Source: Northern_Echo
Sunderland 2 Burnley 1
Sunderland 2 Burnley 1[LNB] NIALL QUINN was grounded along with most of Europe and had to miss the penultimate home game of Steve Bruce's first season in charge, but Sunderland are on the up and closing in on the Premier League's top ten.[LNB] When the curtain is drawn on the 2009-10 top-flight campaign on May 9, everyone connected with the Wearside outfit will be able to reflect on the most fruitful nine months since Peter Reid led the club to seventh in 2001.[LNB] After passing the 40-point barrier by beating Burnley, Sunderland sit within touching distance of tenth-placed Fulham with three matches remaining. They also boast their best goals return on home soil (32) in the Premier League. Bearing in mind that Sunderland went 14 league matches without a win, from mid-November through until early March, it is incredible to think what could be on the cards if Bruce can make the required adjustments to his squad in the close-season.[LNB] Crippling injury lists and suspensions highlighted to Bruce that he left himself too short of options during that barren run, but having emerged with a place among the elite intact he will look to address the situation as soon as he can.[LNB] This is the most points Sunderland have picked up in ten years, the most goals we've scored at home, surpassing even Quinn and Kevin Phillips, so overall I'm pleased, said Bruce. You look back and analyse those three months when we didn't win a game and it's unbelievable, you can't put your finger on why, but there you have it.[LNB] We've got three games to go and we've got a chance of finishing tenth. We're two points behind, so let's give it a fling. That would then be very satisfactory. Progress is being made, I think.[LNB] First half goals from Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent proved enough to defeat Burnley, who had threatened to close the deficit when substitute Steven Thompson fired one back eight minutes before time.[LNB] It was a victory which pushed Sunderland 13 points clear of the bottom three, making it mathematically impossible for the Black Cats to suffer relegation this season.[LNB] That has left Bruce looking ahead to his second year in charge, when he will lead Sunderland in to their fourth successive season in the Premier League, and he does not intend to spend it in the bottom half.[LNB] Possessing the goalscoring ability of Bent certainly helps, the £10m buy from Tottenham made a major contribution in the first goal before adding the second himself. After Kieran Richardson's persistence had led to the ball finding Bent, the striker picked out the exceptional Alan Hutton on one of the full-back's many marauding runs deep into the Burnley half.[LNB] Hutton's low centre was perfectly weighted for Campbell to turn inside goalkeeper Brian Jensen's far post to give Sunderland the lead in the 25th minute. And quarter of an hour later, after Bent had missed the target with a free header from Hutton's teasing cross, Campbell turned provider. His header across goal, after beating the offside to meet David Meyler's clever chip to the back post, was powered over the line by Bent.[LNB] At that point there looked no way back for Burnley, with Hutton and Richardson causing havoc down the flanks along with wingers Campbell and Steed Malbranque, while Bent and Kenwyne Jones were causing problems for the visitors' defence.[LNB] You're always hoping your striker can get you 15-20 goals and Bent always has done, said Bruce. He's been a huge plus for us and it could quite easily have been 28 not 24 goals he has scored, because he's missed three penalties. He had one taken off him by the Premier League and he threw a penalty to Kenwyne. He's had a terrific season.[LNB] While there has clearly been spells of disappointment and frustration, Bent is not the only Sunderland player worthy of being praised for having a terrific[LNB] season. Among the more high-profile names, both Jordan Henderson and Meyler have enjoyed outstanding first years in the first team.[LNB] The youngsters, included in the middle in the absence of Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole, showed once again why Bruce is keen to tie them down to long-term deals. Once Quinn, stuck in Ireland on Saturday because of the volcanic ash cloud spreading from Iceland, arrives back in the North-East, five-year contracts for both should be signed.[LNB] Nobody would have said Henderson would have been a regular in my team at the start of the season and I didn't think I would have been saying that either, said Bruce. But he grabbed a hold of me in the first week I was here and Meyler has done the same. He's genuine, big, strong. He's got an outstanding chance. He's got all the attributes. He's untidy at times and a little bit rash at times, but by God he's a trier.[LNB] Try is precisely what Burnley did after the restart, with the Sunderland defence standing firm until late on when Thompson picked up a pass inside from Teessider Robbie Blake before firing low in to Craig Gordon's bottom right corner.[LNB] Sunderland managed to stay in front and, with life in the Premier League guaranteed for another year at least, all eyes can already turn to Bruce's summer transfer plans.[LNB] Match facts Goals:[LNB] 1-0: Campbell (25, turned Hutton's low cross inside Jensen's far post);[LNB] 2-0: Bent (40, arrived unmarked to finish off Campbell's header across goal)[LNB] 2-1: Thompson (82, struck low in to Gordon's bottom right from 18 yards)[LNB] Bookings: Malbranque (39, foul); Mensah (45, foul); Meyler (80, foul); Duff (87, foul); Thompson (foul)[LNB] Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham) pretty straight-forward match to referee and even managed to get the offside decision correct for Bent's goal 6[LNB] Attendance: 41,341[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] Offsides: 2 1 SUNDERLAND (4-4-2):[LNB] 6 Gordon: Did nothing wrong and could hardly be blamed for the goal;[LNB] 8 HUTTON: If Tottenham want £5m then Sunderland should pay it[LNB] 7 Turner: A surprise role in Bent's first half goal when he laid off for Meyler[LNB] 7 Mensah: Little wonder Bruce wants to keep him with displays like this[LNB] 8 Richardson: Despite what he thinks, he is comfortable at left-back;[LNB] 7 Campbell: Finished the first in style and assist for the second[LNB] 7 Meyler: Perfect chip to the back post for Sunderland's second[LNB] 7 Henderson: Ensured Cana and Cattermole were not missed[LNB] 7 Malbranque: One moment of magic brought massive applause[LNB] 7 Bent: His running caused problems from start to finish and another goal[LNB] 6 Jones: Only tested Jensen once after neat link up with Malbranque[LNB] Subs:[LNB] Ferdinand (for Mensah 46): Slotted in to the heart of the defence during a busier second period for the defence 6[LNB] Zenden (Meyler 87)[LNB] Benjani (for Bent 90)[LNB] Subs (not used): Carson, Bardsley, Kilgallon, Da Silva.[LNB] BURNLEY (4-5-1):[LNB] Jensen 7; MEARS 7, Cort 4, Duff 5, Fox 5; Eagles 6, Alexander 7, Cork 6 (Blake 82), Elliott 5, Patterson 5 (Thompson 46, 7); Fletcher 6.[LNB] Subs (not used): Bikey, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Weaver.[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH:[LNB] ALAN Hutton - whatever deals Steve Bruce does this summer, the Scotland right-back should be the first.[LNB]
