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Sport

Sunderland’s new boys must bide their time and fight for first-team chance

WAYNE Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos will have to bide their time to be included in Sunderland’s starting line-up, admits Martin O’Neill.

Knack Premier Darts League trophy winner Graham Mullen with England International and former World Champion Martin Wolfie Adams.

Darts champ Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams presents Graham Mullen with Knack Premier League championship

Knack Darts League

Mullen shows winning Knack

GRAHAM Mullen has been crowned the first ever champion of the Knack Premier League in Seaham – in the presence of a three-time world champion.

Sessegnon gets in a shot against Middlesbrough.

Sunderland’s Sessegnon praises team effort after FA Cup win over Middlesbrough

STEPHANE Sessegnon today played down the impact of his scoring streak despite a fourth goal in eight games, ensuring Sunderland prevailed in the Tees-Wear derby.

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Paul Murray reminds Neale Cooper of himself in his playing days.

Hartlepool boss Neale Cooper says Paul Murray is an image of himself as a player

NEALE Cooper would not be the first manager to laud the merits of Paul Murray – but the Pools boss admits he sees something of himself in the midfield terrier.

Sunderland AFC

O’Neill’s genius down to simplicity, says Sunderland star Bardsley

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Stephane Sessegnon in action against Middlesbrough.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill hopes Stephane Sessegnon is fit for weekend after FA Cup marathon against Middlesbrough

MARTIN O’Neill hopes Stephane Sessegnon suffers no after-effects of his match-winning display on Teesside, writes CHRIS YOUNG.

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Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 2 (aet): O’Neill relieved to avoid shoot-out lottery as Sessegnon wins it

MARTIN O’Neill admits he was a relieved man after Sunderland avoided the “lottery” of a penalty shoot-out against their neighbours.

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Echo Jury: Michael Tuckwell is confident of success in tonight’s FA Cup fourth round replay

SO, we have to replay at Boro.

Middlesbrough's Faris Haroun and Sunderland's Kieran Richardson (right)

Boro v Sunderland: Chris Young’s verdict

THE OCCASIONS on which Sunderland have been vulnerable during Martin O’Neill’s reign have been few and far between.

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Sunderland striker Campbell fresh to face Middlesbrough

MARTIN O’NEILL is relieved Sunderland can unleash a fresh Fraizer Campbell at Middlesbrough tonight.

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Football

O’Neill’s genius down to simplicity, says Sunderland star Bardsley

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Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse wants to build on his goal-scoring debut.

Newcastle’s Papiss Demba Cisse hopes to emulate Senegal team-mate Demba Ba in Premier League

PAPISS Demba Cisse is confident he can emulate his Senegalese countryman Demba Ba’s – and take the Premier League by storm.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray speaks of dejection after FA Cup loss to Sunderland

TONY Mowbray was as dejected as his crestfallen players after Middlesbrough’s mammoth effort to go toe-to-toe with Sunderland ultimately ended in failure, writes CHRIS YOUNG.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill hopes Stephane Sessegnon is fit for weekend after FA Cup marathon against Middlesbrough

MARTIN O’Neill hopes Stephane Sessegnon suffers no after-effects of his match-winning display on Teesside, writes CHRIS YOUNG.

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Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 2 (aet): O’Neill relieved to avoid shoot-out lottery as Sessegnon wins it

MARTIN O’Neill admits he was a relieved man after Sunderland avoided the “lottery” of a penalty shoot-out against their neighbours.

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Newcastle United’s Sylvain Marveaux to miss rest of season

SYLVAIN Marveaux is desperate to rejoin Newcastle’s Premier League campaign – but the winger admits he faces a battle to play again this season.

Local sport

Herschelle Gibbs in action for Yorkshire during his previous stint in England.

Durham sign former South Africa test opener Herschelle Gibbs for T20 tournament

FORMER South African test player Herschelle Gibbs has joined Durham for this season’s Friends Life T20 tournament.

Clubs ready for Wrekenton run

THE Start Fitness North East Harrier League returns on Saturday after a mid-winter break with the fourth fixture of six promoted by Saltwell Harriers at Wrekenton.

Burdis and Garvin help Whitburn demolish Pennywell

WHITBURN bounced back to form with a 5-0 win against Pennywell B in the first division of the Westoe Removals Sunderland Snooker League.

It’s make or break for David Dolan

SUNDERLAND cruiserweight David Dolan has been promised a tough return to the ring – by his coach Neil Fannan.

Runners conquer the Cumbrian cold

ATHLETES battled over a frozen course and into wind and snow when they contested the Inter Counties Schools’ Cross-Country match at Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, on Saturday.

National sport

May date for Khan-Peterson rematch

Lamont Peterson has agreed to a rematch with Amir Khan in Las Vegas in May, the Bolton fighter's camp have said.

Roby has grounds to be excited

The excitement is building for England hooker James Roby as he prepares to lead St Helens out for Friday night's historic first Stobart Super League match at Langtree Park against Salford.

Evans ready for Davis Cup return

Dan Evans insists the Glasgow crowd will see a much more mature player this weekend than the one whose defeat condemned Britain to an ignominious Davis Cup loss in Lithuania two years ago.

O'Connell wants to avoid mistakes

Paul O'Connell admits Ireland's failings during their RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales offer a blueprint on how to lose to France.

McBryde wary of wounded Scotland

Robin McBryde believes Scotland will be encouraged by an impressive Millennium Stadium performance two years ago when they look to stop Wales in their tracks on Sunday.