EVEN AT the height of their promotion triumph 12 months ago the Sunderland faithful had to implore their manager to put a smile on his face, so lord only knows who can lift Peter Reid now his team have made an instant return to the first division.

Jason Euell's deciding goal with four minutes remaining finally severed the Roker men's Premiership lifeline, although as Coventry held on for their victory at White Hart Lane, a draw would not have been enough to prevent them going the same sorry way as their near neighbours Middlesbrough.

Before the 18 year old Euell accepted the invitation that arrived with Dean Holds worth's low left wing cross, Wimbledon had rejected a hatful of chances. On another day, they might also have won a penalty.

They looked a side free of nerves, while Sunderland were a taut, straining outfit from start to finish. The 15,000 diehards that made the long journey from Wearside could not have done more to will their heroes on. They did not want their association with the top division of English football to end after just a single season, but, just as in 1990, that was their unfortunate fate. It hurt like hell.

"It feels like the end of the world at the moment," admitted a crest fallen Reid. "I am bitterly disappointed that the points total shows that we were not good enough."

Even at the end of the nine month marathon, the agony continued for Reid and his players who had to wait another Is excruciating minutes to see if Tottenham could draw level with Coventry.

"It was quite an eerie feeling in the dressing room, but I couldn't listen to the radio, I had a large Scotch instead," added Reid.

It also hurt for Chris Waddle and Paul Stewart, who almost certainly made their final appearances in a Sunderland shirt while a relegation script was unfolding. Their experience should have counted for a lot for to these old warhorses fell the best two Sunderland chances of the day and neither was taken.

So the spanking new £15 million stadium on the site of the old Monkwearmouth colliery will now welcome the glamour names of the Nationwide League.