Source: Team_Talk
Gyan gets Sunderland smiling again
The smile on Asamoah Gyan's face was a broad as those in the stands as Sunderland launched the healing process with victory over Stoke.[LNB] It has been a traumatic week on Wearside in the wake of last Sunday's 5-1 derby battering a Newcastle which handed the Magpies the bragging rights until the return on January 16 at least.[LNB]Manager Steve Bruce has taken - and accepted - his fair share of criticism, chairman Niall Quinn endured a nightmare journey back to Dublin accompanied by around a hundred members of the Newcastle supporters club based in his home city and the club's switchboard has been inundated with mischievous calls at 12.55pm each day asking for the time.[LNB]The manager admitted during the week that for some of the club's most fervent supporters, the damage of a disastrous day on Tyneside would never be repaired.[LNB]But for those who were able to take a more measured view, a 2-0 victory over a pugnacious Stoke side represented the first step on the road to redemption.[LNB]The fact that it was achieved without star striker Darren Bent, who damaged a hamstring in training on Friday, was all the more credible as Gyan, the man in whom the club invested a record £13million-plus during the summer, was given a first real opportunity to justify his fee.[LNB]Having opened the scoring within nine minutes of his first Barclays Premier League start, the Ghana international wrapped up a much better day for the Black Cats with the clincher four minutes from time, and although there was much incident in between, a cathartic victory was no more than his side deserved.[LNB]Gyan said: "It was a really, really difficult week. After a loss to a rival side like Newcastle, it was a very, very difficult week.[LNB]"But we are happy. We have won and everybody is happy, especially the fans, because that game was so important to them and we let them down.[LNB]"But I think we have been able to bring a smile to everybody's face."[LNB]Gyan's opener arrived gift-wrapped when Potters keeper Asmir Begovic could only parry Nedum Onuoha's shot into his path just yards from goal, and the result was inevitable.[LNB]The game could have been over by the break when Gyan was hauled down by Jon Walters as he attempted to collect Steed Malbranque's pass inside the box and referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot.[LNB]With Bent missing, Malbranque stepped up and side-footed the penalty low to Begovic's left, but his effort was not well-struck and the keeper made a good save.[LNB]Stoke boss Tony Pulis read the riot act at the break and his team were much better after it, but their hopes of a fightback were dashed in controversial circumstances with 19 minutes remaining.[LNB]Former Black Cats frontman Kenwyne Jones looped a header towards goal where Lee Cattermole's frantic attempt to clear it proved successful, but suspiciously so.[LNB]Replays showed he had done so only with the use of his arm, an offence which if spotted, would have resulted in a penalty and his third red card of a season which is just 11 games old.[LNB]But Mr Atkinson, after consulting his assistant, awarded only a corner, and Cattermole doubled the dose by clearing a second Jones header off the line.[LNB]Bruce said: "Make no mistake, it's handball. Whether it is pivotal, who knows? But after the week we have had, we are due a bit of luck and for me, we deserved it."
