It was hard not to like Ricky Sbragia but he wasn't the right man for the Sunderland job, despite a successful spell as caretaker manager which rumbled into growing calls for him to stay. He did just about enough to keep Sunderland up before departing. The Scotsman had experience as a bruising defender during a career which started as a youngster at Birmingham before dropping down to playing for Morton, Walsall and Blackpool, before making 149 appearances for York City, winning the Fourth Division title in 1984. He also scored a vital equaliser against Liverpool in the FA Cup Fifth Round, taking the tie to a replay at Anfield.