in december 1999, peter reid's sunderland paid £2.5 million for the left winger, making him the third most expensive club signing at the time. his impact was immediate; coming off the bench on his debut against southampton, kilbane crossed for kevin phillips to score the match winner. however, this was to be sunderland's last win until march 2000, a loss in form which came to be known as "the curse of kilbane".