Quite a bit has been mentioned in regards to the departure of Alan Durban when he was sacked going into the enterprise finish of the 1983-84 season. The previous Stoke Metropolis supervisor was within the strategy of constructing a younger squad at Roker with the likes of Ally McCoist and Paul Bracewell studying their commerce whereas he constructed his new group.
Nonetheless, a run of seven video games with no win that ended with a 2-1 defeat at Outdated Trafford towards Ron Atkinson’s Manchester United – through two objectives from Kevin Moran after Lee Chapman had given Sunderland the lead – noticed Durban’s time at Roker come to an finish.
Commercial
Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson took over as caretaker for the subsequent fixture at house to Arsenal that resulted in a 2-2 draw, however then Len Ashurst lastly took cost after a number of hyperlinks over time, however time was now apparently proper for Ashurst to return to Roker after being such a preferred participant for properly over a decade.
For the rest of the season, we misplaced solely 5 of the final 13 video games and lifted Sunderland to thirteenth within the desk, which raised hopes for the next season.
Ashurst went to work on the squad. Excessive-profile departures included Paul Bracewell, who left to affix high-flying Everton, and within the first three video games, seven gamers made their Sunderland debut. On the opening day, 3-1 victory at Roker towards Lawrie McMenemy’s Southampton, Gary Bennett, Steve Berry, Howard Gayle, and Clive Walker pulled on the pink and white for the primary time.
Commercial
Within the two defeats that adopted, David Hodgson, David Nook, and Roger Wylde made their debut,s and forward of Sunderland’s journey to the Victoria Floor to tackle Stoke Metropolis, Ashurst had obtained off to a stable begin with two wins and two defeats within the first seven video games.
From kick-off, it was the away aspect who made all the early operating, with Stoke lucky to not concede an early lead when Mark Chamberlain headed off the road to cease Mark Proctor scoring straight from a free-kick. However simply earlier than the half hour, Proctor break up the house defence by placing Clive Walker by way of, who was Sunderland’s star man on the day, and the previous Chelsea winger beat Peter Fox to place the Lads one-up.
It appeared prefer it was solely a matter of time earlier than Sunderland doubled their lead, and simply earlier than the hour, Gayle drove the ball house after Walker took benefit of George Berry’s mistake, and it appeared like all of the factors could be heading north.
Walker tied Bould in knots and with an incredible place to place the sport fully out of sight, however his end was poor and the house aspect appeared to get the enhance they wanted. With fifteen minutes remaining, Paul Dyson headed house from a nook to get the nerves jangling, particularly in a sport the place it will not have been unjust if Sunderland had a 4 or five-goal lead.
Commercial
With two minutes remaining, the script was nearly written when Chamberlain went on a mazy run down the left and future Sunderland defender Steve Bould headed house previous Chris Turner to assert a degree.
Lengthy after the ultimate whistle, Len Ashurst stood alone on the pitch staring into the empty terraces, questioning how his aspect hadn’t received the sport and claimed their first away win of the season, and mentioned afterwards:
You may by no means take something with no consideration towards any group within the First Division. It was irritating as a result of we performed as properly on this match as at any time this season. We had it in our grasp and now we should see if the gamers will reply and be taught from it.
Canon League Division OneVictoria GroundStoke Metropolis 2-2 Sunderland[Dyson 74’, Bould 88’ – Walker 29’, Gayle 58’]
Sunderland: Turner, Venison, Daniel, Bennett, Chisholm, Elliott, Berry, Gayle, Wlyde, Proctor, Walker Substitute not used: West
Stoke Metropolis: Fox, Bould, Hemming, James, Dyson, Berry, Painter, Ebanks, Saunders, O’Callaghan, Chamberlain Substitute not used: Parkin
Attendance: 8,882