After winning promotion back to the Division One, Ken Knighton’s Sunderland were riding high in the league. Two wins to start the season against Everton and Manchester City increased the optimism surrounding the team’s chances of surviving in the league.
This quick start caught the eye of the British public and saw Southampton – who had Kevin Keegan and Dave Watson in their ranks – come to Roker Park to play in front of the Match of the Day cameras. Despite defeat, the fared well and followed up with
a credible draw at Old Trafford.
Despite the positive start to the league, drama was never far away and humiliation in the League Cup as fourth tier Stockport County knocked out the team over two legs to leave local media reeling in the aftermath.
Labelled as ‘flops’ by one newspaper, Sunderland had to respond and next up was Leicester City on this day in 1980 at Filbert Street.
Despite the embarrassing defeat, Knighton stuck to the same team that played in the cup defeat hoping that they could redeem themselves.
Credit to the side, they pulled a big result out of the bag against their fellow promoted side with an early goal from John Hawley in the fourth minute the only goal in the game.
In a performance that was described as being ‘full of character, organisation and plenty of good football’ by the Sunday Sun, Hawley was in the right place at the front to cash in on a mistake the Foxes goalkeeper Mark Wallington who failed to hold on to Alan Brown’s shot to earn his fifth goal of the season.
One would be forgiven for thinking Sunderland performed a ‘backs against the walls’ performance for the rest of the game but this was not the case as the team continued to attack for a second. Just before the twentieth minute, Hawley had a second goal inexplicably disallowed for a supposed foul on John O’Neil.
In the second half, Leicester piled the pressure on and they had their goalkeeper Chris Turner to thank for some saved opportunities, particularly in the 51st when he saved a header from Alan Young.
As the game went on, Sunderland weathered the Leicester attacks and could have had a second of their own only for missed chances from Hawley, Brown and also Stan Cummins.
Ultimately, the win was an enormous positive for Knighton’s team after a rough week for his side. Glowing with pride, Knighton praised his team.
“It was a magnificent performance and tremendous result for us.”
“Frank Clark and I thought and spoke long and hard about whether or not to make changes.“
“We eventually decided it would be best to give the players the chance to redeem themselves which they did in tremendous fashion.“
