FORMER striking ace Don Goodman last night blamed Sunderland's failure to achieve automatic promotion on their lack of a natural goalscorer.

The Black Cats have now gone 360 minutes without a goal as their hopes of finishing in the top two have gone up in smoke.

Mick McCarthy's side have bagged only 58 league goals all season - less than even Preston and Burnley - and, with none of his strikers firing on all cylinders, the Sunderland boss has been forced to chop and change his frontline in recent weeks.

Despite starting just two games since the end of February, Marcus Stewart remains the club's top scorer with 14 goals.

Crystal Palace's Andy Johnson has scored more than double that, and Goodman feels the lack of a 20-goal a season frontman has cost the Black Cats an instant return to the top-flight.

"Sunderland maybe do lack a really top-quality goalscorer," said the much-travelled striker who netted 44 times during his three years on Wearside in the 1990s.

"But you have to pay an awful lot of money to get a top-notch striker and Sunderland haven't had that.

"They've got Marcus Stewart and he has done okay, and I really like the look of Kevin Kyle. I thought he was excellent at Wigan and he can cause havoc in opposition defences, but he is not an out-and-out goalscorer.

"Sunderland do have players who can score goals - Stewart has done it in this division and Darren Byfield's record isn't that bad either.

"It just isn't happening at the moment, but the most important thing is that they are creating chances. If they carry on doing that, they will break that run of games without scoring."

Sunderland entertain Crewe on Saturday knowing that a win will guarantee a top-six finish.

Ipswich, West Ham and Wigan currently occupy the three other play-off places but, after beating the Black Cats 3-0 at Selhurst Park last week, Crystal Palace have suddenly emerged as serious contenders.

Iain Dowie's side have won five of their last six games and, after hitting form at just the right time, the Eagles will be the side to avoid if they manage to gatecrash the play-off party.

"My biggest worry for Sunderland would be Crystal Palace," admitted Goodman. "They have come up like an express train and they will be a lot of people's favourites. They will be the team you want to avoid because they have the momentum of an incredible run behind them.

"I don't think Sunderland can afford to worry about where they finish to qualify for the play-offs. They've just got to make sure they get there and go into them with some form.

"A run of three defeats and a draw isn't the best, so they need to end the season with a flourish and take their best form into the semi-final and then, hopefully, the final.

"It doesn't matter if you finish in third or sixth - it's about the form you have to finish in that position."

Wherever Sunderland finish in the table, they will almost certainly have to complete their promotion push without the help of midfielder Paul Thirlwell.

A CAT scan last night revealed that the 25-year-old had fractured his skull following a sickening clash of heads with Everton defender Steven Schumacher during Tuesday night's reserve-team game at Southport.

Thirlwell is still in hospital in the North-West and, while he is expected to be allowed home before the weekend, it is extremely unlikely he will figure again this season.

Right-back Stephen Wright could also miss the rest of the campaign after tearing his thigh muscle in Saturday's draw at Wigan.

* Rivaldo's agents insist the World Cup star has not turned his back on Bolton despite flying home to Brazil yesterday.

The 32-year-old has agreed financial terms with club officials and is to consult family members over the move in the next few days.

The delay in concluding the deal had prompted speculation that Sam Allardyce's audacious swoop had failed.

But Rivaldo's English agent insisted he remained ''positive'' it would go ahead as planned and that he would be a Bolton player ''within the next few days''.

Harrison said: ''Bolton have made him an offer and if he decides to play for Bolton those are the terms he will accept.

''It is not about money. He is just making sure of his decision and everything is looking positive at the moment.''

Meanwhile, Rivaldo's Brazilian agent also confirmed that the player had not changed his mind over a switch to the Reebok Stadium.

Carlos Arini said: ''If he hasn't said no yet, it's because he is seriously considering the offer.

''These kind of decisions are only for him to make."

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