Sunderland

Last week on the Total Sport Sunderland AFC Podcast, Colin White and Nick Barnes were joined by former Sunderland Echo writer Graeme Anderson.

First games was a topic discussed by the trio as BBC Radio Newcastle commentator Barnesy recalls a pre-season friendly with Kilmarnock which doubled up as a test run for Gary Bennett to become his summariser.

Graeme started covering the club in 1995 in the early days of Peter Reid's tenure at the Stadium of Light.

What was your first Sunderland game and what do you remember from it?

Sunderland have agreed a £2m fee with Leeds for 20-year-old Norway Under-21 full-back Leo Fuhr Hjelde. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Nazariy Rusyn netted twice as Sunderland's under-21s beat Leeds 3-1 in the Premier League 2.

The Ukrainian striker now has six goal contributions in 17 appearances between the first team and the u21s.

Rusyn scored his first senior goal against Preston on New Year's Day but has only started in one of the last three games for Michael Beale's side.

Mason Burstow was selected in the starting line-up against Stoke and got his first goal at the club since joining on loan from Chelsea.

The other two strikers signed in the summer, Hemir and Mayenda, are still waiting for their first senior goals - who would your first choice be for Sunderland and why?

Have your say here.

We asked for your thoughts on Luke O'Nien after the club captain played his 250th game for Sunderland against Stoke City.

Here are some of your comments:

David: I wish we had another ten like him.

Malcolm: Luke is a wonderful captain for SAFC doing wonders for the fans and the team. A gentleman off the pitch and a loveable rogue on it. I hope he achieves Premier league game time with the Black Cats soon.

Alan: He has grew on me over the years, he is never gonna be a world known superstar but he's been exactly what our team has needed. He came into a third flight team and I didn't think he would be the man to stand out however his never say never attitude seems to rub off on those around him and I feel he is the team spirit at times. Deserved his captaincy.

Richie: Luke's been a great servant to the club, has played practically everywhere on the park except in goal and has given us some memorable "daft as a brush" moments too. Who can forget the kiss, the piggy back or his celebration slide into the corner flag?

Sunderland are in talks with Arsenal over a loan deal for 19-year-old English winger Charles Sagoe Jr. (Football Transfers), external

Sunderland have rejected a 16m euros (£13.6m) offer from an Italian club, reportedly Lazio, for Jack Clarke and do not want to sell the 23-year-old English winger this window. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read today's full gossip column

We are just days away until the winter transfer window slams shut and Sunderland are yet to make a signing.

The Black Cats have been linked with Leeds' Leo Hjelde, rumours are rampant with a return of Amad Diallo and as ever fans are clamouring for a striker.

Alex Pritchard also looks set to leave after refusing to play against Stoke.

What business would you like to see Sunderland do in the remaining days of the transfer window? Have your say here.

Image source, Getty Images

Mason Burstow scored his first goal since joining Sunderland on loan from Chelsea in the summer in the Black Cats 3-1 win over Stoke City.

The young striker admitted to BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes that the goal was a huge weight off his shoulders after a frustrating first five months on Wearside.

Burstow said, "It's been frustrating not being on the scoresheet but you know, I've just got to keep working day-in-day-out and eventually it will come, and today it has."

The 20-year-old has had to share game-time with Rusyn, Hemir and Mayenda who also joined the club in the summer and struggled for goals. It hasn't been a rarity for the Black Cats to play without a recognised striker with Jobe Bellingham and Alex Pritchard used in a 'false 9' role.

Lack of playing time has also been a source of frustration for the loanee, "It's been frustrating coming out of the team, obviously."

"I want to play every week, but there's other 'nines' that need to play as well and we're all working very hard to get in the team and to score so there's been healthy competition and today's been my chance."

Now he has his first goal for the club, Burstow says "Hopefully they should keep coming now."

Listen to the full interview here.

We asked for your comments after Sunderland's 3-1 win against Stoke City on Saturday.

Here's what you had to say:

Milo: Very good performance, all over them for much of the game. Team looked spirited so hopefully Beale is beginning to turn a corner. Great to finally see Burstow score too, striker curse well and truly broken?

Rory: MASSIVE relief, great to be reminded it can be done. But doesn’t take away from what’s going on behind the scenes - there haven’t been evident backroom problems like this since the previous administrations. How do we keep this positive momentum?

Colin: Let's see what happens next time out, I am only hoping more than expecting, this team guarantees you nothing.

Richard: Thought we were much more forward thinking and looking to go forward at every opportunity, especially from the midfield. Could definitely see a change in style which was nice. Disappointed with Pritchard, feel like you don't go on strike because you haven't got the contract you wanted. Hope he regrets this and fans don't blame the club or Beale!

Phil: The Pritchard announcement before kick off was a real shock. No player is bigger than the Club. The team knuckled down and produced one of the better recent displays. Beale appeared to get his tactics right pushing Ekwah higher up the pitch and the added height of Seelt at the back was a bonus although his own goal was unfortunate.

Malcolm: A vital win for the manager especially after a very difficult few days characterised calls for his sacking. This buys him time as long as he recognises that fan power in Sunderland is real and can’t be taken for granted. We don’t like to hear managers blaming the players or the fans. The Newcastle humiliation won’t be forgotten easily either.

Michael: I thought the result flattered us, the first half wasn't much different to the Hull game but Burstow's goal made the difference and it was a better second half. Stoke were very poor and have gone backwards this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Luke O'Nien made his 250th appearance for Sunderland in the 3-1 win against Stoke City at the Stadium of Light.

The current club captain is only the third player to reach the milestone since the turn of the millennium - he joins the ranks of John O'Shea and Lee Cattermole.

Luke joined the Black Cats in 2018 from Wycombe and has scored 19 goals with 15 assists for the club. His goal line clearance in the first half v Stoke well summed up his warrior-like die-for-the-shirt mentality for Sunderland.

Although not immune to criticism from fans, few could question his dedication and commitment to the team. He's played in most positions between midfield and defence, most recently forging a centre-back partnership with Dan Ballard.

One of football's true characters, you never know what O'Nien might do next on or off the pitch. From fouling opposition players via piggy-back and kissing them on the lips to saving dogs on Roker beach.

He's starred in Netflix series' and stuck with Sunderland in their fight to get back to the Championship from League One and could play an important part in the push for promotion to the Premier League too.

What do you think of O'Nien's time at Sunderland? Have your say here.

Sunderland beat Stoke City 3-1 at the Stadium of Light through goals from Mason Burstow, Abdoullah Ba and Pierre Ekwah.

Ba was instrumental in all three goals chipping in with two assists while Burstow's contribution was his first for Sunderland and fans will hope it's the first of many now as the club continue to search for a prolific scorer.

Stoke's consolation came from an unfortunate Jenson Seelt own goal.

There was drama pre-match as Sunderland released a statement about Alex Pritchard withdrawing from the match day squad but on the field it was largely positive with BBC Radio Newcastle summariser and former Black Cats captain says it was like "the old Sunderland."

What did you think of the performance, the result and does it make up for things off-the-pitch? Have your say here.

We asked for your comments on Alex Pritchard refusing to play for Sunderland, withdrawing himself from the matchday squad against Stoke as he looks for a move away from Wearside.

Here are some of your comments:

Andrew: Alex Pritchard, or any player that is under contract that refuses to play and therefore not honouring his contract should be suspended/sacked with immediate effect and then the club go through whatever legal avenues are open to them for breach of contract

Milo: I don't like it but I don't blame him. The club has messed him around and he wants nowt more of it. I'm sure he'll leave a hero, considering his part in the promotion years.

Chrissie: Pritchard has been one of our most effective players and looks like he has been treat badly. Manager was a poor appointment and for him to say the fans don’t want him because of his accent is ridiculous. We have had managers from all corners and as long as they do the job the fans are very accepting, they are only interested in results.

Ray: Players are under contract and shouldn’t be able to refuse to play. If I refused to do my work I wouldn’t get paid. The club should withhold wages until a new club is found or his contract expires. If he doesn’t want to play they can’t physically force him to but they can refuse to pay him.

Coco: Says it all about the degree to which the hierarchy have successfully de-stabled the squad with their managerial merry-go-round. Bet he isn’t the only player thinking of leaving!

Rob: Whilst a good player for us, it is not on to withdraw his labour from the club, and fans who have cheered him, when we really need him even if that means coming off the bench. He is still under contract and I hope he is now not getting wages or a percentage of any fee. Very sad way to go and no integrity or respect for fans.

Yvonne: I'm sorry to say that Michael Beale appears to be like a rabbit in headlights & totally out of his depth. His tactics don't suit the team & we will lose good players & continue to lose matches. The fact that Prichard won't play says it all. Time for Beale to go.

Paul: No player is bigger than the club. Unfortunately Pritchard’s head is bigger as he thinks he deserves better. It’s Sunderland fans who deserve better and good riddance to a troublesome “footballer."

George: Don't blame him. One of our best players and I've heard his contract offer was 1 year only on the same money!

Jed: Typical player power from Pritchard. We should sell him immediately but he’s devalued his fee so we should stop his wages if he’s refused to play. Players have too much power these days!

Sunderland have released a statement as Alex Pritchard has refused to play for the club as the midfielder looks for a move away from the club.

"On Friday morning, Alex Pritchard informed the Club that he was no longer available for selection and he subsequently withdrew from today’s matchday squad.

"The midfielder also expressed his desire to leave SAFC with immediate effect.

"The Club will be making no further comment at this moment in time."

It comes just days after sporting director Kristjaan Speakman revealed the club had offered a contract extension to Pritchard.

In pre-match build-up on BBC Radio Newcastle, Nick Barnes added that the midfielder wanted to leave in the summer but couldn't find a club.

The commentator also reports that the club have had no bids but his agent believes there is interest from Turkey and Birmingham City who are now managed by Sunderland's former head coach Tony Mowbray.

What do you think of Pritchard's refusal to play? Have your say here.

Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes is stoked for this weekend's Championship clash with Stoke City.

The Potters come to the Stadium of Light for the first time under Steven Schumacher and so is no longer the Alex Neil derby.

Barnesy's commentary notes are famous among Black Cats fans and his peers and he has delivered once again.

You can hear commentary with Nick and Sunderland legend Gary Bennett via BBC Radio Newcastle on FM, DAB and Freeview.

We asked for your pre-match thoughts and predictions ahead of Sunderland v Stoke City.

Here are some of your comments:

Colin: The game will end in a draw, 1-1.

Gary: Stoke to win 1-0. We will have more of the ball but not create much and they will hit us on the break.

John: Sunderland with our clueless manager will lose 2-1.

Andrew: Lads 1, Stoke 3. Hopefully the final nail in Ian Beale’s coffin!

Jed: Stoke are on the up! Hostile atmosphere will guarantee a win for them 2-1. Another major setback with Boro to come. I predict Beale sacking in February.

Harry: Another defeat 1-3.

Ross: 5-0 to Stoke. 1-0 to Stoke at half time. Second half Stoke will have worked out Sunderland and they'll cut through them like a knife through butter. Beale wont have a Plan B, probably remove a midfielder up front with a midfielder playing up front. He'll blame the fans for booing his awful football. Regular service resumed.

Bruce: 3-0 win.

Peter: A must win game simple message for Beale: Attack, attack and the best form of defence is attack. 3-1. Come on the lads.

Sunderland have reiterated their interest in Manchester United's 21-year-old Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo, who scored 14 goals in 40 games on loan for them last season. (Manchester Evening News), external

Want more transfer stories? Read the gossip column

We asked for your thoughts on Michael Beale and some fans calling for the Sunderland head coach to be sacked.

Here are some of your comments:

Korky: Beale deserves more time but he needs to understand he cannot deflect blame onto the players. He annoyed a lot of people by saying the fans need to get behind the team. Sunderland fans are passionate about their team and are amongst the best supporters in the UK. 40,000+ gates weekly should tell him that.

Michael: I think Beale should be sacked immediately. It's not good enough. We were doing well with Uncle Tony, the board have a lot to answer for!

Bill: Would be crazy to sack him now. Must be given a chance and a centre forward which we have needed for so long.

Joe: Tepid football with none of tactics or seemingly amazing coaching he talked about. No Plan A let alone Plan B for any game. He's taken an exciting vibrant attacking team and turned them into a cure for insomnia. Easy option - Beale out and Dodds take over until end of the season.

Coz: Beale should go, the football now is shocking. I don’t like the way he deflects blame like saying fans should get behind the players which we always do, boos were aimed at him. We were promised an upgrade to Mowbray, never this bozo.

Ned: We've gone from playing some of the most exciting football in the league to playing sideways with no game plan. Yes it's a transitional period but this man has no track record of progression, in fact his track record is regression. We didn't need a new approach. We were 6th in the league and pushing for playoffs. Now we're in danger of free fall.

Arthur: It's not just him, the owners have a lot to answer for. Even if we had the right man in charge, they haven't got the money or the ambition to put us where we deserve to be. The fan base is there, the stadium is fantastic. Going back to the days of Sir Bob Murray, nobody listened and it's still happening. We haven't had a good manager since Peter Reid.

Ken: He doesn't fill me with confidence with either his tactics or professionalism. He doesn't appear to be a team leader who can inspire players to achieve their best. He doesn't present himself well to the press. The "rabbit in the headlights" look is not ideal for a huge club like Sunderland. One has to question the decision makers in the club too!

Digby: The knee jerk hatred of Michael Beale is bizarre; it's a kind of group think response but the root is really hard to fathom. Perhaps Mowbray's popularity and vaguely north eastern background made him feel like family and his rejection was too much to bear. Either way, Beale deserves a fair crack of the whip in my opinion. We need stability.

Malcolm: We have to stick with Beale but he needs to switch on to the culture of the North East.

Edward: As much as I believe it is a poor appointment you cannot judge him yet. He came in at a busy Christmas period time so has not had a great deal of time to change or put his ideas across.

David: He needs to go ASAP. If we have any chance of making the play offs.

Sunderland host Stoke City this weekend in the Championship looking for to bounce back from three consecutive defeats.

The Black Cats have only won twice in Michael Beale's seven games in charge and the head coach is under-fire from fans. There were chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" at the Stadium of Light during Sunderland's loss to Hull.

Stoke won the reverse fixture 2-1 when Alex Neil and Tony Mowbray were in charge of their respective sides. Can Michael Beale get the better of Steven Schumacher?

What do you think the score will be? Have your say with any other pre-match predictions here.

Some Sunderland fans are already calling for head coach Michael Beale to be sacked after just seven games in charge.

The new boss wasn't a popular appointment to replace Tony Mowbray but most Black Cats supporters pledged to give him a chance if he got results.

Sunderland have only two wins under Beale and have dropped to 10th in the Championship, three points off the play-off positions.

#BealeOut has trended on X since Friday's loss to Hull and fans at the Stadium of Light were chanting "you're getting sacked in the morning" after the visitors scored.

Do you think Michael Beale's time is already up or does he deserve more time to prove himself at Sunderland?

Image source, Getty Images

It has been one year since Pierre Ekwah signed for Sunderland.

The Frenchman arrived on Wearside from West Ham and has since made 40 appearances for the Black Cats alongside featuring three times for the under-21 side.

The midfielder has become a regular in the side under Tony Mowbray and now Michael Beale, often partnering Dan Neil.

This season, Ekwah has added a more attacking presence to his game with three goal involvements during the 2023-24 campaign so far.

What have you made of Ekwah's first 12 months at Sunderland? Let us know here.