Over the years, Sunderland have played Southampton 69 times and have secured 24 wins, 17 draws, and 27 defeats. Here are some of the most notable games…
SOUTHAMPTON 2-4 SUNDERLAND - FA CUP - 1932
On the 13th of January 1932, Sunderland travelled to the Dell to face Southampton. The Saints had George Kay as their manager, meanwhile we were under Johnny Cochrane. Jack Vinall opened the scoresheet for Sunderland in the 14th minute. That was then followed by a Harry Poulter brace to give the Lads a 3-0 lead going into half time. Charlie Silett pulled one back for Southampton in the 65th minute, but Harry Shaw scored a penalty to make it 4-1. Southampton won a penalty two minutes later, and Mike Keeping made it 4-2. Sunderland won the game 4-2 and advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
SUNDERLAND 4-0 SOUTHAMPTON - DIVISION 2 - 1963
It was the 4th of May 1963, and Alan Brown’s Sunderland were hosting Ted Bates’ Southampton at Roker Park. Johnny Crossan was by far and away the best player that day. He scored his first goal of the game in the 17th minute, and his second in the 19th minute. The Lads went into halftime 2-0 up. Jimmy Davison made it three in the 59th minute, and Crossan secured his hat trick in the 62nd minute to put the nail in the Saints coffin.
SOUTHAMPTON 3-0 SUNDERLAND - PREMIER LEAGUE - 1996
Back in 1996, Peter Reid’s Sunderland were spanked 3-0 by Graeme Souness’ Southampton. Jason Dodd scored the first goal in the 38th minute and the Black Cats were 1-0 down at halftime. Southampton then won a penalty in the 53rd minute, it was converted by club legend Matt Le Tissier. The game was finished off in the 89th minute when Neil Shipperley made it 3-0. It was a bad day for our travelling supporters.
SOUTHAMPTON 8-0 SUNDERLAND - PREMIER LEAGUE - 2014
This was one of Sunderland’s worst defeats in modern history, it was truly embarrassing. Gus Poyet’s Lads travelled to St Mary's to face Ronald Koeman's Southampton. Santiago Vergini scored a comical own goal in the 12th minute, the Argentinian smashed the ball into his own net. Graziano Pelle made it 2-0 in the 18th minute, and Jack Cork scored just before halftime. A tragic first half display was followed by an even worse second half. Liam Bridcutt scored the second own goal of the day, and Pelle secured his brace. Things were going from bad to worse. Dusan Tadic bagged the 6th, then substitute Victor Wanyama scored straight from kick off. Patrick van Aanholt scored the final goal of the day, but unfortunately it was another own goal and the Lads lost 8-0.
SUNDERLAND 0-4 SOUTHAMPTON - PREMIER LEAGUE - 2017
Our latest game against the Saints took place in 2017, but unfortunately it was another battering. Manolo Gabbiadini (no relation to Marco) put Claude Puel’s side 1-0 up in the 30th minute, and the Italian made it 2-0 right before halftime. The game remained 2-0 until Jason Denayer scored an own goal in the 88th minute. That was followed by a stoppage time Shane Long goal, and the game ended 4-0.
SUNDERLAND 5-0 SOUTHAMPTON - CHAMPIONSHIP - 2023
Once again this fixture delivered plenty of goals. Southampton came into this fixture having lost none of their first four games of the season, winning three and drawing one. We showed that fearlessness that was a staple to our success in the 22/23 campaign under Mowbray and we took it right to Southampton from the off, scoring within the first minute, Clarke headed in from close range after a perfect cross from Hume. Six minutes later Pierre Ekwah doubled the lead, unleashing a strike from the edge of the box. Then before half time Ekwah made it a brace as he scored our third goal of the day. He was clearly full of confidence, and with us already two up, he thought why not and tried another from distance and beat the keeper at his near post with another low driven shot. Soon after half time it was four, with Bradley Dack getting in on the action, he almost scored with a header, but it was saved and then the rebound was sent back into the area, this time on the floor and Dack had an easy finish.
Days don't get much better than this, the sun was shining and the lads were having their way with a promotion candidate. To top things off, Jewi had his dancing boots on and pirouetted twice around the saints players creating a lot of space, and just because he could he did another one for a laugh before he whipped in a pearler of a cross at the back stick for the Chris Rigg to get his first league goal for the lads. What a day.
