Wear Euro hopes die

SO NEAR and yet so far. Sunderland fans stayed behind to applaud their heroes after a rousing finale at Goodison Park - but they trooped away feeling dejected that the glittering prize of playing in Europe had been allowed to slip from their grasp, left wondering what might have been.

Sunderland, second in the Premiership in mid-January, had gradually slid down the table and went into their last match of the season needing not only a victory at Everton, but an unlikely Chelsea defeat at Maine Road to climb into sixth place.

Neither happened and the coveted UEFA Cup spot went to Chelsea which, to be honest, was always going to be the predictable outcome as the Premiership rang down the curtain on a "same again" season for Peter Reid's men.

But Sunderland went down with all guns blazing in a fiercely contested game, twice coming back from behind, thanks to goals from Man of the Match Kevin Phillips and almost snatching a last-gasp victory in the fifth minute of stoppage time despite conceding two penalties and having had Scottish international Don Hutchison sent off on his return to his old club.

Reid returned to his old stamping ground hoping for a near-miracle, but he was realistic enough to realise that the odds were stacked against his team, finally made to pay the price for disappointing results on the several frustrating occasions they should have done better.

And Reid had no complaints about the dismissal of Hutchison in the 64th minute for a professional foul on David Unsworth, but he feels that referees should be afforded greater discretion.

He said: "By the letter of the law Don had to go - the referee had no option.

"But I think that a common-sense decision would have been to award a penalty and allow the player to stay on.

"But that sort of common-sense option has been taken away from referees and it is a pity because I think there should be a little leeway.

"But even with ten men we kept battling away and nearly nicked it at the death."

Orpington referee Steve Bennett not only gave Hutchison his marching orders but went strictly by the book and took the names of nine other players for a mixture of dissent, fouls and obstruction, but there was hardly a serious offence in the whole of the game.

Bennett also came up with his own interpretation of a deliberate back-pass when former Newcastle defender Steve Watson stuck out his foot to accidentally deflect a back-pass and Phillips would have notched a match-winning hat-trick if the fullback hadn't headed his close-range shot off the line.

But it was not to be - and in any case Chelsea had wrapped up the points and their place in Europe by beating Manchester City 2-1.

The Sunderland players, however, had no idea about the score at Maine Road, and there was no indication of any upset from the loyal band of supporters, all, it seemed, decked out in red-and-white replica shirts.

There could be no complaints about application from Reid's team, even though they suffered a ninth minute shock when tricky Israeli winger Idan Tal, who gave former England fullback Michael Gray one of his most torrid afternoons of the season, slammed in a shot off the legs of midfielder Stefan Schwarz.

Sunderland, however, had Phillips back in his old, predatory form. His strike partner, Niall Quinn, had headed over a good chance in the 16th minute and two minutes later goalkeeper Paul Gerrard had saved a stinging shot at the second attempt from the England man.

But Phillips showed lightning control in the 21st minutes as he turned on a pass from Argentinian winger Julio Arca to drive his clinical, low shot wide of the helpless Gerrard into the bottom corner of the net.

Arca was to pick up a groin injury, being replaced in the final minute of the first half by Hutchison, who seemed to be occupied in a deeper role.

It was Hutchison who popped up in his own penalty area to up-end midfielder David Unsworth as he prepared to shoot - an undoubted penalty. The red card from the referee was not entirely unexpected and things looked bleak for Sunderland.

But Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, most famous among red-and-white fans for his memorable penalty save against Alan Shearer in the 2-1 win at Newcastle, did it again, pushing Unsworth's save away to his right.

The home fans, however, were still settling down expecting a comfortable Everton victory, and central defender Emerson Thome somehow managed to deflect a pile-driver from striker Thomas Graveson over the bar in the 69th minute.

But Everton were awarded a second spot kick when Craddock tripped Gary Naysmith in the 75th minute and central defender Michael Ball sent Sorensen the wrong way.

Sunderland, however, refused to the towel and Phillips, who has shot straight at the keeper when put through by Quinn just after half time, made no mistake with a tightly angled shot into the net after a clever flick-on by young substitute Kevin Kyle.

Referee Bennett continued to confound onlookers, ordering a freekick inside the box in stoppage time when it was clearly an accidental back-pass by Watson. But justice was done as Phillips' fierce drive was cleared from under the bar.

Sunderland finished with the same points - 57 - in the same position - seventh - as they did in the previous season and Reid reflected: "I am tinged with disappointment.

"We have thrown away points in games we should have got something from. We must learn in future to kill games off."