On This Day (27 December 1990): 'Kay shouldn't have been sent off for Haddock tackle' says Smith!
Yesterday at 01:00 AM
Yeah, we're not sure about that one, Denis!
John Kay's status as Sunderland's Red and White Tractor lives to this day – and for those too young to recall, he was given the moniker by Howard Wilkinson after Sunderland's pre-Christmas clash with Leeds in 1990.
After flying into a tackle which left Leeds' former Newcastle defender Peter Haddock with a broken leg, Kay was red carded – and Wilkinson reported after the game Haddock's leg 'looks like it's been run over by a tractor'.
In 1990 straight reds were pretty rare indeed, and Denis Smith was far from convinced Kay had deserved his first red card at the club. The sending off had left Sunderland down to ten men with the game level, and Leeds managed to score through Mel Sterland – although Tony Norman should have saved easily.
And, after a Boxing Day game at Crystal Palace, in which Sunderland were denied a blatant penalty and went on to lose 2-1 after being 1-0 up, Smith – himself a player who liked a tough tackle or two – took aim at the officials who he believed had cost his side some good festive points.
That's two games running we've been on the end of decisions like that. I did my best to keep off the referee on Sunday after his decision cost us the game, although the video proved I was right to think Kay shouldn't have been sent off.
I'm sure a video of this game will show we should have had a penalty because it was the most blatant one I have seen for a long time.
The referee must have been the only one on the ground who didn't think it was a foul – but it's his decision that counts.
Sunderland's game at Crystal Palace had seen the lads go one up in the second half, thanks to a goal from league debutant David Rush. The youngster had previously had a run out in the league cup the season before, but on for the injured Marco Gabbiadini – who was goalless in six games, his worst run at the club – he'd put Sunderland into the lead and produced a lively display.
With summer signing Peter Davenport also on the sidelines and Thomas Hauser also injured, Smith was relying on the youngster to provide some much-needed firepower.
Rush can score goals, and with Davenport and Gabbiadini both out we need a natural striker.
We are in the position we are in because we aren't winning enough games, but come the end of the season I think you will find we are still in the first division.
Defeat at Selhurst Park had left Sunderland in 18th place, and a couple of days later Sunderland took on QPR at Loftus Road. Rush started in place of Gabbiadini, and partnered the returning Peter Davenport – who lasted 20 minutes before limping off to be replaced by Warren Hawke – increasing Sunderland's striking worries as we went in to 1991 with just one aim – survival.
