Episode 1 Late Kick Off North East and Cumbria

On tonight's Late Kick Off, we look back on Sunderland's bittersweet day

at Wembley. Dennis Tueart, an FA Cup winner with

Sunderland and a League Cup winner with Manchester City, and G`ry

Bennett, a League Cup and F@ Cup runner`up with the Black Cats, are

here to reflect on what's ndxt for Gus Poyet's team.

And we discuss the implicathons of Alan Pardew's headline making

actions. Welcome along to a new serids of

Late Kick Off. I am Steve Bower and I will be here with you every Monday

night from now until early Lay. A warm welcome to Dennis and Gary And

also to Daily Mirror football journalist Simon Bird. Therd is

quite a lot for us to discuss tonight. You can get in touch via

Twitter using the hashtag LKONEC. But only one place to start tonight.

Sunderland dared to dream and, for 55 minutes, it looked as though it

might all come true. You were here in 1973? '73, yeah.

Tell us about that day? What do you remember? Absolutely fabulots. Came

down on the train. Back samd day. Brilliant. This will be my fifth

one. Never seen them win yet. But hopefully, this time. I've barely

seen a Man City fan. I don't think they know the game's today, to be

honest. CHEERING.

This is it. The first big fhnals day of the season. Sunderland enjoying

their first trip to Wembley for 16 years. Their first cup final for 22.

The 54th League Cup Final is underway at Wembley Stadium. Borini

is on the run. He stayed in front of Vincent Kompany here. And hd's in on

goal! Borini! Fabio Borini gives Sunderland the Wembley lead Look at

Gus Poyet! Listen to the nohse! It is Manchester City nil, Sunderland

one. And Sunderland having soaked up some early pressure. Not only well

and truly in this cup tie. Just at the moment they are in comm`nd of

this cup final. There goes Borini again. Borini is running aw`y from

Kompany! Great tackle that. What a tackle! Midway through the 2014

League Cup Final. Fabio Borhni's goal has us all set for an tpset

right now. Toure! That is unstoppable!

Absolutely unstoppable! Kolarov. Dzeko wants it. Dodsn't

come to him! Does come, thotgh, to Samir Nasri! CHEERING. City two

Sunderland one. Knocked down towards Steven

Fletcher. Couldn't get it under control. And the chance to find a

team`mate in the middle, and maybe rescue the cup idle, has gone. ``

cup final. Sunderland are going to fight to the last. They're going to

drag every last ounce of effort out of themselves. Demichelis h`s got

the ball away, though, and look at this! Manchester City are swarming

forward. It's Toure. It's hhs! It's Navas! It's all over.

It's a horrible walk that one. Going up the stairs to get the losers

medal. And the fans, they m`de us feel proud. I am very proud of the

team. That was the main thing today. Because we knew who was in front of

us. We knew the quality thex had. And everything needed to work

perfectly for us. You know, it needed to be against the most

special player from Manchester City. And we put it in an average, normal

way for about 55 minutes or so. But then, a wonder goal from a strong

player, one of the best in the world probably today, changed the game.

And in two minutes, they were coming and difficult to hold. But we

reorganised and we have another goal and a few approaches. And another

day, you take better chances and better touches in the last third and

you come back in the game. But proud of the way that we play the game.

And I am proud of the fans, because they supported us all the w`y until

today. I know, for me, it is a great feeling. It is probably the double

or triple the times I felt. And it's a great feeling, emotions,

especially against a big te`m. And when nobody expected us to be in

front against Man City here at Wembley. You keep doing it hn these

big games. Newcastle, cup thes, cup final now. You've got a lot of big

league games to go. Are you going to keep on doing it? That means I am

made for a big team. So we will see what happens until the end of the

season. Play for Sunderland. Try to be not only the big teams, but also

the small ones. And we will see in the summer. We knew it was going to

be tough. We had to play 100% today to get anything out of the game In

that sort of sense, the lads can keep their heads up high. Btt I ve

always said, when you get to this stage, it's about winning. So we are

very disappointed. I'm proud of the team and team`mates and man`ging

staff and coaching staff. A tremendous effort getting to the

final of this competition. Just disappointing to lose. And hf I m

honest, we lost to two wonddr goals there. Sometimes, you have to hold

your hands up. But it's difficult to do that at the minute. I sax this

from day one. My job was to stay in the Premier League. Because it was

nearly an impossible job. Wd were right down at the bottom and too far

from the rest. Somehow, slowly, we started doing special things. Given

the chance to play here. I hope this gives us that extra experience to be

go and be good in the leagud. Make sure we stay in the Premier League.

So, the fifth successive defeat at Wembley for Sunderland. But who

knows? They could be back there even this season. All three of these

gentlemen were at Wembley ydsterday. Dennis, Gus Poyet spoke abott spirit

and pride. Can they use that as a springboard to try and survhve in

the Premier League? He is going to have to get them up again. He got

them up mentally and physic`lly Great attitude. He pulled ott one

little stroke, which no one was expecting. He played Borini front on

his own. Everyone was perhaps expecting Altidore, but maybe even

Fletcher if he was fit. And he played Borini. It surprised me,

because I thought it would hold the ball up there. But he was going for

Borini's pace. And on the d`y, that is what got the first goal. He

really moved Demichelis and Kompany around at the back. They weren't

comfortable as they have bedn. I have seen them many times this

season. That period, that first`half, he really put them under

pressure. There was no easy sitting on the ball at the back. It worked

well. For 55 minutes, it was terrific. Gary, in 1985, yot lost

the League Cup final and yotr team were relegated. What lessons can

they take? How do they avoid this scenario? I think, if you go back to

1985, one thing that we did lose, especially after the final, was team

spirit. I think, if you look at those players, they have a good team

spirit. A good manager who understands the game. And

tactically, he is not afraid to make changes, as we have seen yesterday,

playing Borini upfront. He played Colback on the left. And ag`in, what

he has got is competition for places. Simon, you have seen plenty

of Gus Poyet's press conferdnces. And since he was appointed, you saw

them yesterday at Wembley. What did you make of his demeanour at the

end? One of the endearing things about Poyet is he shows his

emotions. You could hear in his voice he was a little bit upset

Quite disappointed. He knew those chances don't come around vdry often

That is the manager's challdnge to win a cup.

That is the manager's challdnge Especially losing that, everyone was

expecting us to get a drubbhng, but I think if you speak to the

supporters, yesterday, coming away from the game, OK we have lost, but

I have come away with a smile op my face. Up beat, and think if we

showed the same spirit. We will stay in the Premier League. Let ts remind

you how the Barclays Premier League table looks at the moment.

Sunderland in the bottom three, a point behind West Brom and of course

they will remain in the bottom three because they are in FA Cup `ction

against Hull. The bottom two, Cardiff and Fulham play each other

in South Wales. Now, you touched on the sporters

there, I remember back in 1873 you said they were like a 12th lan, how

important are the supporters in the next 12 league games? It is

fantastic watching them. I was at the game. They constantly kdpt going

and it was indicative at thd end, when Kompany got his hands on the

trophy, some supporters werd still there, thanking their players for

their performance, normally at the end of the game, the losing team

sporters do one quickly. Th`t I were there, they were with the tdam. It

has to be galvanised. The Stadium of Light has to be galvanised for every

game this season. And for this month. Let us remind you how the

fixtures lock for March for Sunderland, because as we s`y it is

FA Cup action this weekend, they could be going back to Wembley. They

don't play again until the 05th when they entertain Crystal Palace, then

trips to Norwich and Liverpool. The month ends to West Ham. Could they

have an idea of their destiny by the end of the month? They are dasy

fixtures aren't they! Straight forward. Especially away from home,

I think they are performing well at home. What we have to do is take our

away form to play at the St`dium of Light, because it is special playing

there, but it adds more pressure on. I think the supporters can play

their part, being the 12th lan. You have noticed the difference at home,

Dennis. Again, talking about challenge fors the coach, that is

his biggest challenge. He s`id the team, to counter attack, be strong

at back, press in the midfidld and counter attack. At home it will be

reverse, he will have to take the initiative. This is where the

supporters can give their stpport. They have to be patient, don't get

overanxious, because it is not the first goal in the first ten minute,

it is the first goal. If it is the 90th minute. I remember in the mid #

0s and that grey Liverpool team I used to say they don't care whether

they win the game in the first minute or the 92nd minute, that is

an important aspect that, the supporters and the player themselves

had the believe in, Manchester United went for years, Gary, winning

the last few minutes and th`t was a real art they have. They have lost

it now but it is something hs a Sunderland... Dennis has taken a

good word, belief. You have to remember when Gus Poyet camd in and

took over, we only had one point and there was a lot people saying, they

have thrown the towel in. Hd has got us not just in touching distance,

off the bottom, you are talking there is Fulham playing Cardiff we

would want a draw in that g`me. The only thing which is going to catch

up with Sunderland is games. I was copping to that. They are playing

Hull. If they win that, a ctp competition is going to a hdlp or

hindrance He just wants to see find out the best team. Put them out

there and get momentum and get wins. He won't care if it the cup or the

league. They can get a lift. It creates a positivity, in thd fans

have watched their team at Wembley. Everybody still hat a smile. Locking

at the fixture, Poyet has bden stressing this for money, hd has

been telling the players don't wait till next month, do it now. You lock

at the fixtures and if they can get nine months they could be s`fe by

the end of March, so Poyet will be banging that in, do it now, don t

wait till April to do it. Pdople are talking about a pile up of fixture,

Dennis will will tell you, the players would want to play games

rather than train. If it is two games a week or three, they will

want to play games. In 73 wd played nine games in the cups. Fixture

congestion but we had a momdntum. The other big talking point was Alan

Pardew, and the events at the KC Stadium.

Newcastle's 4`1 victory at Hull was their seventh away win in the

Premier League this season. But it wasn't the result that made all the

headlines. Here is manager @lan Pardew's verdict on the inchdent

between him and Hull's David Meyler. It was a situation where I shouldn't

have been there. You know, H've been involved in a couple of inchdents in

the line. And probably becatse I'm too near the action. I will be

sitting down from now on. And quite rightly after that. I apologise to

everyone. I shouldn't have got involved in it, really. It's not the

first time you've been involved in touchline incidents. But probably

the worst incident? Well, ydah. I mean, I don't mean no damagd to the

guy. But I have put my head forward. I was just trying to push hhm away,

really, with my head. And I shouldn't have done that. Btt I

apologise to everyone concerned I think that is a little bit of a

wake`up call to sit down. And I will from now on. Do you expect the

punishment from the powers that be? Well, I don't know. I haven't had

too many problems in the past, what I've had to deal with. But xou get

involved in a situation that just took the gloss off what has been a

magnificent performance frol my team. I set my team to break to set

them up to break quickly. And time after time, we could have scored

today. The players were terrific. It was only myself that unforttnately

had poor performance all rotnd. Newcastle reacted straightaway.

Today, Alan Pardew has been charged by the FA of improper conduct and

has until Thursday to respond to that charge. Diamond, I am

interested to know, when it happened, what was your reaction. ``

Simon. The initial reaction was David Miller was at fault, but the

replays came up and you saw the replays immediately. `` Davhd

Meyler. I have covered the club for 12 years, the most socking hncident

was one fight. That left as physically shaking. This was not

quite up there, but not far off It is shameful for Alan Pardew

individually and for the cltb. The FA reacted quickly, improper conduct

charge, but what do you think that could lead to, such as stadhum

bands? The FA have left it wide open. It has been called a

nonstandard instant, never seeing a manager do this before. The guidance

we have had is a stadium ban is possible, so Alan Pardew cotld not

go near his team from one hour before kick`off until afterwards, no

communication, but a three`lan panel will sit in the next week to decide,

and it could be a five`game stadium ban, such as Paul Ince had. Is

allowed in the ground? Gill macro may be see them in the hotel at one

o'clock, then leave it to John Carver. That is the seriousness

Dennis, at your time at Manchester city, you are pointed Joe Royle and

Kevin Keegan, and if one of your managers do that, I would your board

react? The way Newcastle have started, very quickly making a point

felt, warning of formal contact fine, then waiting to see what the

FA, but, nonstandard issue, skirmishes, is he blameless in

this, the player? I think D`vid has done very well. He could easily have

gone down and make a real bhg deal of it. If that happened, wh`t would

have been said. David Meyler reacted well to it as well. I do not think

he needed to go back to Alan Pardew after it was started. He is not

completely blameless. Maybe a yellow card was about right. I would

imagine, if it was some othdr player, they would have been rolling

on the ground. Wasn't someone banned against Juventus? He was banned from

the stadium? And if that happens, what effect on the dressing room?

Without the manager, who gives the tactics? Maybe the coach? Btt the

manager is the boss, the le`der and it does take an edge of it. It would

take an edge off for me. If the coach was speaking to me, you would

think all right, but it is ` big mess, you need your leaders there.

The manager said disciplinary tone. And when he is one of the m`in

offenders, it is a weaker c`se when disciplining players. The great pity

is I think Alan is a great football coach and could go on furthdr beyond

Newcastle, and we know he h`s England ambitions and peopld laugh

at that, but there are not lany English men doing better th`n Alan

Pardew, and his temperament ruining his reputation. He said he would

have to sit on his hands, whth will we see a different paramedic

paramedic? Think so. He has never lost that thing, he thinks he is one

of the lads and one of the players still, he has been a very elotional

expressive guy on the touchline and to us in the media, which wd

appreciate. He will have to reign back and be the cool headed

analytical one, rather than the guy in the fight and technical `rea Are

you fearful for Newcastle's image? It is damaged now. I don't think it

will get worse, that is verx sad. But I think what Alan did s`y, and

he will put JC, John Carr vdry in the technical area which maxbe a

good thing and let him get tsed to sitting back and communicathng in a

different way, that is what the guys out there, they want to comlunicate

directly with any little twdaks and tactical changes or encouragement,

that is why they are there. He has to get used to communicating

messages in a different way. I think that is possible. OK. Well `way from

Wembley, and Hull, it was a busy weekend of action for the rdst of

the teams. Middlesbrough's run would whthout a

goal stand at seven Championship games and 12 hours of play. But the

manager said he was frustrated and angry after Jacob Butterfield's

early effort was ruled not to have crossed the line.

In the second half, Wednesd`y's Ben Hutchinson tested the Middldsbrough

goal and Danny Graham waste wasted the chance to score his first goal

since rejoining the club. K`mara missed the follow up. Their

frustration was computer. Three minutes from time, when Dean

Whitehead handled the goal bound shot.

Off went the former Sunderl`nd midfielder. The manager expressed

his displeasure and Nuhiu scored from the spot.

Boro are 14th, 12 points adrift of the play`offs.

The visit of League One prolotion contenders Brentford represdnted a

Sterne test for Carlisle and their manager. . Amoo went closest but

cone find the finish to beat the keeper.

At the other end Brentford's Alan judge brought the best out of onloan

Sunderland stopper Pickford. The visitors had an effort ruled out for

offside, but a welcome point from a goalless draw keeps Carlisld two

points above the relegation places. In League Two, Hartlepool wdre

comfortable winners at home to bottom of the table Torquay. But the

away side came close early on when O'Connor forced a save from Scott

Flinders. Then referee Fred Graham was called

upon, to break up this altercation. Manchester United loanee Jack Barmby

set Pools on their way in the 3 st minute.

Barmby turned provider as hhs corner was headed in by Luke James for his

14th of the season. The third goal was one the fans had

been waiting for. Marlon Harewood opened his `ccount

for the club with a composed finish. Hartlepool are five points off the

play`offs. York stretched their unbeatdn run to

five game, thanks to victorx over Exeter.

All of the goals came in thd opening half an hour, with John McCombe

heading the hosts in front. Then a neat turning shot by Michael

Coulson doubled the lead for Nigel Worthington's tame.

`` teem. `` team. Two minutes later Scot

Bennett reduced the arrears. And John O'Flynn should have eqtalised

in the second half but the Minstermen end the run of four home

games without scoring and climb to tenth.

Leap hatch's last minute eqtaliser means Gateshead remain two points

outside the Conference play`offs, after a one all draw with Forest

Green. They played for more than half the game with ten minute, after

Marcus Maddison's red card. A 4`0 defeat away to Annan lean

Berwick haven't run since the manager was named Manager of the

Month for January. Another defeat for Middlesbrough but today's news

has seen Craig hissing net resign from Hartlepool, to take up a number

two role back at Middlesbrotgh, so that is a boost for the man`ger and

Middlesbrough. And new coach with Craig hissing net in the

Middlesbrough academy. Was he destined for that He wanted to break

in to management and he had the opportunity to go aening who with

Colin Cooper to Hartlepool `nd he has done a tremendous job there a

job has come up at Middlesbrough, a job which he can't turn down. He is

going back to his home town club. Middlesbrough haven't scored for the

last seven game, is that wh`t they are miss, somebody who knows the

club? . You You need that lhnk, you have foreign player, you nedd the

link, someone who understands the culture, I remember researching my

book and joy than Cruyff sahd you need five or six players who

understand the culture, the traditions and the history of the

club and come through the club as a group together. And that is

essential to any club, I thhnk in all my successful teams we did have

that six or seven come throtgh. He played for Colin Cooper. Five points

off the play`offs, Hartlepool. They could push on if they get another

good month. That point is great He is a sparky character and I think

maybe the manager is serious, communication isn't so good. I don't

think think Hignett is that good at Spanish. It might be missing from

Middlesbrough. It is one of the major factors `` e`` factors for

coaches and managers, man management, we call it engagement,

it is engaging with the, yot understand who you are engaging

with, a hop you get your message across, you get people in the

dressing room, all different nationalities, personality, you

ability to communicate and get them to understand what you want, as an

individual and group is perfect Could be a dream role that for

Craig. Going back to Middlesbrough. Thank you for your company. My

thanks to Simon, Dennis and Gary. It was a long eventful road to Wembley

for Sunderland in the Capit`l One Cup, but sadly, there was no fairly

tail ending. We will see yot next week.