2008–09 Sunderland A.F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was the 112th season in Sunderland A.F.C.'s history and 104th in the league system of English football.
Background
In preparation for their Premier League campaign, Sunderland spent around £40,000,000 in the 2007–08 season. Signings included the club's record signing of Craig Gordon for £9,000,000, Michael Chopra for £5,000,000, and Kieran Richardson for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £5,500,000. Roy Keane began his managerial tenure in the Premier League with a win over Tottenham Hotspur through a last minute goal from Michael Chopra. In an attempt to bolster their goalscoring chances, Sunderland signed Kenwyne Jones from Southampton for £6,000,000. The club came close to their first Tyne-Wear derby victory at home in 17 years when they drew with Newcastle United. They had taken the lead before half time, but Shola Ameobi equalised an hour into the game. Michael Chopra missed the opportunity to win the game by heading the ball onto the crossbar.A tribute was paid to 1973 FA Cup Final goalscorer Ian Porterfield in a game against Reading. Sunderland marked the occasion by winning 2–1. A win over Aston Villa sparked a three-game winning streak, when Sunderland overcame West Ham United and Fulham to extend their lead over the relegation area. They sealed their Premier League safety in a 3–2 win over local rivals Middlesbrough through a 90th-minute goal from Daryl Murphy. They finished the season in fifteenth place, on 39 points.
Match results
Legend
Pre-season
Premier League
League table
Results summary
Results per matchday
| Game | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers | Notes |
| 1 | 16 August 2008 | Liverpool | Home | 0–1 | 43,259 | ||
| 2 | 23 August 2008 | Tottenham Hotspur | Away | 2–1 | 36,064 | Richardson, Cissé | |
| 3 | 31 August 2008 | Manchester City | Home | 0–3 | 39,622 | ||
| 4 | 13 September 2008 | Wigan Athletic | Away | 1–1 | 18,015 | Bramble | |
| 5 | 20 September 2008 | Middlesbrough | Home | 2–0 | 38,388 | Chopra | |
| 6 | 27 September 2008 | Aston Villa | Away | 1–2 | 38,706 | Cissé | |
| 7 | 4 October 2008 | Arsenal | Home | 1–1 | 40,199 | Leadbitter | |
| 8 | 18 October 2008 | Fulham | Away | 0–0 | 25,116 | ||
| 9 | 25 October 2008 | Newcastle United | Home | 2–1 | 47,936 | Cissé, Richardson | |
| 10 | 29 October 2008 | Stoke City | Away | 0–1 | 26,731 | ||
| 11 | 1 November 2008 | Chelsea | Away | 0–5 | 41,693 | ||
| 12 | 8 November 2008 | Portsmouth | Home | 1–2 | 37,712 | Cissé | |
| 13 | 15 November 2008 | Blackburn Rovers | Away | 2–1 | 21,798 | Jones, Cissé | |
| 14 | 23 November 2008 | West Ham United | Home | 0–1 | 35,222 | ||
| 15 | 29 November 2008 | Bolton Wanderers | Home | 1–4 | 35,457 | Cissé | |
| 16 | 6 December 2008 | Manchester United | Away | 0–1 | 75,400 | ||
| 17 | 13 December 2008 | West Bromwich Albion | Home | 4–0 | 36,280 | Jones, Andy Reid, Cissé | |
| 18 | 20 December 2008 | Hull City | Away | 4–1 | 24,917 | Malbranque, Zayatte, Jones, Cissé | |
| 19 | 26 December 2008 | Blackburn Rovers | Home | 0–0 | 44,680 | ||
| 20 | 28 December 2008 | Everton | Away | 0–3 | 39,146 | ||
| 21 | 10 January 2009 | Middlesbrough | Away | 1–1 | 29,310 | Jones | |
| 22 | 17 January 2009 | Aston Villa | Home | 1–2 | 40,350 | Collins | |
| 23 | 27 January 2009 | Fulham | Home | 1–0 | 36,539 | Jones | |
| 24 | 1 February 2009 | Newcastle | Away | 1–1 | 52,084 | Cissé | |
| 25 | 7 February 2009 | Stoke City | Home | 2–0 | 38,350 | Jones, Healy | |
| 26 | 21 February 2009 | Arsenal | Away | 0–0 | 60,104 | ||
| 27 | 3 March 2009 | Liverpool | Away | 0–2 | 41,587 | ||
| 28 | 8 March 2009 | Tottenham Hotspur | Home | 1–1 | 37,894 | Richardson | |
| 29 | 14 March 2009 | Wigan Athletic | Home | 1–2 | 39,266 | Leadbitter | |
| 30 | 22 March 2009 | Manchester City | Away | 0–1 | 43,017 | ||
| 31 | 4 April 2009 | West Ham United | Away | 0–2 | 34,761 | ||
| 32 | 11 April 2009 | Manchester United | Home | 1–2 | 45,408 | Jones | |
| 33 | 18 April 2009 | Hull City | Home | 1–0 | 42,855 | Cissé | |
| 34 | 25 April 2009 | West Bromwich Albion | Away | 0–3 | 26,256 | ||
| 35 | 3 May 2009 | Everton | Home | 0–2 | 41,313 | ||
| 36 | 9 May 2009 | Bolton Wanderers | Away | 0–0 | 24,005 | ||
| 37 | 18 May 2009 | Portsmouth | Away | 1–3 | 20,398 | Jones | |
| 38 | 24 May 2009 | Chelsea | Home | 2–3 | 42,468 | Richardson, Jones |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers | Notes |
| 3 | 3 January 2009 | Bolton Wanderers | Home | 2–1 | 20,685 | Jones, Cissé | |
| 4 | 24 January 2009 | Blackburn Rovers | Home | 0–0 | 22,634 | ||
| 4 | 4 February 2009 | Blackburn Rovers | Away | 1–2 | 10,112 | Healy |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers | Notes |
| 2 | 27 August 2008 | Nottingham Forest | Away | 2–1 | 9,198 | Bardsley, Healy | |
| 3 | 23 September 2008 | Northampton Town | Home | 2–2 4–3 | 21,082 | Stokes | |
| 4 | 12 November 2008 | Blackburn Rovers | Home | 1–2 | 18,555 | Jones |
Players
First-team squad
Left club during season
Statistics
Appearances and goals
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred out during the season