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Top Of The Shots: Sunderland's Best Goals From Left Back

Ever wanted to see a team based entirely upon brilliant goals scored for Sunderland? Then wait no longer and have you say too.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

I think it's time for a new feature! Well, more to the point, Danny Roberts does, and who are we to argue? Every week, Danny will nominate some great Sunderland goals scored from specific positions. The Roker Report readers will vote for their winner and in the end we'll compile them all into a Best Sunderland Goals XI.

Enough from me, though. I'll hand you over to Danny instead (editor).

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We've witnessed almost all of them. Best all time, foreign and English eleven to name a few. However, have we had a ‘best goal scored eleven'?

In fairness, I doubt anyone has been bored enough to do such a compilation, but it's always nice to review some of the clubs' greatest strikes of yester-years, so here we go.

The rules. Well, all two of them. The goal must have been scored from open play, so free kicks such as Richardson's rocket against the nearest and dearest and Gardner's stunner against Wigan won't feature. The second rule is that only one goal per player can be included.

Each week we'll focus on each particular position, with a selection of the greatest strikes from those playing in the roll for you to decide from.

As Mart Poom has the goalkeeper slot firmly sewn up with his salmon-out-of-water header against Derby in 2005, we'll start with that rare commodity for Sunderland in recent years: left back.

The contenders

Michael Gray v Bolton

In Howard Wilkinson's first away game in charge, Sunderland went to the Reebok and actually earned one their 19 points of the season. On the stroke of halftime, Micky surprised us even more and scored this wonderful effort.

Richard Ord v Grimsby

With Andy Melville and Gary Bennett playing in the centre of defence, Ord was at the left back birth and salvaged a point from the game with this rocket. The footage isn't the greatest, but the strike certainly was.

Danny Rose v Aston Villa

A loan player hits the list, with Danny's only goal for the lads a standout one. The lovely pass and run football was smartly finished off to put lads back on levels terms after Ron Vlaar's wonder strike put the Villains ahead. What happened after is best left in the past, however at least we got this out of the game.

Ron Guthrie v Luton Town

Setting us on our way to a semi-final clash against Arsenal, Guthrie's swiveled finish made it two-nil against their league counterparts, who had beaten the lads seven days prior in the league.

Kieran Richardson v Wolves

With Martin O'Neil watching on in the stands, Kieran, who was playing at left back, impressed the new manager with this brilliant counter-attacking goal after running the full length of the pitch.

Joe Bolton v Fulham

The whole move makes this goal great. The great save from Barry Siddall into a blistering counter attack, which was slotted home lovely by the fans favourite Bolton.

So, that's your lot. Which one will be the winner? Watch them all, pick your favourite and vote below.

The winner will be announced next week when we switch flanks and review the goals scored by those at right back. Do you have any memorable strikes that come to mind? Leave us your suggestions underneath.

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