Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt repeats 1973 medicine for Leeds UnitedPatrick Van Aanholt 33
Shortly before kick-off several members of Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup-winning team were presented to the crowd. The only shame was that Dennis Tueart, Jimmy Montgomery, Micky Horswill and friends could not remain on the pitch on a day when Gus Poyet’s class of 2014-15 rather huffed and puffed into the fourth round.
It was the first time Sunderland had been drawn against Leeds United in the competition since that momentous May afternoon at Wembley almost 42 years ago. This time Leeds of the Championship were very much the underdogs and, despite protestations to the contrary, the suspicion lingered that the cup was neither side’s priority.
While Neil Redfearn made seven changes to the visiting line-up, Poyet fielded a reasonably strong team. He had agonised over whether to start Patrick van Aanholt after the left-back’s lengthy layoff following shoulder surgery but his gamble was fully vindicated. Not only did Van Aanholt score a fine winning goal but he was arguably the best individual on view.
With the former Chelsea full-back supplying much-needed pace and width, Sunderland began well but allowed their first-half superiority to evaporate. Leeds were vastly improved in the second period and the Premier League side were relieved to avoid a replay - or worse - after Rodolph Austin and Luke Murphy gained increasing charge of midfield.
“We were totally in control in the first half and should have put the game to bed but we didn’t, we’re a bit disappointed with our finishing,” said Poyet, once an assistant manager to Dennis Wise at Elland Road. “Starting Patrick was a massive decision, he played without having trained with the first team and I’d have been killed if something had happened to him.”
Welcome as Van Aanholt’s return turned out, a section of Sunderland’s support has been willing Poyet to play Emmanuel Giaccherini and Ricardo Alvarez - arguably his two most creative individuals - in the same starting X1 and they finally got their wish.
It did not take long for the pair to combine in discomfiting Leeds. First Giaccherini turned Gaetano Berardi, leaving the defender on his backside, before forcing Marco Silvestri into a fine save. From the resultant corner, Alvarez saw a left-foot shot deflected on to the bar.
This initial, somewhat deceptive, home dominance was eventually made to count when Van Aanholt met Steven Fletcher’s pass before beating Silvestri courtesy of a crisp, angled shot directed into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Poyet replaced Alvarez – decent on the ball but worryingly ineffective off it – with Connor Wickham at half-time. Wickham had barely had a touch when Costel Pantilimon was required to save smartly from first Adryan and then Brian Montenegro.
Clearly galvanised by Redfearn’s half-time homily, Leeds were transformed. A foul on Charlie Taylor by Sebastian Larsson – on for the injured Jack Rodwell – prompted vociferous penalty appeals but the offence occurred fractionally outside the box and Austin fluffed the resultant free-kick. “It looked a penalty to me,” said a rueful Redfearn. “And if we’d made it 1-1 I think we’d have gone on and won.”
With Sunderland fading and Poyet controversially withdrawing Giaccherini – a bright spark who surely deserves an extended run – chances came and went at both ends as things turned surprisingly open.
When Liam Cooper connected with Murphy’s cross a replay beckoned but the defender’s header struck a post with Pantilimon beaten. “We were the better side by a fair stretch in the second half,” said Redfearn. “We turned it into a cup tie.”
Man of the match Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland)
