How many times have I lain awake in far-off parts, mobile phone by the pillow set to silent to avoid annoying Mme Salut but ready to be consulted when Pete Sixsmith’s texts arrive with news of a stream of Sunderland goals?
For some reason, I especially remember such an exercise when teams we should or must beat – Stoke City among them – are at the Stadium of Light. And I am aware of having waited in vain for any text at all.
The absence of messages is worrying in itself – has he forgotten, are they messages lost in the ether? – but it has all too often been explained by Sixer being present at a goalless draw. There may have been a desultory confirmation at final whistle but at least one if us will by then be asleep.
But I like receiving the texts whether or not I have found a way of watching or listening, not least because the view from the East Stand or some away ground is usually more instructive and tells me what I need to know about the perception among our fans. Tomorrow, it’ll be a mix of Benno and Barnes, whatever internet stream I can locate … and Sixer.
Here’s your chance to save us all the bother. Just get the scoreline right, post it below and … and you win a round of applause.
It’s another prize-free, just-for-fun Guess the Score. Have a go. And Ha’way the Lads … no need for me to spell out how big a game this is for us.
Based on my (great-) nephew Louis’ favourite players I’ll go for Johnson & Borini to give us a 2-1 win
3 -0 Fletcher hat trick
1-0 with Borini putting down the Potters.
I seem to remember I went to this game because Stan Matthews was supposed to play. Needless to say he didn’t.
1-1. You never get a decent game against Stoke.
I saw the Stoke v Liverpool game a couple of weeks ago and it was a fantastic game. That will be it for the next 60 years. First time I’ve ever seen a good game involving Stoke with anybody but don’t predict anything other than a dour encounter tomorrow night.
Sixer and I saw the birth of dreary, come for a draw football or so it seemed – 0-0 vs Stoke at Roker Park in 1963. We couldn’t break them down.They finished top, we missed promotion on goal difference after losing at home to Chelsea, who also went up, in our last game
Tomorrow? I will go for a bold 3-1 without actually believing it will happen
SAFC 2- 0 Stoke, Fletcher and Altidore to end the goal drought!
Going for a sneaky 2-1 win