Sunderland U18s 2 Barnsley U18s 1

Andrew Galer scored a second-half winner as Sunderland clinched the league title for a third successive year.

Galer and Ryan Noble grabbed the goals to see off a stern challenge by Barnsley at the Academy of Light.

The win moves Sunderland 19 points clear of Newcastle at the top of Academy League Group D, putting them in an unassailable position with five games to play - six for the Magpies.

It is a remarkable achievement by the Wearsiders who have won 14 of their last 15 league matches and have been beaten just twice in the league all season.

Sunderland opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through Noble who planted a header into the top corner from Liam Bagnall's cross.

A great save by Barnsley goalkeeper Tom Rusling denied the striker a second before the break.

Barnsley came back at Sunderland in the second half and the home side had to defend for long periods as the away side put long balls into the box.

Centre-back Martin Grundy made it 1-1 in the 53rd minute, powering a free header past Michal Misiewicz.

Sunderland restored their lead in the 65th minute and again Bagnall was the provider. The Northern Ireland youth full-back made a good run down the left and pulled it back for Galer to smash a shot in from close range.

Misiewicz produced a smart save from a header near the end as Sunderland hung onto their lead.

The Black Cats play Huddersfield, Bolton, Manchester United, Sheffield United and Liverpool before turning their attentions to the play-offs.

Coach Kevin Ball said: "To do what they have done with five games to go is a fantastic achievment.

"But me being me, I've said to them - enjoy the next few days and then we start a five-game mini-league, and we win that."

Lineups

West Ham
Green
Neill
Spector
Tomkins
Upson
Ilunga
Boa Morte
Noble
Stanislas
Di Michele
Tristan

Sunderland
Gordon
Ben Haim
Bardsley
Collins
Ferdinand
Leadbitter
Richardson
Whitehead
Malbranque
Murphy
Cisse

Craig Gordon has called for a positive outlook as Sunderland prepare for the visit of Manchester United.

The Scotland goalkeeper says the Black Cats must believe they can get a good result against the Premier League leaders and title favourites.

Saturday's meeting is the first of two big games for Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, with strugglers Hull City arriving on Wearside seven days later. After that, Ricky Sbragia's men go to West Brom.

It is an important month for Sunderland and Gordon believes the fans will have a leading part to play as the Black Cats look to get out of trouble.

"We're back at home and even though we're playing a good Manchester United side, we still think we can take something from the game," he said.

"People will say we have no chance against United but football is strange, they lost at Fulham recently and no one expected that.

"Man United are in a close race for the title and they will be nervous. If they are not 100 per cent on their game, we have to pounce. We're not expected to win so maybe we can relax and play some good football."

Gordon added: "We've got plenty to do, we realise that, but we're ready to put in the hard work to make sure we are in the Premier League next season.

"We know we have a couple of huge games after Saturday but it's wrong to look beyond the Man United game, we're focusing on that."

Gordon returned to Sunderland's starting line-up at West Ham last weekend, for the first time in the league since November.

The Scot edged out Marton Fulop who had saved Robinho's penalty in Sunderland's previous game.

"It was a surprise when I found out I was playing, but a nice one," said the goalkeeper. "I'll work hard to keep my place in the team now."

Sunderland are expecting a crowd of around 45,000 for Saturday's game against the Premier League and European champions.

"The fans will have a big role to play," said the Scot. "We have some tough home games to come but with the crowd behind us, we know we can get some good results."

Djibril Cisse ended his barren spell in front of goal as Sunderland came out on top in this relegation battle.

It was the Frenchman's first strike in nine games - and how he enjoyed it!

The winner came deep into time added on in the first half. Andy Reid's cross was flicked on by Teemu Tainio and Cisse stooped to head past Bo Myhill.

The on-loan Marseille man looked in an offside position when he scored but Sunderland won't care about that - they have had luck go against them on plenty of occasions this season.

Boss Ricky Sbragia had asked his players to show the same commitment and desire as against Manchester United seven days earlier, and they duly obliged in what turned out to be scrappy game.

The Tigers made sure it was a physical test for the Black Cats but they passed it with flying colours. Sunderland's back-four - and keeper Craig Gordon - were up for the scrap as Hull pumped balls into the box.

The importance of the win cannot be underestimated as the race for survival reaches the final straight.

Sunderland are now four points clear of the bottom three and a win against bottom club West Brom next weekend would all but see them safe.

The Black Cats went into it having lost their previous four games, while Hull have now won just two in 24 Premier League matches.

It was a battle from the start with Hull giving as much as they got. Gordon had to get down to make a smart save from Kevin Kilbane in the 26th minute and Geovanni caused the home side problems in the first half.

Cisse could have wrapped it up shortly after the break but Myhill saved the Frenchman's right-foot shot from 20 yards.

Kenwyne Jones thought he had secured the home side's second goal in the 48th minute when he nodded in a cross from Andy Reid. But the frontman was ruled offside.

Jones and Reid had chances to make it 2-0 in the second half but they failed to take them as the nerves set in.

Roared on by their fans, Sunderland hung onto their lead and the final whistle was met with huge cheers.

The win meant the Black Cats leapfrogged Phil Brown's team in the Premier League. The whole of Wearside breathed a sigh of relief.

DANNY Collins has apologised to supporters on behalf of his Sunderland team-mates following the weekend's result at West Bromwich Albion.

After solid home performances against Manchester United and Hull City, Sunderland lost 3-0 at the Hawthorns, in a display which the players acknowledge was unacceptable.

And while there is no wish to dwell on an afternoon which Collins believes was out of character, the defender admitted that the fans deserve better.

"We have to hold our hands up to the supporters and apologise," he said. "I didn't see it coming really and I'm sure the other players and the fans didn't either. We just didn't perform on the day and that's not acceptable.

"These things happen from time to time and you even see the big teams do it. I'm sure Manchester United didn't expect to get beaten 4-1 at home to Liverpool recently. The disappointing thing from our point of view is that it came against a team who are bottom of the league.

"It made it a very long weekend for us. We know it was a disappointing performance. Going down there, we wanted to come away with at least a point and obviously our showing was very poor.

"We let ourselves down, the manager and the fans who travelled down there. We're a bunch of grown men and we've discussed it amongst ourselves - we know it wasn't good enough, especially at this time of the season.

"We looked like 11 lads who had just been thrown together. Having played quite well against Hull and Man United, we really can't put our finger on it."

Collins is adamant that there will no repeat against Everton on Sunday.

"We need to get out on the training ground, have a good week's training and put it behind us," he said. "We've got to look forward to the four games we've got coming up, starting with Everton."

"We've sat down and watched a video of West Brom and it wasn't good viewing, just like it wasn't for the fans at the time. But it's time to move on and put it to bed.

"We've got to look at the positives of the great game against Everton we've got coming up rather than the negatives of what happened last weekend."

Hi Sunderland,

Congratulations on staying up in the premier league!!!

well fought against Chelsea....!!!

lol cheers mate been busy these days!!! but yea we are the only north-eastern side next year!

woah, more than 3mths no update....last nite drew 2-2 with us. no one wanna boast it here meh???

Really I can see good future in Sunderland, well at least while Steve Bruce is still there lah. Good job last night.

jones and bent are awesome last night..d. bent might get the call for england..

awesome guys..really competitive...and quiet a lost cuz you guys conceded the last minutes...

First goal was a nice goal from bent. May be just a draw, but its against united and at their homeground. good job

Are u the only mackem scum in Malaysia ah? Huhuhuhu....

ive never seen a mackem in Milan..












or KL

the goalkeeper is a noob against city

well we had an average season at best!

but all the best for next season!

HA WAY THE LADS!!!

no trsf activities from S'derland??? veli quiet it seems.

Cuellar so far!

This post has been edited by booooster: Aug 31 2012, 11:01 AM

Adam Johnson & Steven Fletcher!

C'mon get Clint Dempsey!

woho threaten squad now