2005–06 Sunderland A.F.C. season

Season summary

Sunderland's season began with a streak of five consecutive losses. A brief respite came with a three-match unbeaten run before the October international break, lifting the team out of the relegation zone. However, this momentum was short-lived; a defeat to Manchester United post-break plunged them back into the bottom three, a position they never recovered from. The period between the international break and Christmas was particularly bleak, with the team losing every match.

Their second victory of the season came in late January against West Bromwich Albion, who were just above them in the standings. Cup competitions were poor as well, as Sunderland struggled against League Two's Cheltenham Town in the League Cup's first round before a 3–0 defeat to Arsenal, and suffered a demoralizing exit in the FA Cup's fourth round to League One's Brentford.

The poor performance led to the dismissal of Mick McCarthy, the manager of nearly three years, with Kevin Ball stepping in as caretaker manager. The season's modest goal became to avoid setting a new low for the fewest points in a Premier League season, a record Sunderland themselves held. Not only was the new record set, but they also broke Stoke City's 21-year record for the lowest points under the three-point-win system. Sunderland marginally improved on their previous record for the fewest goals in a top-flight season The league's new low-point record was surpassed by Derby County two years later, who recorded 11 points in contrast to Sunderland's 15.

Transfers

In

Out

Players

First-team squad

:Squad at end of season

Left club during season

Reserve squad

Results

Sunderland's score comes first.

League Cup

FA Cup

Premier League

Main article: 2005–06 FA Premier League

Results by matchday

Friendlies

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 |}

References

Notes

References

1. (3 June 2005). "Sunderland sign Irish star Murphy". BBC Sport.
2. (13 June 2005). "Sunderland seal Nosworthy signing". BBC Sport.
3. (13 June 2005). "Sunderland snap up striker Stead". BBC Sport.
4. (14 June 2005). "Davis completes Sunderland move". BBC Sport.
5. (22 June 2005). "Miller secures Sunderland switch". BBC Sport.
6. (5 July 2005). "Sunderland sign Leeds youngster". BBC Sport.
7. (2 August 2005). "Sunderland sign defender Stubbs". BBC Sport.
8. (2 August 2005). "Sunderland sign Le Tallec on loan". BBC Sport.
9. (9 August 2005). "Murphy reveals Sunderland switch". BBC Sport.
10. (10 August 2005). "Gray completes move to Sunderland". BBC Sport.
11. (24 August 2005). "Bassila agrees to Sunderland move". BBC Sport.
12. (31 August 2005). "Sunderland capture Hoyte on loan". BBC Sport.
13. (26 January 2006). "Sunderland sign Smith from Leeds". BBC Sport.
14. (31 January 2006). "Sunderland seal signing of Delap". BBC Sport.
15. (14 June 2005). "Defender Lynch seals move to Hull". BBC Sport.
16. (1 July 2005). "Whitley completes Cardiff switch". BBC Sport.
17. (6 June 2005). "Stewart agrees Bristol City move". BBC Sport.
18. (12 July 2005). "Thornton completes Doncaster move". BBC Sport.
19. (23 July 2005). "City put seal on Bridges signing". BBC Sport.
20. (12 August 2005). "Collins joins Hartlepool on loan". BBC Sport.
21. (31 August 2005). "Poom makes loan switch to Arsenal". BBC Sport.
22. (8 September 2005). "Striker makes loan move to Hull". BBC Sport.
23. (23 September 2005). "Millers sign Leadbitter on loan". BBC Sport.
24. (23 January 2006). "Arsenal put faith in Poom".
25. "FootballSquads - Sunderland - 2005/06".