Ross Wallace

Wallace was sold to Sunderland on 31 August 2006 in a deal including teammate Stanislav Varga for a combined fee of up to £1,100,000. [ 33 ] Upon joining the club, he said about his former teammate turned manager Roy Keane : "I've been on the wrong end of a Roy Keane rollicking once or twice and I still decided to come here. But to be fair, if he does say something, it's going to be good for you. He wants to help you. When he does do it, it's positive criticism. He demands the best because he was world class for a decade. Obviously, he demands the best from everyone here to take the club back up." [ 34 ] Wallace made his Sunderland debut against Derby County on 9 September 2006 and scored the winner in a 2–1 win. [ 35 ] This was followed up by setting up a goal for Liam Miller , who scored 14 yards past the goalkeeper, in a 3–0 win against Leeds United four days later on 13 September 2006. [ 36 ] However in a match against Ipswich Town on 23 September 2006, he played a role that led Jason de Vos to score an own goal, but was sent–off in the 86th minute for a second bookable offence, in a 3–1 loss. [ 37 ] After serving a one match suspension, Wallace returned to the first team, coming on as a 52nd-minute substitute, in a 4–1 loss against Preston North End on 14 October 2006. [ 38 ] In a match against Hull City on 28 October 2006, he scored his second goal for the club, which turned out to be the winning goal, but was sent–off for a second bookable offence for taking off his shirt while celebrating. [ 39 ] After serving a two match suspension, Wallace scored on his return, scoring the breakthrough goal in the 62nd minute, in a 1–1 draw against Southampton on 11 November 2006. [ 40 ] Following this, he was involved in the first team, and the left-wing position had been highly contested between him and teammate Tobias Hysén . [ 41 ] Due to injuries, his early form did tail towards the back end of the season. [ 42 ] But Wallace was able to re-find his form as the season — Wikipedia