Marvin Sordell had only scored twice up until the point of the original third-round FA Cup fixture between Bolton Wanderers ten days previous to this. In the 2-2 draw, Sordell nabbed one of the goals and added
to it by getting a brace at the Stadium of Light to secure passage to the fourth round of the FA Cup for his side.
It was typical of Sunderland around this time where the saying was if a striker was struggling to score a goal, you could bet your life savings on him finding the net against Sunderland.
The mentality of many Sunderland squads between the 2010-2020 decade has been a topic of conversation for many managers and players alike, where it was certainly puzzling that a team could consistently rise to the occasion against their biggest rivals yet look so ordinary against lower-league teams.
The final whistle at the end of this dreadful 0-2 defeat to Bolton saw jeers echo around the Stadium of Light as it appeared another managerial era was accelerating towards its finality, as Martin O’Neill’s days appeared numbered. Truthfully, the charismatic Irishman’s charm off the pitch was not matched by the style of play on it where it seemed his side were stuck between two barstools unsure of what they were really supposed to be doing.
After this humbling defeat, O’Neill lamented the club generally and their attitude towards cup competitions where he berated the meek way his team were knocked out of the cup.
“The very fact that it is 40 years since the club won the FA Cup might tell you things.
“This was an opportunity; to go out meekly is very disappointing.”
In addition, the manager complained about his playing pool and availability of players in the aftermath of this defeat. In the reverse fixture, O’Neill named only six substitutes, an apparent protest against the club’s lack of activity in the transfer market. After this game, he continued to express his discontent.
His frustrations were deepened by the loss of striker Steven Fletcher through illness prior to the game, and he was also disappointed by the efforts of members of the squad given an opportunity to impress.
“This is the whole idea of this game, that a club of this size, we’ve got to be able to have players who can come into the squad and do a job.”
“We should be able to cope with the loss of Steven Fletcher, and it’s a competition that means a lot to us.”
His tenure didn’t last much longer as a March defeat to Manchester United was the final nail in the coffin for the former Celtic great. It appeared that no man was able to get a tune out of this squad around that time.
