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Dick Advocaat was at home in his native Netherlands last Saturday, watching Sunderland on television, his fury rising at the capitulation of the players in red and white. Three weeks earlier he had been sounded out about the possibility of taking over at the Stadium of Light.
Interestingly it was from Frank Arnesen, not an employee at Sunderland, but a figure coming to enjoy increasing prominence.
For three weeks Gus Poyet had been living on borrowed time and in 45 miserable minutes, during which Sunderland supporters left their own stadium as they conceded four goals to Aston Villa, the Premier League’s lowest goalscorers, Advocaat had both a job and a problem.
By Monday there had been another conversation, this time with Lee Congerton, the club’s sporting director (who worked with Arnesen at Chelsea), during which Poyet took charge of the most pointless of training sessions, and by Tuesday morning, the 67-year-old Dutchman was confirmed as the latest head coach at the club.
“I had a telephone call from Frank Arnesen,” revealed Advocaat, who has his first game in charge at West Ham today. “He said to me three weeks ago, ‘If something happened at Sunderland, would you be interested?’ I said, ‘Yes, I am available.’ But I spoke to nobody at the club until Monday morning. He [Congerton] asked if I was willing to have a meeting with him at that point. That’s the way it happened.
Sunderland - the latest match in picturesShow all 110 1 /110Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Sunderland 2 Sunderland players celebrate Jermain Defoe's goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Sunderland 2 Sunderland players celebrate Danny Graham's opener
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Sunderland 2 Danny Graham celebrates scoring against Everton
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Everton 0 Sunderland 2 Romelu Lukaku is grabbed by Sebastian Coates
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 2 Southampton 1 Jordi Gomez celebrates scoring his second penalty for Sunderland
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 2 Southampton 1 Sadio Mane scores for Southampton
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures gomez1.jpg Jordi Gomez scores his first from the penalty spot
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 4 Christian Benteke celebrates after opening the scoring
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 4 Gabriel Agbonlahor of Aston Villa scores their second goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 4 Agbonlahor scores the third goal for Villa
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 4 Christian Benteke of Aston Villa celebrates scoring their fourth goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 4 Tim Sherwood celebrates after seeing his side score four goals in the first half
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Hull 1 Sunderland 1 Dame N'Doye puts Hull City ahead
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Hull 1 Sunderland 1 Steve Bruce and Gus Poyet clash
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Hull 1 Sunderland 1 Steve Bruce and Gus Poyet clash
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Hull 1 Sunderland 1 Jack Rodwell scores the equaliser
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester United 2 Sunderland 0 Wayne Rooney scored again with a header - he hadn't scored in his previous eight Premier League matches.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester United 2 Sunderland 0 Wayne Rooney converts the penalty to put United in the lead.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester United 2 Sunderland 0 Wes Brown is sent-off to the protestations of the Sunderland players.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester United 2 Sunderland 0 John O'Shea fouls Radamel Falcao to give away a penalty - but Roger East believed Wes Brown had fouled him.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester United 2 Sunderland 0 British record signing Angel Di Maria was so bad he was substituted at half-time.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 QPR 2 Bobby Zamora celebrates scoring QPR's second
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Tottenham Hotspur 2 Sunderland 1 Jan Vertonghen got Spurs off to the perfect start with an early goal that deflected in
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Tottenham Hotspur 2 Sunderland 1 Jermain Defoe made his Sunderland debut at his former club
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Tottenham Hotspur 2 Sunderland 1 Sebastian Larsson equalised with a stunning free-kick for Sunderland
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Tottenham Hotspur 2 Sunderland 1 Gus Poyet and Mauricio Pochettino watch their teams in action
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Tottenham Hotspur 2 Sunderland 1 Emmanuel Adebayor came on for his first game since 9 November
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Tottenham Hotspur 2 Sunderland 1 Christian Eriksen scores a late winner for the home side
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1 Liam Bridcutt (left) is shown a red card after picking up a second booking.
Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1 Liverpool players celebrate after Markovic's goal.
Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1 Lazar Markovic scores in the eighth-minute for Liverpool as he pokes the ball between Costel Pantilimon's legs
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Leeds 0 Goalscorer, Sunderland's Dutch defender Patrick van Aanholt applauds supporters at the final whistle
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Leeds 0 Leeds player Gaetano Berardi (r) battles for the ball against Connor Wickham
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 2 Yaya Toure of Manchester City celebrates the opening goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 2 Stevan Jovetic scores to put the home side in control
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 2 Jack Rodwell of Sunderland heads his goal to make it 2-1
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 2 Adam Johnson made things all square at the Etihad moments later
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 2 However Frank Lampard headed in the winner for Manchester City just after coming off the bench
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Manchester City 3 Sunderland 2 Lampard celebrates his winning goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 0 Fabian Delph of Aston Villa was shown a red card by referee Martin Atkinson
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Aston Villa 0 Sunderland 0 Despite the Aston Villa midfielder's early dismissal, Sunderland were unable to take advantage
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Hull 3 Hull Striker Nikica Jelavic rounds out the victory after coming off the bench
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Hull 3 James Chester heads Hull into the lead as he gets the better of Sebastian Coates
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Hull 3 Gaston Ramirez scores the equaliser for Hull
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Hull 3 Adam Johnson scores the opener for Sunderland
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Newcastle 0 Sunderland 1 Sunderland manager Gus Poyet celebrates Adam Johnson's goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Newcastle 0 Sunderland 1 Adam Johnson strikes his late winner at St James' Park
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Newcastle 0 Sunderland 1 Adam Johnson evades the challenge of Ayoze Perez
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0 Steven Gerrard at Anfield prior the match. The captain started the game on the bench
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0 Jordan Henderson of Liverpool battles for the ball with Jordi Gomez and Liam Bridcutt of Sunderland
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0 Raheem Sterling of Liverpool tussles with Sebastian Larsson of Sunderland
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0 Jozy Altidore of Sunderland battles for the ball with Kolo Toure and Alberto Moreno in a match that ended goalless
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Manchester City 4 Zabaleta prepares to celebrate after scoring
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Manchester City 4 Sergio Aguero is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring his second
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Manchester City 4 Stevan Jovetic celebrates after putting Manchester City ahead in the win over Sunderland
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Manchester City 4 Connor Wickham chips the ball over Pablo Zabaleta and beyond Joe Hart's reach to give Sunderland the lead
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Leicester 0 Sunderland 0 Sunderland take a short corner at the King Power Stadium
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Leicester 0 Sunderland 0 Reyad Mehraz tries to work an opportunity for the Foxes
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Leicester 0 Sunderland 0 Anthony Reveillere wins the ball from Jamie Vardy
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Leicester 0 Sunderland 0 Leonard Ulloa holds off the ball from Steven Fletcher
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Leicester 0 Sunderland 0 Steven Fletcher wins a header under pressure from Richie De Laet
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Leicester 0 Sunderland 0 Ulloa reflects on a late chance that went begging
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Everton 1 Sebastian Larsson celebrates putting Sunderland in the lead against Everton
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Everton 1 Sunderland players react as Leighton Baines of Everton (obscured centre) scores a penalty
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Crystal Palace 1 Sunderland 3 Steven Fletcher opened the scoring at Selhurst Park
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Crystal Palace 1 Sunderland 3 Wes Brown then scored an own goal to bring things level
Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Crystal Palace 1 Sunderland 3 Jordi Gomez put Sunderland back in front before Fletcher struck again to score Sunderland's third
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2 Arsene Wenger and Gus Poyet shake hands ahead of kick-off at the Stadium of Light
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2 Danny Welbeck shields the ball from Sunderland captain John O'Shea
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2 England and Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to evade the clutches of Patrick van Aanholt
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2 Alexis Sanchez scores his seventh Arsenal goal, latching onto a through ball and dinking over Sunderland keeper Vito Mannone
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2 Kieran Gibbs (right) went off injured for Arsenal, who are in the midst of a defensive crisis
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2 Sanchez scores a late second after a terrible mistake from Vito Mannone
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Southampton 8 Sunderland 0 Sadio Mane completes the rout
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Southampton 8 Sunderland 0 Victor Wanyama scores Saints' seventh
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Southampton 8 Sunderland 0 Dusan Tadic gets his name on the score sheet
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Southampton 8 Sunderland 0 Vito Mannone reflects after Liam Bridcutt's own goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Southampton 8 Sunderland 0 Graziano Pelle gets his second of the game
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Southampton 8 Sunderland 0 Jack Cork bundles in the home side's third
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Southampton 8 Sunderland 0 Graziano Pelle scores Saints' second
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Southampton 8 Sunderland 0 Santiago Vergini reflects on his bizarre own goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 3 Stoke City 1 Sunderland were celebrating again in the 79th minute as Steven Fletcher got his second of the afternoonn.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 3 Stoke City 1 Steven Fletcher helped improve the spirits at the Stadium of Light by putting the Black Cats back in front.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 3 Stoke City 1 Charlie Adam got Stoke City back into the game almost immediately, wiping the smile off Gus Poyet's face.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 3 Stoke City 1 Connor Wickham gave Sunderland early hope of finally securing their first win of the season.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Swansea 0 Nathan Dyer, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Sebastian Larsson rush into a challenge
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Swansea 0 Billy Jones and Neil Taylor jostle for the ball out wide
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 0 Swansea 0 Garry Monk and Diego Poyet share a word and a handshake ahead of their Premier League encounter
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Stoke City 2 Jozy Altidore opened the scoring in this Capital One Cup Third Round tie
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 1 Stoke City 2 However Marc Muniesa of Stoke scored a brace to see the Potters through to the next round
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Burnley 0 Sunderland 0 Emanuele Giaccherini takes the ball forward for the Blackcats
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Burnley 0 Sunderland 0 John O'Shea tangles with Marvin Sordell
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Burnley 0 Sunderland 0 Kieran Trippier in action for Burnley
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 2 Tottenham 2 Tottenham can't believe it after Harry Kane's own goal gifts Sunderland a point.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 2 Tottenham 2 Gus Poyet's men have impressed this season but, before the match against Spurs, were yet to get three points.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 2 Tottenham 2 Adam Johnson drags the Black Cats back into the game with a well taken drive.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures Sunderland 2 Tottenham 2 Nacer Chadli puts Spurs ahead after just two minutes at the Stadium of Light. This strike was his third of the season.
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures QPR 1 Sunderland 0 Adam Johnson (right) and Clint Hill both made their first starts of the season
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures QPR 1 Sunderland 0 QPR skipper Joey Barton drives forward for the home side
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures QPR 1 Sunderland 0 QPR midfielder Leroy Fer is challenged by Jack Rodwell in the centre of midfield
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures QPR 1 Sunderland 0 Jordan Mutch and Sebastian Larsson challenge for the aerial ball
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures QPR 1 Sunderland 0 Charlie Austin reacts to fire home his first ever Premier League goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures QPR 1 Sunderland 0 Austin's goal gave QPR their first points of the season with his goal right on the stroke of half-time
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures West Brom 2 Sunderland 2 Sebastian Larsson and Lee Cattermole celebrate after the former scores an equalising goal in the 2-2 draw between West Brom and Sunderland
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures West Brom 2 Sunderland 2 West Brom fans stand up in celebration of the equalising goal
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures West Brom 2 Sunderland 2 Saido Berahino celebrates scoring an equaliser from the penalty spot
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures West Brom 2 Sunderland 2 Saido Berahino converts a first-half penalty to level the scores at 1-1
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures West Brom 2 Sunderland 2 Lee Cattermole celebrates his early opener after giving Sunderland the lead
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures West Brom 2 Sunderland 2 Lee Cattermole strikes a long-range effort into the back of the net to give Sunderland an early lead
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Sunderland - the latest match in pictures West Brom 2 Sunderland 2 Alan Irvine waves to the crowd at the Hawthorns as he takes charge of his first match as West Brom manager
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“I was very disappointed [watching the game against Aston Villa]. When they scored, you could see that something is going wrong in their heads. When Aston Villa scored their fourth goal, five players were standing still.
“You can’t think, ‘OK, we have lost the ball, we can walk.’ Did it worry me? No, because that cannot happen with me. I have told them that already.
“I always say to players, ‘Listen, if you do what I want I am a really friendly man – if not, then I am not so nice.’ It is that simple.”
Advocaat, who has managed Rangers, the Netherlands and PSV Eindhoven, said he could call upon Adam Johnson, who has returned to training after being suspended by the club. Johnson will answer bail on 23 April after he was arrested following an allegation of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.
Advocaat would not answer questions on whether he had the desire to stay as head coach at Sunderland for more than the nine remaining games of this season. He was unveiled at the Academy of Light at 11am yesterday. By chance or design, Poyet gave his first reaction to his dismissal two hours later. He did not reveal if he had known about the shadow of Advocaat, but there is certainly a possibility.
Poyet’s statement, released by the League Managers Association, was a list of his achievements. The survival after the car-crash regime of Paolo Di Canio, reaching Wembley in the Capital One Cup, beating Newcastle regularly and becoming the first team to win a Premier League game at Chelsea when Jose Mourinho was in charge were all mentioned. They were all from last season.
“This season, Sunderland remains the only team not to have conceded to Chelsea and the club has remained outside of the bottom three,” it added.
It is a paltry return. It is also the reality for now, towards the end of an awful campaign, as the television in a Netherlands household confirmed.
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