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Phil Thompson: Di Canio reignites Sunderland passion

Goals from Stephane Sessegnon, Adam Johnson and David Vaughan gave Sunderland their first victory...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.19 15 Apr 2013


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Phil Thompson: Di Canio reigni...

Phil Thompson: Di Canio reignites Sunderland passion

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.19 15 Apr 2013


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Goals from Stephane Sessegnon, Adam Johnson and David Vaughan gave Sunderland their first victory at St. James’s Park in thirteen years,their biggest Tyne-Wear derby win in thirty four years and Paolo DI Canio his first win as a Premier League manager. The win moves Sunderland three points clear of the relegation zone, albeit with Wigan having two games in hand, while also reminding Newcastle that their concerns of survival have by no means abated.

Di Canio’s capacity for vigorous expression of emotion has never been in doubt, but the sight of the newest Premier League manager skidding across the sodden turf on the knees of his suit trousers will no doubt endear him to the Sunderland faithful, while perhaps emboldening his players. The Italian’s ecstatic celebrations with his players after the third goal were a second act that seemed drawn from the Jose Mourinho book of psychology, a tome that has reaped generous rewards in the selfless devotion of players to the Portuguese. Whether Di Canio can come close to engendering that bond with the Sunderland side remains to be seen, however signs from yesterday’s win point to a positive turn in the desired direction as a litany of unquantifiable qualities - passion, desire and commitment. -  were on display from the side who had become a meek, seemingly disinterested outfit in the final weeks and months of Martin O’Neill’s tenure.
 
Phil Thompson spoke with Newstalk Breakfast’s Oisin Langan this morning and pin pointed this characteristic as one he hadn’t seen in Sunderland for a long time, and a key element in their crucial win:

“It wasn’t just the margin of the score line; it was the performance of some of those Sunderland players. They showed something which we hadn’t seen for a long time; resilience, commitment.”

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Thompson also talked about the potential return to form of Robin Van Persie, Arsenal’s push for fourth, the FA Cup semi-finals and the ugly scenes of hooliganism which brought the discussions around English football back to the darkest days of the Thatcher era for the second time in a week.


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