Peter Reid's dismissal came nine games into the Premiership season after weeks of torrid pressure and increasingly desperate attempts to turn things around.

Tore Andre Flo and Marcus Stewart were brought in for a combined �10m, following the summer signings of Matt Piper, Stephen Wright and Phil Babb.

But even though the Black Cats drew against Manchester United and won at Leeds, five league defeats ultimately cost Reid his job.

Sunderland 0-1 Everton

The club's first home game of the campaign and a defeat which increased the anxiety after last season's sorry slide.

Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips missed a penalty to cancel out Everton striker Kevin Campbell's eventual winner.

Phillips even hit the woodwork twice and his team battled away but to no avail.

Middlesbrough 3-0 Sunderland

The pressure Reid had partially alleviated with a win at Leeds and a draw against Man Utd returned all too quickly after Sunderland lost to their local rivals.

The Black Cats were never at the races in this Tees-Wear derby and they went down to a Massimo Maccarone goal and a Szilard Nemeth brace.

Sunderland 0-3 Fulham

Another home loss, and another capitulation as Fulham eased to an embarrassingly easy victory at the Stadium of Light.

Reid's side had no response as Junichi Inamoto, Steve Marlet and Barry Hayles gave Fulham their first win on Wearside in the top flight for 50 years.

Newcastle 2-0 Sunderland

The defeat all Sunderland fans dreaded, but deep down probably expected.

And even Reid was moved to criticise the lack of discipline and desire shown by his players as they surrendered in feeble fashion.

Craig Bellamy scored within 83 seconds and Alan Shearer added the crucial second.

Ironically, defeat by anyone else may have forced the board's hand, but their reluctance to give Toon fans the satisfaction of forcing Reid out gave him a lifeline, albeit not for long.

Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland

After beating Aston Villa and Cambridge, losing to the currently all-conquering Arsenal at Highbury does not seem that bad at face value.

But once more, it was the manner of the defeat which ultimately proved too much for Sunderland to stomach.

A weak display which lacked passion and quality saw the Black Cats go two down inside nine minutes.

Comical defending at set pieces compounded Reid's misery and eventually persuaded his employers enough was enough.