SUNDERLAND skipper Gary Breen has been released following the club’s relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship.

Sunderland skipper Gary Breen has been released following the club’s relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship.

Sunderland have injury problems as they bid farewell to the Premiership at Aston Villa, with several players rated doubtful.

SUNDERLAND saved the best for last as they won a Barclays Premiership game on their own ground for the first time this season – at the final attempt.

Sunderland 2 Fulham 1

Sunderland 1 Fulham 0

Sunderland 0 Arsenal 3

Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca is facing a fight to be fit for Saturday’s Premiership clash at Everton.

West Ham 2 Sunderland 0

Sunderland 0 Middlesbrough 3

West Brom 0 Sunderland 1

Sunderland 1 Chelsea 2

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy saw his side win at the 15th attempt – and after seeing off Northwich in the FA Cup insisted the Black Cats could shock Chelsea at the weekend.

SUNDERLAND manager Mick McCarthy was a happy man after seeing his side end their 14-game wait for a victory by dumping Conference North side Northwich out of the FA Cup.

Sunderland 3 Northwich 0

Fulham 2 Sunderland 1

SUNDERLAND head for Fulham today refusing to accept that relegation from the Premiership is an inevitability.

Under-pressure Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy was dealt a fresh blow today when striker Chris Brown was ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol hailed the performance of Michael Carrick after the England midfielder scored the winner as Spurs condemned Sunderland to a ninth straight defeat.

Tottenham 3 Sunderland 2

Arsenal were punished for some slack defending in the 2-0 defeat at Bolton as champions Chelsea kept up the pace at the top of the Barclays Premiership with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Sunderland 0 Birmingham 1

Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1

Sunderland 0 Arsenal 3

Sunderland are set to make several changes to the side beaten by rivals Newcastle for the third-round Carling Cup tie against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light tomorrow.

MANCHESTER UNITED’S travelling army got a glimpse of the future at the Stadium of Light but they left just as grateful for the experience of Edwin van der Sar.

Tottenham’s attacking problems were highlighted again following the shock 1-0 defeat to Grimsby at Blundell Park in the Carling Cup.

GrimsBy Ross Heppenstall

Liverpool’s failure to re-sign Michael Owen has come back to haunt them with Fernando Morientes now facing several weeks on the sidelines.

Liverpool’s failure to re-sign Michael Owen has come back to haunt them with Fernando Morientes now facing several weeks on the sidelines.

The Republic of Ireland’s youngsters failed to stop the rot of a seven-match sequence without a win as they lost to France in their UEFA U21 Championship qualifier in Cork.

At half-time in the U21 international in Turner's Cross, Cork, Ireland and France are level with one goal each.

Sunderland 1 Man City 2

Sunderland 1 Man City 2

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy handed debuts to four of his 10 summer signings as the Black Cats returned to the Premiership against Charlton at the Stadium of Light today.

RAFAEL Benitez has refused permission for Anthony Le Tallec to play for Sunderland against Liverpool this month - in case the forward damages the Champions League qualification hopes of his parent club.

SUNDERLAND manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed his interest in Torpedo Moscow striker Andres Oper. The Estonia international is set to link up with the club for a trial later this week.

Peter Crouch has been ruled out for up to three weeks after a scan on the hamstring injury that forced him out of Liverpool’s Champions League success over FBK Kaunus.

Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed his interest in Torpedo Moscow striker Andres Oper and the Estonia international is set to link up with the club for a trial later this week.

Sunderland have today signed Liverpool forward Anthony Le Tallec on a year-long loan.

Former Everton centre-back Alan Stubbs has become Sunderland’s seventh signing of the summer after agreeing a 12-month deal with the option of an extra year at the Stadium of Light.

LIVERPOOL and Arsenal have ruled out a move for Michael Owen and cleared the way for Manchester United to chase the 25-year-old Real Madrid striker.

Liverpool had to call on skipper Steven Gerrard as they struggled to break down a brave TNS side in the second leg of their Champions League first qualifier.

Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse stepped up his claims for a regular starting place by scoring twice in a 3-0 friendly win against German side Bayer Leverkusen.