The 2008–09 season was the 112th season in Sunderland A.F.C.'s history and 104th in the league system of English football.
Background
In preparation for their Premier League campaign, Sunderland spent around £40,000,000 in the 2007–08 season. Signings included the club's record signing of Craig Gordon for £9,000,000, Michael Chopra for £5,000,000, and Kieran Richardson for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £5,500,000. Roy Keane began his managerial tenure in the Premier League with a win over Tottenham Hotspur through a last minute goal from Michael Chopra. In an attempt to bolster their goalscoring chances, Sunderland signed Kenwyne Jones from Southampton for £6,000,000. The club came close to their first Tyne-Wear derby victory at home in 17 years when they drew with Newcastle United. They had taken the lead before half time, but James Milner equalised an hour into the game. Michael Chopra missed the opportunity to win the game by heading the ball onto the crossbar.
A tribute was paid to 1973 FA Cup Final goalscorer Ian Porterfield in a game against Reading. Sunderland marked the occasion by winning 2–1. A win over Aston Villa sparked a three-game winning streak, when Sunderland overcame West Ham United and Fulham to extend their lead over the relegation area. They sealed their Premier League safety in a 3–2 win over local rivals Middlesbrough through a 90th-minute goal from Daryl Murphy. They finished the season in fifteenth place, on 39 points.
Match results
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season +GameDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes120 July 2008Sporting CPAway3–1—O'Donovan, Nosworthy, Stokes222 July 2008Vitória de SetúbalAway1–1—Richardson328 July 2008Cobh RamblersAway4–0—Murphy, Stokes (2), O'Donovan430 July 2008Nottingham ForestAway1–012,573Richardson53 August 2008AjaxHome0–119,76867 August 2008Athlone TownAway6–0—Richardson, Chopra (2), Leadbitter, Diouf, Murphy79 August 2008Shamrock RoversAwayPostponed—
Premier League
League table
Results summary
Results per matchday
+GameDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes116 August 2008LiverpoolHome0–143,259223 August 2008Tottenham HotspurAway2–136,064 Richardson, Cissé331 August 2008Manchester CityHome0–339,622413 September 2008Wigan AthleticAway1–118,015Bramble (O.G.)520 September 2008MiddlesbroughHome2–038,388Chopra (2)627 September 2008Aston VillaAway1–238,706Cissé74 October 2008ArsenalHome1–140,199Leadbitter818 October 2008FulhamAway0–025,116925 October 2008Newcastle UnitedHome2–147,936Cissé, Richardson1029 October 2008Stoke CityAway0–126,731111 November 2008ChelseaAway0–541,693128 November 2008PortsmouthHome1–237,712Cissé1315 November 2008Blackburn RoversAway2–121,798Jones, Cissé1423 November 2008West Ham UnitedHome0–135,2221529 November 2008Bolton WanderersHome1–435,457 Cissé166 December 2008Manchester UnitedAway0–175,4001713 December 2008West Bromwich AlbionHome4–036,280Jones (2), Andy Reid, Cissé1820 December 2008Hull CityAway4–124,917Malbranque, Zayatte (O.G.), Jones, Cissé1926 December 2008Blackburn RoversHome0–044,6802028 December 2008EvertonAway0–339,1462110 January 2009MiddlesbroughAway1–129,310Jones2217 January 2009Aston VillaHome1–240,350Collins2327 January 2009FulhamHome1–036,539Jones241 February 2009NewcastleAway1–152,084Cissé257 February 2009Stoke CityHome2–038,350Jones, Healy2621 February 2009ArsenalAway0–060,104273 March 2009LiverpoolAway0–241,587287 March 2009Tottenham HotspurHome1–137,894Richardson2914 March 2009Wigan AthleticHome1–239,266Leadbitter3022 March 2009Manchester CityAway0–143,017314 April 2009West Ham UnitedAway0–234,7613211 April 2009Manchester UnitedHome1–245,408Jones3318 April 2009Hull CityHome1–042,855Cissé3425 April 2009West Bromwich AlbionAway0–326,256353 May 2009EvertonHome0–241,313369 May 2009Bolton WanderersAway0–024,0053718 May 2009PortsmouthAway1–320,398Jones3824 May 2009ChelseaHome2–342,468Richardson, Jones
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes33 January 2009Bolton WanderersHome2–120,685Jones, Cissé424 January 2009Blackburn RoversHome0–022,63444 February 2009Blackburn RoversAway1–2(replay)10,112Healy
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes227 August 2008Nottingham ForestAway2–1 (aet)9,198Bardsley, Healy323 September 2008Northampton TownHome2–24–3 (pen)21,082Stokes (2)412 November 2008Blackburn RoversHome1–2 18,555Jones
Players First-team squad Squad at end of season.
Left club during season
Statistics Appearances and goals
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred out during the season
Goal scorers NationNumberNamePremier LeagueLeague CupFA CupTotal17Kenwyne Jones1011129Djibril Cissé10011110Kieran Richardson400423David Healy111318Grant Leadbitter200216Michael Chopra200244Anthony Stokes0202//Own goals20028Steed Malbranque100115Danny Collins100120Andy Reid10012Phil Bardsley0101//TOTALS345342
Transfers
In DatePosNameFromFeeNotes4 June 2008DFMichael KayYouth system–4 June 2008MFJordan HendersonYouth system–4 June 2008MFNathan LuscombeYouth system–4 June 2008FWJordan CookYouth system–4 June 2008DFMichael LiddleYouth system–4 June 2008MFJack ColbackYouth system–4 June 2008DFNiall McArdleYouth system–23 July 2008MFTeemu TainioTottenham HotspurUndisclosed fee24 July 2008GKNick ColganIpswich TownFree25 July 2008MFDavid MeylerCork CityUndisclosed fee26 July 2008DFPascal ChimbondaTottenham HotspurUndisclosed fee28 July 2008FWEl Hadji DioufBolton WanderersUndisclosed fee30 July 2008MFSteed MalbranqueTottenham HotspurUndisclosed fee21 August 2008FWDavid HealyFulhamUndisclosed fee27 August 2008DFAnton FerdinandWest Ham UnitedUndisclosed fee1 September 2008DFGeorge McCartneyWest Ham UnitedUndisclosed fee
Out DatePosNameToFeeNotes8 May 2008DFStephen WrightCoventry CityReleased8 May 2008DFIan Harte–Released8 May 2008DFStanislav Varga–Released8 May 2008FWAndy ColeNottingham ForestFree8 May 2008DFGavin Donogue–Released8 May 2008MFBilly Dennehy–Released8 May 2008MFJake Richardson–Released8 May 2008DFJack Pelter–Released29 August 2008MFDickson EtuhuFulhamUndisclosed fee1 September 2008DFDanny HigginbothamStoke CityUndisclosed fee9 January 2009MFGraham KavanaghCarlisle UnitedMutual consent12 January 2009MFRoss WallacePreston North EndUndisclosed fee15 January 2009MFLiam MillerQueens Park RangersUndisclosed fee26 January 2009DFPascal ChimbondaTottenham HotspurUndisclosed fee30 January 2009FWEl Hadji DioufBlackburn RoversUndisclosed fee
Loans in DatePosNameFromLengthNotes21 August 2008FWDjibril CisséMarseilleEnd of season1 February 2009DFTal Ben HaimManchester CityEnd of season2 February 2009DFCalum DavenportWest Ham UnitedEnd of season
Loans out DatePosNameToLengthNotes2 July 2008DFGreg HalfordSheffield UnitedEnd of season22 July 2008MFArnau RieraFalkirkEnd of season31 July 2008MFRoss WallacePreston North EndEnd of season8 August 2008FWRoy O'DonovanDundee UnitedEnd of season14 August 2008GKTrevor CarsonChesterfield19 December 200827 August 2008DFRussell AndersonBurnleyEnd of season30 August 2008DFPaul McShaneHull City15 January 20092 October 2008MFCarlos EdwardsWolverhampton Wanderers20 November 200810 October 2008MFGraham KavanaghCarlisle United3 January 200917 October 2008FWAnthony StokesSheffield United1 January 20096 November 2008FWMichael ChopraCardiff City1 January 200914 November 2008DFMichael LiddleCarlisle UnitedEnd of season17 November 2008FWMartyn WaghornCharlton Athletic17 January 20099 January 2009FWRoy O'DonovanBlackpoolEnd of season28 January 2009MFJordan HendersonCoventry CityEnd of season2 February 2009FWMichael ChopraCardiff CityEnd of season2 March 2009FWAnthony StokesCrystal PalaceEnd of season2 March 2009GKDarren WardWolverhampton WanderersEnd of season
See also 2008–09 in English football
Notes
References