BRUCE WOULD HAVE SAID NOWT, NOW WHY IS THAT? O'Neill not happy After mentioning the dreaded R word for the first time, Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has slammed Sky TV and the Barclays Premier League for harming his team's survival chances with their hectic Christmas and New Year fixture schedule. Injury-hit Sunderland face leaders Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on Sunday and must then travel to fellow strugglers Wigan on Tuesday, hoping to avoid an unwelcome double against Roberto Martinez's side. Earlier this week City boss Roberto Mancini hit out at his side's schedule which means they have less time to prepare for Tuesday's clash at the Etihad Stadium than opponents Liverpool who played Newcastle at Anfield on Friday night. O'Neill, who is without injured defenders Titus Bramble, Phil Bardsley and Michael Turner, has a similar dilemma for the visit to the DW Stadium which comes 48 hours after the televised City clash. Wigan are at Stoke City on Saturday. The new Sunderland boss said: 'If Mancini can moan about it, why shouldn't I? We can't do anything about it, it was done for TV but the Premier League should have a look at it, to not give one team a bit of an advantage over the other. 'We play on a Sunday and I know the game's been moved. But then we play on Tuesday. When you're playing in quick succession having played a number of games in the lead up to it, they should look at it. I don't see why our game couldn't maybe have taken place on the Wednesday, nor have I made a call to anybody. Maybe I should have done but the fixtures were there when I arrived.' FACT FILE Matt Kilgallon The 27-year-old York-born defender started his career at Leeds and joined Sheffield United in 2007. He was signed in a £1million deal by Steve Bruce in the January 2010 transfer window but made just seven starts for Sunderland in their fight against relegation. A loan spell at Middlesbrough last season was cut short by a back injury and he ended the campaign on loan at Doncaster. He was recalled to the first team by Martin O'Neill in the week he joined the club and although he was on the bench last week, the Sunderland boss turned to Craig Gardner to play as emergency right-back when Titus Bramble hobbled off. The fear for Sunderland is that defeat to Wigan, who clinched a late victory on Wearside in Steve Bruce's final game, will drag them back into the relegation battle after gaining seven points in O'Neill's first four games in charge. The Irishman, who must decide whether to hand Matt Kilgallon his first Premier League start for 18 months, has warned supporters his side are far from clear of the bottom three. He added: 'We are still in a dogfight, we really are. So it is important for us to try to accumulate more points in the matches coming up and it is going to be difficult because after this we are at Wigan with two days rest, then Chelsea and obviously, that's not even talking about Peterborough in the FA Cup. 'It is important for us to hang in there in these games. 'Relegation is in the back of my mind all the time, maybe I'm bringing it to the forefront. I said here at the start that we can't run away from that. I've been delighted with the points we've accumulated, I'm really pleased with it but we are brittle and I wouldn't want anybody thinking ahead of themselves.' More...City's spending power should see them rival United for title, says O'Neill Arsenal should be Bould when choosing Wenger's successor, says Vieira All the latest Sunderland FC news, features and opinion
The truth is that if Bruce had said it he would have been slated for making excuses. Of course Saint Martin says it and he is an hero.
reakon he is saying "we are in a relegation dogfight" just so he can have a bit more money to spend in january!! well played martin lad
Maybe so Syd but then that says more about the difference between the two men, than it does actually what it says. The Christmas fixtures are what they are and if we do manage to graft a point tomorrow, Tuesday won't come round quick enough for all concerned. I think Mon is Just being canny about our position really and to be fair, very honest. Whereas Bruce just kept saying we are fine when everyone knew we weren't, Mon is telling up straight we are still in a pan ****e. It's one not of his making either but one he has to sort out.
The reason I sound a bit sarky is nothing to do with MON, I am delighted with him and what he does and says, just wish we would stop using everything to beat Bruce with, the man is gone.
"The king is gone, long live the king". This saying just about sums up my stance on Bruce/O'Neill saga perfectly... Regarding the Christmas fixture schedule, it is about time that some common was used. As MON stated, it would have been far more sensible for all concerned to play the Wigan game on Wednesday.
Syd, this happens in every walk of life. The bloke that leaves work gets blamed for all the ****e that's gone wrong, even if its not their fault, only in Bruces case of course it is. We won't see the real Mon team until the summer imo.
From last night He was so annoyed at the "commentary" and the panel consisting of, amazingly, a current and ex Liverpool player that he rang up and cancelled his Sky and threatened to smash his sky dish to pieces. Legend
Sorry I sounded a bit sarky, syd. But in fairness y'know, the guy did bring it on himself. He'd have blamed the Zulu War on that damned Newcastle result.
Yes I heard that as well, mate. But did you notice as he ducked behind that little stone wall with the spear stuck out of his helmet, he said "ever since the f**king Newcastle result"? Didn't you hear that? Happy New Year everyone, happy new year.
