Sunderland came into this fixture in thirteenth position in the table and without a win in five games. They had not strung together two consecutive victories since the opening fixtures of the season. The pattern of win, then draw, then lose was both infuriating and mystifying for manager Bill Murray as well as the Roker fans.
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea born Ronnie Turnbull was back at centre-forward for this match, he had only scored one goal up to this point in the season and had found himself edged out by the in-form Dickie Davis (who had scored seven goals) but was injured for this match.
Hard man Reginald Scotson was dropped in favour of Willie Watson at right-half and there was a debut for Scot, Tom Dougal on the right wing with Len Duns injured and the experiment of playing Watson there deemed not worth repeating by Bill Murray.
Chelsea arrived with something of a reputation as draw specialists and a forward who could cut through defences like a knife in Jim Bowie! They also had a future Bristol Rovers manager Bobby Campbell in their squad.
The game kicked off with an estimated 40,000 fans in the ground, which was remarkable given the run of results and inconsistent performances!
Chelsea were first to show, with Bowie on song as he thrashed a shot just wide of Mapson’s post.
Ron Turnbull then turned and streaked fifteen yards before unleashing a thunderbolt that flew straight into Chelsea goalkeeper Pickering’s arms. Minutes later Len Shackleton having forced a corner kick, hooked the resultant cross over the bar.
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It was end to end stuff at this point in the game with Hall and Hudgell in particular busy with their defensive duties and Watson proving a cultured link between defence and forwards.
Dougal earned the applause of the crowd for some enterprising wing play as Shack’ again found space but planted a sharp shot straight at Pickering.
At the other end of the pitch, McInnes for once beat Hudgell and cracked a shot from twelve yards out that was well saved by Mapson.
Turnbull was making a right nuisance of himself up front and it was no surprise when he was involved in the build up to Sunderland’s first goal on nineteen minutes. Great combination play between Reynolds and Turnbull, gave Reynolds a run as he beat his marker Bathgate and sent the perfect cross to Robinson, who headed strongly past Pickering to put the Lads one goal up.
Sunderland took control of the game after scoring, as Watson fed his forward line, Shack, Robinson, and Turnbull looked as if they would fashion goal number two at any given point.
Chelsea kept themselves in the contest with some heroic defending led by Harris in the centre of their defence, who was having a right battle with Turnbull.
Pickering made two good saves from the same Sunderland player as Shack’ stung his palms twice in a minute.
Then on thirty-five minutes a concerning clash between Watson and his goal-keeper Mapson, saw the goalie stretchered off concussed. Watson recovered and Robinson took over in Sunderland’s goal. Despite being a man down, Turnbull struck another accurate shot that was again saved by Pickering. Harris then tripped Turnbull as the forward beat him on the turn. Ramsden came up to take the free-kick and he smashed the ball goal-bound, but it rebounded off a Chelsea defender.
Turnbull then almost robbed a cheeky goal, as he stole the ball from keeper Pickering, but the Chelsea man did well to smother the ball before he could get his shot away. Pickering was in the action again as he saved a long range shot from Dougal just under his bar.
The second half saw Mapson recover and take his place in the goal and Robinson return to his inside forward berth, which suited most of the fans in the ground, as the game had become much more even during his sojourn in between the posts.
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On forty-six minutes the second goal of the game arrived and what a sweet goal it was for the vast majority within Roker Park. Watson found Turnbull with a great long ball. He controlled it, held off a challenge and played a clever pass to Shack’ who beat two defenders with close control and cheekily passed the ball into the back of the goal, with Pickering caught on his heels and going the wrong way.
Shack then sustained an injury and moved out to the left wing, but the move did not disrupt Sunderland’s dominance as they moved the ball quickly and accurately about the park, with Robinson and Turnbull at the heart of a lot of that good play.
On sixty-nine minutes a corner kick from Reynolds found Shack’ at the far post as he ghosted in to glance the ball into the net, giving Pickering no chance.
Chelsea responded forcing a free kick that was belted by Walker and looked to be heading in till Mapson leapt and saved.
Turnbull pulled another long ball down and was fouled on the edge of the box. For the second time in the match Ramsden came up from defence but blazed this kick well wide of the goal.
The last knockings of the game belonged to Chelsea as first McInnes drew another good save from Mapson and then right on full-time Bentley remarkably contrived to blaze high when it looked easier to score from five yards.
Best for Sunderland were Robinson and two-goal Shack.’ Manager Bill Murray said of Robinson “that player is full of football craft” and Stan Bell writing in the Sunday Sun said, “ Robinson had one of his best days ever.”
As for Shack,’ Bell reckoned he was “master of all” and “on top form.”
Lew Reynolds writing in the Shields football gazette reckoned this game was “as good an exhibition of soccer as Sunderland have staged since they beat the Wolves away from home in August.”
Honourable mentions for Willie Watson who delivered a smooth performance from right-half, a lot of fans reckoned this remarkable double England internationalist (Football and Cricket) was much better at half-back than further up the park. Bill Murray would come to think so too.
Ron Turnbull looked back to his all-action best and debutant Tom Dougal on the right wing showed some nice touches throughout the game. Dougal’s performance saw him play three games in succession , but these were the only three he played for Sunderland, in 1950 he was transferred to Yeovil Town.
Coincidently Yeovil would deliver one of the biggest upsets in football a few weeks later, knocking Sunderland out of the FA Cup in the fog and infamous slope at the Huish adding to the frustration of an inconsistent campaign. The season was only rescued to a degree as we went from March 19th to May 7th undefeated with seven draws and four wins to finish eighth in the table and set us up for a good tilt at the title in 1949/50, but that as they say is a story for another day! On this day it was Shack’ and Jackie Robinson who took the plaudits.
Division One
Date – 04.12.1948.
Venue – Roker Park
Attendance – 38,934
Sunderland 3 – 0 Chelsea
Goal scorers – Robinson 19 minutes; Shackleton 46 & 69 minutes
Sunderland – Johnny Mapson; Arthur Hudgell; Barney Ramsden; Willie Watson; Fred Hall; Arthur Wright; Tom Dougal; Jackie Robinson; Ronnie Turnbull; Len Shackleton; Tommy Reynolds.
Chelsea – Peter Pickering; Sid Bathgate; Billy Hughes; Ken Armstrong; John Harris; Jimmy Macauley; Bobby Campbell; Jim Bowie; Roy Bentley; Tommy Walker; John McInnes.