Stern nets in win over Galway  02/08/07

Stern John featured in Sunderland’s comprehensive 4-0 win over Galway United in a preseason match, as the Premiership side ended their tour of Ireland on Wednesday evening at a packed Terryland Park.

John came on and made an impression.

In fact, substitute John was the most notable player on the field in the last 10-mintes of the game for the victors, after skillfully setting up a goal and then finishing off one for himself two minutes later.

John in action

With his team already leading 2-0 and seeming to finish the game on that score line, John collected a ball down the right side of pitch, and with some clever footwork, easily turned his full-back marker on the inside and delivered a good looking cross.
The striker’s ball, which went beyond the advancing Alan Gough in goal, was met by his strike partner David Connolly, who held off his marker and headed home for a 3-0 lead after 83 minutes.

Two minutes later, John played an excellent give and go with Connolly before neatly side footing home from 12-yards to score his second of the pre-season tour and made up for the number of misses he had on Monday against Cork.

The Black Cats manager Roy Keane, a former Manchester United midfielder and skipper when Yorke was striking at the club, said he was happy to see his strikers on the score sheet.

"Dave [Connolly] and Stern [John] got one each and it's always nice for the strikers to hit the back of the net,” Keane said after the game.

Roy Keane

"A lot has been asked of the players on this trip, it's been demanding and I think they've represented Sunderland very well.

"It was good. We took our chances and it was a nice way to finish off the trip.
"Our form hasn't been too bad, we created chances and we finished them with some good goals - it's always nice to score four goals,” he added.

Earlier in the game the Black Cats, despite not playing fluent football, took the lead in the sixth minute when newly signed Michael Chopra got his first goal in Sunderland colours with a volley over the goalkeeper Gary Rogers’ head to give his side a 1-0 at the break.

Former Manchester United left-winger Kieran Richardson made it 2-0 after 56-minutes with a lovely taken goal under Gough's body, after a delightful first touch to advance the ball inside the area.
Another Trinidadian in the Sunderland side is Carlos Edwards, but he was forced to miss the match Monday evening because of a groin injury.

Meanwhile, Yorke again played his trademark, hard-pressing role in midfield as his team fended off some sloppy play in the second half to end the night and indeed the Irish tour off on a high note.
The Black Cats will next host Juventus on Friday. They will open their 2007/2008 English Barclays Premier League campaign against Tottenham at the Stadium of Light on August 11.

John : Goals will flow

Trinidad and Tobago striker Stern John is confident he and his fellow strikers at Sunderland will get it right in time for the upcoming Premiership season.

John, who scored a winner last week, added that he wasn’t worried with the club scoring only four times in as many matches.
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“Obviously, it’s disappointing that the scorelines have not reflected the way we have dominated the games, but I really believe we shouldn’t make too much of that.

“For the past few weeks the strikers have been putting in the work to get their sharpness back, and I think it will come. It’s unfortunate we have missed chances in games, but that happens sometimes and there’s no need to be worried because the manager and the staff know what they’re doing. Strikers tend to take longer to be at their sharpest than other players,” said John.

Sunderland finished their Irish tour with a game against Galway United at Terryland Park tonight, having beaten Bohemians 1-0 in Dublin on Saturday and drawing 1-1 with Cork City on Monday. Dwight Yorke and Carlos Edwards have also been in the midst of the preseason campaign while Silvio Spann is coming off an impressive trial at the club. Meantime, defender Brent Sancho is currently on trial with English club Millwall. And Jason Scotland scored his first goal for Swansea City in a 5-2 win over Dutch club Alphense Boys.