0–2
41,587
[ 47]
28
8 March 2009
Tottenham Hotspur
Home
1–1
37,894
Richardson
[ 48]
29
14 March 2009
Wigan Athletic
Home
1–2
39,266
Leadbitter
[ 49]
30
22 March 2009
Manchester City
Away
0–1
43,017
[ 50]
31
4 April 2009
West Ham United
Away
0–2
34,761
[ 51]
32
11 April 2009
Manchester United
Home
1–2
45,408
Jones
[ 52]
33
18 April 2009
Hull City
Home
1–0
42,855
Cissé
[ 53]
34
25 April 2009
West Bromwich Albion
Away
0–3
26,256
[ 54]
35
3 May 2009
Everton
Home
0–2
41,313
[ 55]
36
9 May 2009
Bolton Wanderers
Away
0–0
24,005
[ 56]
37
18 May 2009
Portsmouth
Away
1–3
20,398
Jones
[ 57]
38
24 May 2009
Chelsea
Home
2–3
42,468
Richardson , Jones
[ 58]
Squad at end of season. [ 65]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Left club during season
edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Appearances and goals
edit
^ Bardsley was born in Salford , England , but also qualifies to represent Scotland internationally through his father and would make his international debut for Scotland in October 2010.
^ Nosworthy was born in Lambeth , England , but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally through his father and Guyana through his mother and was called up by Jamaica in 2007 before making his international debut for Jamaica in May 2012.
^ Malbranque was born in Mouscron , Belgium , but also qualified to represent France internationally and has represented them at U-16 , U-18 , and U-21 level.
^ Ward was born in Worksop , England , but also qualified to represent Wales internationally and made his international debut for Wales in June 2000.
^ Collins was born in Chester , England , and represented the England C team, but also qualifies to represent Wales internationally and made his international debut for Wales in February 2005.
^ Connolly was born in Brent , England , but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in May 1996.
^ Liddle was born in Hounslow , Belgium , but also qualifies to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and has represented them at U-21 level.
^ "Keane resigns as Sunderland boss" . BBC News . 4 December 2008.
^ Martin Walker (7 August 2007). "Cats land £9m Gordon" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (12 July 2007). "Chopra seals £5m Cats move" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ "Sunderland sign winger Richardson" . BBC Sport. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ McKenzie, Andrew (11 August 2007). "Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (29 August 2007). "Keane pays £6m for Jones" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 14 February 2008 .
^ Phil McNulty (10 November 2007). "Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ Jonathan Stevenson (15 September 2008). "Sunderland 2-1 Reading" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ Phil McNulty (22 March 2008). "Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ Sarah Holt (29 March 2008). "Sunderland 2-1 West Ham" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ Chris Whyatt (5 April 2008). "Fulham 1-3 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ Julian Taylor (26 April 2008). "Sunderland 3-2 Middlesbrough" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ "League Table" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 14 February 2009 .
^ "Sunderland 3 Sporting 1" . Sunderland A.F.C. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ "Sunderland 1 Vitoria 1" . Sunderland A.F.C. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ "Cobh Ramblers 0 Sunderland 4" . Sunderland A.F.C. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ "Nottingham Forest 0 v 1 Sunderland" . Nottingham Forest F.C. 30 July 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ "Sunderland 0 Ajax 1" . Sunderland A.F.C. 3 August 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ "Athlone Town 0 Sunderland 6" . Sunderland A.F.C. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ "Match off after floods in Dublin" . Sunderland A.F.C. 10 August 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Stevenson, Jonathan (16 August 2008). "Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Standley, James (23 August 2008). "Tottenham 1-2 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Hassan, Nabil (31 August 2008). "Sunderland 0-3 Man City" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Whyatt, Chris (13 September 2008). "Wigan 1-1 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Phillips, Owen (20 September 2008). "Sunderland 2-0 Middlesbrough" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Soneji, Pranav (27 September 2008). "Aston Villa 2-1 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Hughes, Ian (4 October 2008). "Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Ornstein, David (18 October 2008). "Fulham 0-0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Phillips, Owen (25 October 2008). "Sunderland 2-1 Newcastle" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Lewis, Aimee (29 October 2008). "Stoke 1-0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Bevan, Chris (1 November 2008). "Chelsea 5-0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Lyon, Sam (8 November 2008). "Sunderland 1-2 Portsmouth" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ Brett, Oliver (15 November 2008). "Blackburn 1-2 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 November 2008 .
^ McKenzie, Andrew (23 November 2008). "Sunderland 0-1 West Ham" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2008 .
^ Chris Whyatt (29 November 2008). "Sunderland 1-4 Bolton" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 November 2008 .
^ McKenzie, Andrew (6 December 2008). "Man Utd 1-0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 December 2008 .
^ David Ornstein (13 December 2008). "Sunderland 4-0 West Brom' " . BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 December 2008 .
^ Jonathan Stevenson (20 December 2008). "Hull 1-4 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 December 2008 .
^ Pranav Soneji (26 December 2008). "Sunderland 0-0 Blackburn" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2008 .
^ Phil McNulty (28 December 2008). "Everton 3-0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2008 .
^ Sam Lyon (10 January 2009). "Middlesbrough 1-1 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2009 .
^ Jamie Lillywhite (17 January 2009). "Sunderland 1–2 Aston Villa" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2009 .
^ Phil Dawkes (27 January 2009). "Sunderland 1-0 Fulham" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 January 2009 .
^ Sam Lyon (1 February 2009). "Newcastle 1–1 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2009 .
^ Phil Dawkes (7 February 2009). "Sunderland 2–0 Stoke" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 February 2009 .
^ Ian Hughes (21 February 2009). "Arsenal 0–0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 February 2009 .
^ Ian Hughes (3 March 2009). "Liverpool 2–0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 March 2009 .
^ Hughes, Ian (7 March 2009). "Sunderland 1-1 Tottenham" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 March 2009 .
^ Mandeep Sanghera (14 March 2009). "Sunderland 1–2 Wigan" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2009 .
^ Saj Chowdhury (22 March 2009). "Man City 1–0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2009 .
^ Owen Phillips (4 April 2009). "West Ham 2–0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2009 .
^ Nabil Hassan (11 March 2009). "Sunderland 1–2 Man Utd" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2009 .
^ Jamie Lillywhite (18 April 2009). "Sunderland 1–0 Hull" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 April 2009 .
^ Phil McNulty (25 April 2009). "West Brom 3–0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2009 .
^ Saj Chowdhury (3 May 2009). "Sunderland 0–2 Everton" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2009 .
^ David McIntyre (9 May 2009). "Bolton 0–0 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2009 .
^ Phil Dawkes (18 May 2009). "Portsmouth 3–1 Sunderland" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 November 2009 .
^ Mandeep Sanghera (24 May 2009). "Sunderland 2–3 Chelsea" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 November 2009 .
^ "Sunderland 2–1 Bolton" . BBC Sport. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2009 .
^ "Sunderland 0–0 Blackburn" . BBC Sport. 24 January 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2009 .
^ "Blackburn 2–1 Sunderland (aet)" . BBC Sport. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2009 .
^ McKenzie, Andrew (27 August 2008). "Nottm Forest 1-2 Sunderland (aet)" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ "Sunderland 2-2 Northampton (aet)" . BBC Sport. 23 September 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008 .
^ McKenzie, Andrew (12 November 2008). "Sunderland 1-2 Blackburn" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 November 2008 .
^ "FootballSquads - Sunderland - 2008/09" .
^ a b c d e f g Nick Alexander. "SAFC retained list 2008-09" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (23 July 2008). "Sunderland complete Tainio signing" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (24 July 2008). "Cats sign keeper Colgan" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ "Sunderland sign Meyler" . Sunderland A.F.C. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (26 July 2008). "Sunderland complete Chimbonda deal" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (28 July 2008). "Cats sign striker Diouf" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (30 July 2008). "Malbranque signs for Sunderland" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (21 August 2008). "Healy joins Sunderland" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (27 August 2008). "Sunderland complete Ferdinand signing" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (1 September 2008). "McCartney re-signs for Sunderland" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ a b c d e f g h Nick Alexander (8 May 2008). "Keane begins summer clear-out" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (29 August 2008). "Etuhu joins Fulham" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (1 September 2008). "Higginbotham rejoins Stoke" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (9 January 2009). "Kav leaves Sunderland by 'mutual consent' " . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (12 January 2009). "Wallace seals permanent Preston deal" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (15 January 2009). "Miller signs for QPR" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ "Chimbonda joins Spurs" . Sunderland A.F.C. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (30 January 2009). "Diouf signs for Blackburn" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (21 August 2008). "Sunderland complete Cisse signing" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2009 .
^ "Sunderland sign Ben Haim" . Sunderland A.F.C. 1 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009 .
^ "Cats sign defender Davenport" . Sunderland A.F.C. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009 .
^ "United take Halford on loan" . Sunderland A.F.C. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (22 July 2008). "Arnau joins Falkirk again" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ "Wallace joins Preston" . Sunderland A.F.C. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ "O'Donovan joins Dundee United" . Sunderland A.F.C. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ "Carson joins Chesterfield" . Sunderland A.F.C. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ "Sunderland recall Carson" . Sunderland A.F.C. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (27 August 2008). "Anderson completes Burnley switch" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (30 August 2008). "McShane joins Hull on loan" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (15 January 2009). "Sunderland recall McShane" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (2 October 2008). "Edwards joins Wolves" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (20 November 2008). "Sunderland recall winger Edwards" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 31 January 2009 .
^ Walker, Martin (10 October 2008). "Kav joins Cumbrians" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ "Carlisle agree Kavanagh extension" . BBC Sport. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (17 October 2008). "Stokes joins Sheffield United" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (6 November 2008). "Chopra joins Cardiff on loan" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ "Liddle joins Carlisle on loan" . Sunderland A.F.C. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ Walker, Martin (2 February 2009). "Liddle loan extended" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ "Waghorn joins Charlton on loan" . Sunderland A.F.C. 17 November 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ "Waghorn loan deal extended" . Sunderland A.F.C. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ "O'Donovan joins Blackpool" . Sunderland A.F.C. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ Alexander, Nick (28 January 2009). "Henderson set for Coventry move" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ "Henderson extends Coventry loan" . BBC Sport. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ Nick Alexander (2 February 2009). "Chopra rejoins Cardiff on loan" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ Walker, Martin (2 March 2009). "Stokes makes Palace loan switch" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 6 March 2009 .
^ Martin Walker (2 March 2009). "Ward joins Wolves on loan" . Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 5 March 2009 .