Danny Graham’s ‘low-point’ comments highlight old problems at Sunderland

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This weekend saw Blackburn Rovers striker Danny Graham discuss his tormentful time at Sunderland. Speaking to The Telegraph he made it clear that his time at Sunderland was the ‘low-point’ in his career so far.

Graham joined Sunderland in January 2013 after good form at Swansea City. The Chronicle reported the fee involved to be in the region of £5 million. But he worked under several different managers at Sunderland during three years of turmoil at the Stadium of Light.

Loan spells at Hull City, Middlesbrough, Wolves and Blackburn followed, with the latter eventually becoming permanent.

“I have regrets about how it worked out but it was a very tough time for me there – the low point of my career. I found myself playing under three or four managers and in and out of the first-team squad.”

– Danny Graham on his Sunderland spell

Graham, clearly feels his chances at Sunderland were not helped by the upheaval at the club. That is a view probably shared by a number of other players from the same period of time. With Sunderland now in League One, it is clear that this turmoil was not good for the club either.

Sunderland fans will, however, remember that Graham was far from prolific in his time at the club. He scored just one goal in 42 appearances for the Black Cats.

His form since leaving suggests he might have done better with a more stable role. At Blackburn, he has been a regular for the past three years.

In that time the 33-year-old has scored 45 times in 126 games, including an excellent current campaign in which the experienced striker has scored eight goals in 20 games as a Championship regular.

Graham signifies the mismanagement at Sunderland prior to the current regime. Hopefully, the Black Cats can return to the Championship for next season and these mistakes are left firmly in the past.