Friends and foes defend record-breaker Dunne
Far from making him out as the subject of ridicule, the Dubliner’s ungainly shank in his attempt to clear a Steed Malbranque cross saw team-mates and opponents alike falling over themselves to offer consolation wrapped-up in the form of glowing character references.
If Dunne wanted the earth to open up after his 25th-minute error, when he steered into his own net to allow Sunderland stretch a seven-game unbeaten run, then no-one was willing to help him start digging, even in the merciless arena of Premier League dressing room banter.
There were only kind words for a player once harshly described as ‘not rolling off the tongue in Beijing’ by Garry Cook, as the indiscreet chief executive at Dunne’s former club Manchester City indicated a desire for more high profile names to break into the Far East market.
An eighth top flight own goal from the Tallaght-born Home Farm product settled a tense encounter to enhance an already unwanted gap with his nearest ‘challengers’ in the defender’s equivalent of room 101.
Approaching his 400th Premier League appearance, Dunne’s ratio of finding a way past his own goalkeeper works out once every 50 games, hardly cause for concern, though it seems the centre-back’s longevity will ensure he remains at the head of one of the top flight’s more bizarre lists for some time to come.
“I wasn’t going to mention it to him afterwards,” Dunne Aston Villa team-mate Stewart Downing said.
“I told the other lads they could if they wanted but I don’t know anyone daft enough to say anything. He’s a big guy.”
Downing’s wish to tread carefully wasn’t just based on the imposing figure cut by his team-mate, who was courted by Sunderland manager Steve Bruce before opting to join Villa 13 months ago.
He added: “Dunney’s been absolutely brilliant for us this season and no-one blames him for the defeat, we all know it was just one of those things and even after it happened he put in a great display.
“A lot of players would let an own goal affect them but not Dunney, he still put in the blocks, last ditch tackles and winning headers when needed. You know what you’re going to get from him and he redeemed himself many times over.”
There wasn’t even the hint of a snigger of derision from the home dressing room if Nedum Onuoha, who played alongside Dunne at Manchester City, was an accurate gauge of the sentiment on offer to the supposed villain of the piece.
“I spent a lot of time looking up to Dunney when I was a kid and I still do,” Sunderland’s on-loan defender said. “He’s a credit to the game and he’s had a massive influence on me.
“It’s just unlucky the goal’s come off him. He’s got a few own goals over the years but he’s done way more good than bad and he’s still a hell of a player and I’d never joke about something like that happening because as a defender it could easily happen to you.”
Downing struck a post, Nigel Reo-Coker had a couple of penalty appeals turned down, Emile Heskey produced a fresh air effort with the goal at his mercy and Jordan Henderson cleared off the line from Steve Sidwell as Villa carved out enough opportunities to atone for Dunne’s comedy cut.
When Simon Mignolet added to his growing reputation with late saves to thwart Ashley Young and Marc Albrighton, Sunderland had secured a third consecutive Premier League clean sheet for the first time in a decade to underline the growing threat they pose to Villa’s attempts to secure a top six finish for a fourth consecutive season.
“They have a bit more steel about them this year,” Downing, who spent a spell on loan at the Stadium of Light earlier in his career, conceded of his former employers.
“They’ve always been a tough side to play against but they’ve added something extra this season. They could be one of those sides pushing us for a Europa League spot. They have a decent manager, a chairman who is backing him and they’ve bought well.”
A swift solution to their over-reliance on the goals of Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan, their only goal scorers so far this season, is essential in their attempts to overhaul the likes of Gerard Houllier’s side, who did enough to suggest they will succumb to the chasing pack only with a significant struggle.
“We need to show a bit more faith and belief,” the Frenchman conceded as he continues to tinker with the side he inherited from Martin O’Neill. “We’re changing a few things but at the same time we know where we’re going.”
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