Colin Randall 
There is a hint of discontent at Salut! Sunderland, says Monsieur Salut.
We’re broadly pleased at the process SAFC have made under Jack Ross, aided and abetted by the breath of fresh air introduced by the new owners.
My “how’s it going?” piece went up on Friday, as per usual over the last few international breaks, and elicited few responses, as per usual over the last few seasons. I had expected one or two Coventry ninjas (there can’t be many more than two) to pick up the series and comment but it appears to be beyond them.
Not that it matters. One appreciative reader, Edward, made a comment and that got me thinking, so I did a bit of fiddling with the spreadsheet and here we are.
In some ways this post is similar to Friday’s. However, there is not only an update there’s also a change of emphasis. Sunderland, of course, are the main focus but, for the first time this season, Walsall and Doncaster come into the discussion, which is something they’ve merited for a while, and I’ve also included Accrington, new entrants to the play-off spots
Salut! Sunderland continues its series on branches of the SAFC Supporters’ Association with a look at Nyssan, writes Monsieur Salut. No, I am not referring to that valued provider of mass employment (come back after March 31 for an update on that description) but to the North Yorkshire Sunderland Supporters’ Association, a branch with not just Nyssa but Nyssan on its registration plate. And its bit of the A19 comes after Teesside, off course when travelling south.
Ken Gambles, also a valued provider (in his case of thought-provoking and sometimes rather witty articles for this site, takes up the story of the branch oƒ which he is secretary (You can e-mail Ken by clicking here …
With a break this weekend it’s time to revisit our “Ones to watch”.
If you’ve been following this series you’ll remember that we’re tracking six clubs over the course of the season. The six were chosen by a people’s vote, that new tool of democracy, with the club which came top of the poll – Coventry City – also providing a baseline against which the other five will be compared.
If you’re wondering how Coventry came to be chosen click the hyperlinks at the bottom of the page. (And if you want to see how I’ve followed our selected teams in previous seasons you can follow this link ).
Malcolm Dawson writes…..there is an air of quiet satisfaction floating around Sixsmith Towers this morning, as the staff quietly go …
If we fail to win promotion at the first attempt this season, it may not be because of our inability to keep a clean sheet or hold onto a lead but through a lack of discipline. For the third time this season we had a player sent off and for the second time our keeper has to save a penalty. Listening to Barnes and Benno, the closing minutes of this game was real heart in the mouth stuff. Would we hang on? The final minutes were made just that little bit easier when the hosts also had a player shown the red card.
Pete Sixsmith was there and as always will bring us his detailed report of what was a nail biting game tomorrow. But for now make do with his instant seven match summary of a game in a league which is anything but boring.
John McCormick writes: some 15 years ago, perhaps a few more, I almost went to see Bradford play. It was a Valentine’s weekend and the family had decamped to a hotel in the region, 10 of us altogether, mostly from my wife’s side, for a reunion of some sort. We arrived on the Friday and going to the match was one of the possibilities raised while having a few drinks on the Friday night. Come the Saturday, no one felt like going. Perhaps that’s not surprising, given that my share of the bar bill alone was in three figures when we checked out on the Sunday.
Pete Sixsmith appears to have had no such problems in getting there:
John McCormick, associate editor, writes…. a century ago Bradford was both a new city and an industrial power, able to compete with anywhere in the world. As befitted its status it had two professional football clubs, one of which had won the FA Cup in 1911 by beating Newcastle United, who had won it the previous year.
Then came decline, of the city and of its football clubs. While close neighbours Leeds United became mighty and cross-Pennine rivals in Manchester achieved great things, Bradford Park Avenue – Len Shackleton’s first club – went from playing in an Archibald Leitch stadium to Sunday league football before returning as far as the Vanarama League (North).
The other club, cup-winning Bradford City, were relegated in the 1920s and never regained their pre-war glory. But, despite trials and tribulations that make our recent troubles seem trivial, they remained in the Football League.
Jason Mckeown* continues their story:
John McCormick writes: I was in with a chance of a mug for new baby James for almost an hour on Tuesday, then Oviedo got that red card and everything changed.
And, I suppose, I’d better withdraw myself from this week’s competition as it seems a bit unfair for me to get my
guessprediction in before anyone else has a chance. I’d be going for 0-2 (Sinclair and Power) so that scoreline’s open to another reader.There’s no need for you to feel guilty about taking it and depriving my grandchild; I’m sure James won’t mind waiting. After all, I’ve been saying 2-0 since we were a Premiership club and it still hasn’t happened. Another two weeks won’t matter.
Pete Sixsmith sent a text with about 20 minutes to go: “Oviedo red card. Correct and totally unnecessary” and I began to wonder how we could hold out against a team that scores at will when we have only one clean sheet to our name. We couldn’t, but we did manage to match them and finish with a point. Should it have been three though, and will tonight come back to haunt us? We’ll find out as this season unrolls.
However, Pete’s instant seven word post-match text suggests there will be more talking points and they won’t all be about Brian Oviedo.