Newcastle Uniteds shrinking violet, Malcom MacDonald once scoffed at Sunderland while at their lowest ebb with the zinger Billy Connolly has just turned down the chance to join the Black Cats. It came on the day Middlesbrough had signed an exciting young Italian forward for a large fee and Newcastle had signed Patrick Kluivert. Well, he who laughs last Fast forward a couple of years, and Sunderland snapped up David Connolly at the second time of asking on the final day of the transfer window. Despite him not appearing to be as prolific as some of his fellow Sunderland striking cohorts over the years, the goals he did score were all important. Roy Keanes rebuild of Sunderland appeared to be as much reliant on numbers as it was ability, in an early (and possibly accidental) pre-cursor to the Moneyball system. But during the promotion push there were one or two reliable regulars who had galvanised things, and Connolly with his 13 goals during that season was certainly one of those. His calmness when taking a penalty would also prove invaluable, which was especially true when he was called upon during the game that would ultimately confirm the club's promotion back to the big time. During a bizarre first-half, Connollys nerve from the spot would be tested more than once as he stepped up to the plate, perhaps not getting the credit he deserved. After promotion however, Connollys heroics the previous season would be overlooked as Keane added David Healy and Andy Cole to the already swelled forward ranks ahead of him. But had he been allowed his opportunity, Connolly surely couldn't have proved any more disappointing than those other two, surely?
