Sunderland 2 Man Utd 1: John O’Shea didn’t need to give an answer, the question he was posed said it all about United’s continuing woes.

He’ll be back on the stage he belongs tonight when Everton visit Oakwell in the Capital One Cup but whether Conor Hourihane can stay there while at Barnsley remains to be seen.

Sunderland striker Danny Graham’s first goal for the club may have been a fluke but its significance could not be under-estimated as the Black Cats took another step towards Premier League survival.

Sunderland 0 Fulham 0: FA Cup Fourth Round: It’s not just dour stalemates that have become an all-too regular feature of Sunderland’s Groundhog Day season.

Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1: Where’s Niall Quinn when you need him?

Jose Mourinho backtracked on his 19th century football jibe against West Ham and stressed his respect for Sam Allardyce ahead of their St Stephen's Day clash.

Gus Poyet insists he does not care what arch-rivals Newcastle do as he attempts to end Sunderland’s Monday malaise at Crystal Palace tonight.

Former Real Madrid and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has announced he has joined Mumbai City in the Indian Super League.

A break from the norm for a bit of light relief this week, if only to mark David Moyes’ sudden change in fortunes on Wednesday night.

DICTIONARY CORNER

I was very fortunate to be invited to the annual Nordoff Robbins Football Extravaganza at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Tuesday evening.

The appointment of Paolo Di Canio as Sunderland head coach has hit the headlines this week in more ways than one.

For the second week running, Sunderland ruffled the feathers of one of the Premier League’s big movers and shakers, but for their supporters, it wasn’t all good news.

We’ve long passed the glory days when YouTube could claim a week as its own.

Niall Quinn is stepping down from his role at Sunderland six years after heralding a new era on Wearside.

The Football Association will decide this week whether to appeal against the three-match ban that will keep Wayne Rooney out of England’s Euro 2012 group matches.

TWO members of an expedition who were injured in a polar bear attack in which a 17-year-old boy was killed were due to return to Britain last night, the trip organisers said.

The grieving family of the Englist schoolboy who was killed by a polar bear while on an adventure holiday in north Norway paid tribute to him today as “strong, fearless and kind”.

NINE games without a win, injuries piling up and rumblings of discontent among supporters, Steve Bruce must have felt like retracing his steps to see just where he walked under that ladder, or, the height of irony, had his path crossed by a black cat.

Former England captain Bryan Robson has undergone surgery for throat cancer, Manchester United said today.

The focus appeared to shift back on Richard Keys last night after new footage of him making inappropriate comments to Jamie Redknapp before a game surfaced on the internet.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is relishing the chance to make a second-half push for the upper reaches of the Barclays Premier League.

LEAGUE ONE: Plymouth’s bid to keep Ireland U21 star Conor Clifford at the club for another loan stay has been denied by the Football League.

MAYBE it’s down to the new ‘whistle’ he’s been sporting of late.

Sheffield Wednesday started their npower League One campaign with a 2-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge.

Dave Kemp has returned to Stoke as assistant manager following Peter Reid’s recent departure to take charge of Plymouth.

Alex Ferguson believes only ill health would force him out of Old Trafford in the immediate future.

HULL goalkeeper Boaz Myhill may have single-handedly kept Tottenham at bay but Hull boss Phil Brown has accused the home crowd at White Hart Lane of also playing their part in Harry Redknapp’s men dropping points.

SAM ALLARDYCE believes there was little Gary Megson could do to keep his job once Bolton’s fans had turned against him.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside will begin the task of identifying a new manager today with former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga emerging as a surprise candidate.

Gary Megson is adamant that “people who know football” recognise the job he did at Bolton.

Alex Ferguson believes the Premier League will turn into a two-horse race as usual this season.

RAYMOND DOMENECH was a strong contender to succeed Mick McCarthy as Ireland national team manager in 2002 but failed to make the shortlist, it emerged yesterday.

The Thai football authorities have confirmed that Bryan Robson will begin work as Thailand coach next week.

Bryan Robson has agreed a four-year deal to become Thailand’s new manager, the head of the country’s Football Association has announced.

Former England captain Bryan Robson is being lined up to succeed Peter Reid as Thailand coach.

Birmingham 0 Stoke 0

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez warned his side will be tested to the limit when they take on Thailand in a pre-season friendly in Bangkok later today.

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has today reaffirmed his club’s interest in Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Peter Reid has dismissed reports he is set to become the manager of League One side Southampton and insisted he is happy in his role as head coach of the Thailand national team.

Chelsea 2 Everton 1

SUNDERLAND yesterday started the process of drawing up a shortlist of candidates to succeed Roy Keane.

SAM ALLARDYCE has made a pitch for the vacant Sunderland manager’s job claiming he “knows what it needs” to be Roy Keane’s successor.