Desperate Sunderland nab precious point

Drama ... Sunderland's Craig Gardner gets marched. Source: Scott Heppell / AP

Ten-man Sunderland drew 1-1 with Stoke City at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League.

Jonathan Walters fired the visitors ahead after nine minutes from a corner and Sunderland's task was made all the more difficult when Craig Gardner was sent off on 34 minutes for a late challenge on Charlie Adam.

In the end Stoke's numerical advantage did not matter as the home side rescued an unlikely point thanks to a goal by defender John O'Shea on 63 minutes.

The clash came a day after the 40th anniversary of Sunderland's famous FA Cup final win over Leeds United, and manager Paolo Di Canio managed to get a champions' type response in the second half from the current crop of Sunderland players.

After Walters' goal in the opening period Stoke managed to restrict Sunderland to long-range attempts and, when Gardner saw red, it looked like the home side could be on the end of another hammering after last week's 6-1 thrashing at Aston Villa.

But, somehow Sunderland responded and Adam Johnson's near miss ten minutes after the break set the ball rolling.

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As Sunderland pressed on it did allow Stoke a rare attack and Cameron Jerome went close after combining well with Adam.

Sunderland started to get some joy from set-pieces though and O'Shea was unfortunate to see his attempt cleared off the line.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	36	27	4	5	42	85
2	Man City	35	21	9	5	30	72
3	Chelsea	35	20	8	7	34	68
4	Arsenal	36	19	10	7	31	67
5	Tottenham	35	19	8	8	18	65
6	Everton	36	15	15	6	14	60
7	Liverpool	36	14	13	9	25	55
8	West Brom	35	14	6	15	1	48
9	Swansea	35	10	13	12	-1	43
10	West Ham	36	11	10	15	-8	43
11	Stoke	36	9	14	13	-10	41
12	Fulham	36	10	10	16	-11	40
13	Aston Villa	36	10	10	16	-21	40
14	Southampton	36	9	12	15	-11	39
15	Sunderland	36	9	11	16	-12	38
16	Norwich	36	8	14	14	-22	38
17	Newcastle	36	10	8	18	-23	38
18	Wigan	35	9	8	18	-22	35
19	Reading	36	6	10	20	-26	28
20	QPR	36	4	13	19	-28	25

If that was a warning then the hammer blow was delivered minutes later. Sebastian Larsson delivered the corner from the left, Ryan Shawcross failed to react and O'Shea prodded home.

It was a fitting reward for the Irishman who defended excellently especially when his side were reduced to ten men.

Remarkably Sunderland could have snatched an unlikely winner but Danny Rose's shot clipped the outside rather than the inside of the post during the closing stages.

The result means Sunderland climb to 15th on 38 points, while Stoke, who also moved a point closer to safety, reach the 41-point mark in 11th in the Premier League table.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/285625/report 

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Soward desperate to stay a Dragon

Jamie Soward ... gets round Tyrone Roberts during St George Illawarra v Newcastle. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Jamie Soward says he'll do anything to stay at St George Illawarra beyond this season.

3 Tries 3
Brett Morris 12'	Darius Boyd 46'
Jason Nightingale 52'	Timana Tahu 65'
Tyson Frizell 60'	Akuila Uate 80'
2 Conversions 2
Jamie Soward 14'	Kurt Gidley 47'
Jamie Soward 61'	Kurt Gidley 66'
1 Penalties 0
Jamie Soward 7'
1 Field Goals 0
Jamie Soward 40'

The former NSW playmaker produced a fine performance for the Dragons, kicking two goals, a crucial field goal on the halftime siren and set up Jason Nightingale for a second-half try in his side's 19-16 win over Newcastle on Sunday.

Soward moved to fullback for the last half-hour of the game after Gerard Beale injured his left knee trying to prevent a Darius Boyd try and didn't look out of place at WIN Jubilee Oval.

The 28-year-old last played in the custodian role in 2006 for Sydney Roosters and said he'd have no problem doing it again against Wests Tigers next Sunday at the SCG having made the on-field decision to switch, allowing rookie half Josh Drinkwater to make his NRL debut.

"I enjoyed going back there and I'd play there again, I had to make less tackles," Soward said.

"I can also play nine, front row, wherever, just to try and help the team out.

"When Gerard went down I said `get me back there, get Josh on'.

"It was easier to put me back there than switch everything around.

"I think Pricey was thinking it, but I sent the trainer back to ask him so not to cut him out of the loop."

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Soward opened the scoring after eight minutes with a penalty in front to the posts and the Dragons extended their lead through Brett Morris just before the quarter-hour mark.

It was a bright start from the hosts with Morris putting the finishing touches to a sweeping right to left move.

The Knights have been comfortable winners in three of their first four games, victories which have all come at Hunter Stadium.

But on the road they look a different proposition and produced little in attack in the opening stanza which concluded with a 35-metre field goal from Soward that clipped the left post before clearing the crossbar for the Dragons to lead 9-0 at halftime.

Bennett's side were much improved after the break and former Dragon Darius Boyd raced to the line eight minutes after the restart for his side's opening try.

To compound the blow for the home team, Gerard Beale was forced off with a knee injury leaving them down to 16 players for the remainder of the game.

Jason Nightingale hit back almost immediately for the home side and the Dragons were over again nine minutes later through young back-rower Tyson Frizell who scampered home after Boyd was clattered by Morris and Nathan Fien to knock the ball loose.

Timana Tahu ensured a tight finish with a try 15 minutes from time that was converted by Kurt Gidley.

Despite the Knights throwing the kitchen sink in the final stages, the Dragons defence held firm, with a Akuila Uate try in the final seconds nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.

Soward's current deal expires at the end of the year and he's unsure if the club are willing to extend his six-year stint, with his manager Sam Ayoub still yet to thrash out an agreement.

"I am under no illusions, I am off contract and need to have a big year," he said.

"Hopefully something is sorted sooner rather than later so I can sort out my future.

"But at the moment I am busy planning a wedding and that takes up most of my time at home."

Soward also believes if he stays he can play a role in helping to nurture the Dragons up and coming stars.

"I'd love to stay, but I understand the club's position," he said.

"They have Kyle Stanley coming back next season, Josh Drinkwater is an up and coming player.

"The club need to look after themselves and I know that. I'd love to stay and I think I offer good support for the young blokes.

"I like to think I can do a job.''

Beale is set to have scans on his knee this week and left the ground on crutches.

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Jets, Roar play out desperate draw

Atrocious conditions ... Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar play out scoreless draw. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

Newcastle held on to sixth spot on the A-League ladder after drawing 0-0 with Brisbane at Hunter Stadium.

It was a crucial encounter with just five rounds of the regular season remaining with the Jets holding the final playoff spot and the defending champions Roar just two points behind in seventh.

But in very wet and rainy conditions neither side was able to break the deadlock.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	21	12	6	3	21	42
2	Western Sydney	21	13	2	6	12	41
3	Victory	21	11	3	7	2	36
4	Adelaide	21	11	2	8	2	35
5	Sydney	21	8	3	10	-7	27
6	Newcastle	22	7	6	9	-7	27
7	Brisbane	22	7	4	11	0	25
8	Heart	21	7	3	11	-3	24
9	Perth	21	6	4	11	-3	22
10	Wellington	21	5	5	11	-17	20

With the visitors dominating the first half before a crowd of 8,310 but unable to make the most of their chances on goal, the second stanza was a mirror effort with the Jets looking the more likely but unable to force the issue.

After Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo dived to stop a Ruben Zadkovich snap just after the break, it was Adam Taggart who had the best opportunities for the Jets in the second half.

In the 58th and 72nd minute, Taggart had shots on goal but couldn't find the back of the net, with Theo again featuring on an impressive night for both keepers.

Newcastle had some good early chances when an Emile Heskey shot rebounded off the post in the sixth minute and again when a Taggart strike flew well over the bar in the 10th minute.

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In atrocious conditions which included torrential rain and howling, swirling winds, Brisbane controlled much of the first half and could have easily gone to the break one or two goals ahead.

The Jets owe much to shot stopper Mark Birighitti, who was a rock at the back for the home side in trying conditions.

Brisbane's best opportunity came in the 30th minute when Birighitti intervened to prevent a freed Besart Berisha getting a decent shot on goal.

And again when the custodian stopped a Stefan Nijland strike in the 42nd minute.

A minute later, Jade North found the back of the net when he latched onto a long ball, but the former Jet was ruled offside.

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Jets, Roar play out desperate draw

Atrocious conditions ... Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar play out scoreless draw. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

Newcastle held on to sixth spot on the A-League ladder after drawing 0-0 with Brisbane at Hunter Stadium.

It was a crucial encounter with just five rounds of the regular season remaining with the Jets holding the final playoff spot and the defending champions Roar just two points behind in seventh.

But in very wet and rainy conditions neither side was able to break the deadlock.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	21	12	6	3	21	42
2	Western Sydney	21	13	2	6	12	41
3	Victory	21	11	3	7	2	36
4	Adelaide	21	11	2	8	2	35
5	Sydney	21	8	3	10	-7	27
6	Newcastle	22	7	6	9	-7	27
7	Brisbane	22	7	4	11	0	25
8	Heart	21	7	3	11	-3	24
9	Perth	21	6	4	11	-3	22
10	Wellington	21	5	5	11	-17	20

With the visitors dominating the first half before a crowd of 8,310 but unable to make the most of their chances on goal, the second stanza was a mirror effort with the Jets looking the more likely but unable to force the issue.

After Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo dived to stop a Ruben Zadkovich snap just after the break, it was Adam Taggart who had the best opportunities for the Jets in the second half.

In the 58th and 72nd minute, Taggart had shots on goal but couldn't find the back of the net, with Theo again featuring on an impressive night for both keepers.

Newcastle had some good early chances when an Emile Heskey shot rebounded off the post in the sixth minute and again when a Taggart strike flew well over the bar in the 10th minute.

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Relive all the action in our Match Centre, featuring video highlights of all the key moments!

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In atrocious conditions which included torrential rain and howling, swirling winds, Brisbane controlled much of the first half and could have easily gone to the break one or two goals ahead.

The Jets owe much to shot stopper Mark Birighitti, who was a rock at the back for the home side in trying conditions.

Brisbane's best opportunity came in the 30th minute when Birighitti intervened to prevent a freed Besart Berisha getting a decent shot on goal.

And again when the custodian stopped a Stefan Nijland strike in the 42nd minute.

A minute later, Jade North found the back of the net when he latched onto a long ball, but the former Jet was ruled offside.

View the original article here