As this miserable season limps inexorably to its end, Pete Sixsmith (whose seven word verdict usually sums up every Sunderland performance) elected to give the long trip to Reading a miss and so today it falls to a super sub to come up with our immediate succinct post match summary. The first half was a tale of two penalty shouts. The Reading one given and converted and the Sunderland claim dismissed. But thanks to a stunning strike from Paddy McNair the scores were level again with almost all of the second period still to play. Then a goal from the most unlikely of sources as Lee Cattermole knocked one in ….with his head! But a one goal lead is rarely enough for the boys in red and white and so it proved. Despite a frantic finish at both ends it’s back to the bottom for the Black Cats.
Malcolm Dawson writes…..things are so bad at the moment for Sunderland supporters that here at Salut! Sunderland M Salut has gone en vacances sur la plage and John Mac is as we speak, jetting away de vacaciones en la playa, leaving me to update the site from a wet and dreary Weardale and Peter Sixsmith, after presumably a wet and dreary wander along Seaburn sea front, to trudge along to the Stadium of Light and take up his customary position in the East Stand to bring us his instant seven word verdict. Canaries were once common throughout the North East coalmines to forewarn of impending disaster. Was this evening the final flicker of the Championship flame or was there a bit of spark to cheer our wordmeister on a wet and miserable night. I’ll bet you’ve got a fair idea but let’s see what he has to say in his immediate post match seven word summary.
Malcolm Dawson writes…….I made a decision at the end of last season that going to watch Sunderland was becoming too painful. Physically painful because of the arthritis in my knees and the back pain I was experiencing on the walk from car to ground and back. Psychologically painful because of the poor football on show, constant disappointment not only at results but at poor performances and a lack of entertainment. Economically painful in the knowledge that, with two and a half years to go before I get my state pension, the cost of a season card represented five per cent of my annual income and I could think of better ways to spend my time and money. But most of all (and I know there are some, though a dwindling number, who disagree with me) I could see the club going only one way under the current ownership. I decided enough was enough. Call me disloyal, call me a fair weather supporter but I felt I had suffered enough over the years and there comes a time when cold logic finally overtakes blind emotion.
But with a new healthy eating regime and a substantial weight loss, the walking has become easier and with Pete Sixsmith otherwise engaged over advent, I got along to the three home games prior to Christmas. Reading was a shambles, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I had enjoyed the Fulham and Birmingham games. So much so that despite the despondent reports from those who had been to Bramall Lane, those two games plus the win at Forest and the fact there were no Northern League games on New Year’s Day had got me thinking that maybe I should go to see the Coleman revival continue against Barnsley. But I am nothing if not stubborn and decided around midday, that I would settle for Barnes and Benno, the Guardian crossword and a snooze on the sofa. Sounds like I made a good decision.
Pete was back in his usual seat but if this most despondent of reports is anything to go by, he would rather have stayed home listening to Nicholas Parsons and Paul Merton recalling the 50 years of Just a Minute as he recaps yesterday’s experience without hesitation, deviation but for those of you who read his report of the Sheffield United game more than a little repetition …
Pete Sixsmith, Santa duties over, was at Bramall Lane this afternoon, where no doubt he hoped to enjoy some festive cheer with M Salut, who was seeking to maintain his talismanic streak and see another Sunderland win today. Gary Bennett wasn’t impressed at half time as the Lads went in 1-0 down. How was Pete feeling at the end? Well as the minutes ticked away he sent “New manager bounce over. Send for Pulis!” but I didn’t need to wait until the final whistle for his usual immediate post match 7 word summation because his earlier text, which came with half an hour left, said it all.
