Player Ratings v Sunderland (h)

Last updated : 09 August 2004 By Brian Cartlidge

Taylor - Woeful kicking all night long but one excellent save took the game into extra time. He need not have bothered!

Tebily - Tried hard and was one of only three who seemed up for the battle.

Kenna - Worst ever showing in a Blues shirt. Couldn't make a simple three yard pass and was shown up for pace continously.

Purse - Indecisive, appalling distribution, no positional awareness, frightens the life out of Taylor, too fond of the first division hoof ball, at fault for both goals.

Cunningham - Struggled for pace against Stewart but as with Tebs and Savs was one of the three who looked up for it.

Johnson - Poor. Not his usual combative self and never went past the Sunderland full back all night.

Savage - The third of those that seemed up for the challenge though as hard as he tried he gave the ball away far too cheaply and his corners and free kicks never beat the first defender once.

Hughes - Went missing for long periods after moving out to the left side following Dunns injury. Took him until the second period of extra time to put in his first decent cross. Tackling as now become laughable at.

Forssell - Tried too hard on occasions when a simple pass would have sufficed though long, high balls from the back are most definately not to his liking.

Morrison - Blew hot and cold and really has to start converting decent goalscoring chances.

Dunn - Started brightly but only lasted seven minutes.

Subs:

Clemence - As with Kenna, worse I've seen him play.

John - Some nice touches but never a threat in front of goal.

Carter - Only on for ten minutes but made little difference, if any.

Subs not used: Bennett, Cisse.