Five days ago, the On This Day feature looked at amongst other things Lawrie McMenemy’s 1985 recruitment drive, and his hopes of landing George Burley in particular https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/features/108451/on-this-day-23rd-sept-1985-sunderland-prepare-for-some-major-arrivals
. By the time the weekend had arrived the Scottish defender’s move from Ipswich Town had indeed been signed and sealed, and the full back was now ready to make his red and white debut.The opponents were Huddersfield Town
and after a listless start to the season the Lads were going into the game still searching for a first home league win of the campaign. Spirits had been somewhat raised at least with a Milk Cup round two win over Swindon Town in midweek though, with what was the home leg seeing former reserve defender David Cole making a return to Roker. In turn, the Terriers had some Sunderland links as well, with local boy and future boss Mick Buxton selecting a side that included Steve Doyle and Terry Curran – both of whom would eventually be brought to Wearside by McMenemy.
As for team news, Burley wasn’t the only one coming into the side. Shaun Elliott and Peter Daniel, who had proved his fitness when playing, and scoring, for the reserves against Scunthorpe United on Wednesday evening, both made injury comebacks, and yet it was one of the retained names that made the difference. Eric Gates had scored from spot in the cup tie and was again on target here, just as the match seemed to be drifting towards a draw.
The seconds were ticking down at the end of an even encounter that had seen the hosts play the better football in the first half only to come under fire themselves in the second. Despite going close moments before though, forcing Barry Venison into a spectacular goal line clearance as they did so, Huddersfield then gifted an opportunity to Gates, who in the 72nd minute pounced on a fumble from goalkeeper Brian Cox to prod the ball into an empty net.
Both teams pushed again after that, with Gates unlucky not to be able to connect when Cox parried a powerful Dave Swindlehurst header. He then saw an effort hit the base of the post before being scrambled away, and from the following corner Gary Bennett appeared to have been fouled in the box. There was to be no penalty awarded however, giving Huddersfield fresh hope that they briefly thought they had realised when Curran rounded Bob Bolder only to be denied by an amazing recovery run from Swindlehurst.
Prior to the late scare there had been plenty of evidence that the solidity McMenemy had been searching for was starting to appear. He had stated before kick-off that he was hoping captain Elliott’s return would help cut out some of the sloppy goals that had been conceded in recent fixtures, which it did, whilst new boy Burley looked assured in defence and when on the ball. His involvement had also allowed Venison to move into midfield, from where he had more influence on proceedings, and there was a growing sense that the club was beginning to recover from the disastrous relegation suffered in 1984-85.
After all, this was the Lads’ third victory in a week, each coming with the aid of a debutant – Bolder against Shrewsbury Town the previous Saturday, Alan Kennedy in the cup clash with Swindon Town, and now Burley. It suggested that things were coming together, and with a first home league win since not only this season but early February in fact, back when McMenemy’s predecessor Len Ashurst was still in charge and the squad was expected to remain in the top-flight, a much needed boost had been felt.
Since the start of the calendar year Sunderland had suffered blow after blow. When they had beaten Stoke City in the second month it broke a sequence of six losses out of seven across league and cup, and whilst knock-out football did bring some highlights, the road to Wembley arguably did more bad than good – the Milk Cup final proving to be a damp squib that had taken focus away from the need to gather points. Relegated with a whimper thereafter, McMenemy’s arrival was heralded as a new dawn yet in actuality did little to lift the gloom either.
Goals were hard to come by and even after Huddersfield Town had been beaten the club remained stuck in another drop zone. Victory over the Terriers certainly lifted morale amidst the slowly growing confidence, but it proved to be a flicker at best, and as fears that ‘Big Mac’ didn’t have the skills needed to coach a side grew, it wasn’t long before ire turned his way for the part he played in the continued spiral.
Saturday 28 September 1985
Football League Division Two
Sunderland 1 (Gates 71’)
Huddersfield Town 0
Sunderland: Bolder; Burley, Bennett, Elliott, Kennedy; Venison, Daniel, Gray, Walker; Swindlehurst, Gates. Unused: Hodgson.
Roker Park, attendance 18,980
