Sunderland wound up their 1971-72 season, which in league terms had been fair to middling at best, with a stab at the Anglo-Italian Cup – and after a bruising trip to the continent earlier in the month, they were now back on home soil to see out their group game obligations.
The Roker Park treatment room had been packed out since the players had returned from two ill-tempered games against Atalanta and Cagliari, the second of which had also witnessed a mass brawl between the two sides and ended with
the visiting party being pelted with stones by spectators as they attempted to leave the pitch. Thankfully though, the various knocks and bumps proved minor, and manager Alan Brown had a full, if a little sore, squad to pick from ahead of the return date with Atalanta.
The Italy venture had been something of a trip into the unknown. It was only the second season Sunderland had played in Europe competitively, but now that he had something to go off, the boss was able to plan accordingly. He gave Richie Pitt and Dave Watson strict instructions to use their aerial prowess against La Dea, whose back line had looked shaky under the high ball when the two sides had first met five days prior, and it was inferred that the players would be welcome to fight fire with fire – not that they needed to be told twice following the bruising opening clash in Bergamo.
With points awarded for every goal scored, and other scores to be settled, the plan was to start on the front foot and take things to Atalanta. This was easier said than done, however, and what followed was a frustrating goalless draw, after which the visitors remained top of their group and at that stage, odds-on to progress into the final of the competition. That in itself wasn’t a bad outcome, the Italian’s had just finished 10th in Serie A, whereas Sunderland were bobbing along in Division Two, but it did mean that the Lads’ own hopes had faded.
Their failure was not for the want of trying at least, as in terms of effort and intent the hosts were the better side. Atalanta though were masters in spoiling and were looking to kill time from as early as ten minutes in, following a trio of smart saves from Pietro Pianta to deny Watson, Bobby Kerr and Ian Porterfield. Dennis Tueart too went close in the first half, whilst the early withdrawal of Enea Moruzzi, injured in a 50-50 collision, only forced the away further into their shell.
A well-struck half volley from Kerr on the stroke of half time looked for all the world as if it was heading into the net until Pianta made a wonderful diving save, and following the break, Atalanta doubled down in their attempts to hold onto a clean sheet. Striker Sergio Magistrelli was often their only player beyond the halfway line, whilst skipper Gianfranco Leoncini marshaled his teammates with precision. Despite calls from the terraces to bring on more firepower in the closing stages, Brown opted to keep things as they were, John Lathan being replaced by Billy Hughes in a like-for-like swap before Dick Malone’s late injury enforced another change, but whilst they kept pushing until the end Sunderland found no way through.
Hughes did have a long-range effort blocked and Watson another headed attempt snuffed out, but the ‘black and blue wall’ held firm before finally stepping out in the dying seconds, when Jimmy Montgomery had to make a couple of saves of his own to prevent what would have been the ultimate smash and grab job. A surprise heavy defeat in their final game at Leicester City meant Atalanta missed out on the final, an outcome that must have surely raised some eyebrows on Wearside, where their game could have gone on until midnight and still not seen a breakthrough.
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Wednesday 7 June 1972
Anglo-Italian Cup group match
Sunderland 0
Atalanta 0
Sunderland: Montgomery; Malone (Chambers 78’), Horswill, Pitt, Bolton; McGiven, Porterfield, Kerr, Tueart; Watson, Lathan (Hughes 60’). Unused: Forster, Ashurst, Hamilton
Roker Park, attendance 5,798
