Bolton ‘Who are You?’: where’s that Lofthouse passion when it’s needed?

Jake asks the question
Jake asks the question

Deputy editor Malcolm Dawson writes: M Salut in his journalistic drive to attract more and more readers to the site deliberately provoked fans of that fine old club Bolton Wanderers by suggesting that they were a spent force, undeserving of success. (His views not mine!) But still he managed to get another response to his request for the views of our FA Cup opponents. Of course it’s freezing cold here in County Durham and with the threat of a few inches of snow overnight there’s no guarantee the game will go ahead, which will no doubt bring smiles to our Canadian readers and fans of the Green Bay Packers who have been known to dig snow holes to avoid hypothermia during the playoffs. Robert Hurst, from the Burnden Aces fan site, took up the challenge and answered the questions set by Colin Randall.

Read more

Sixer’s Sevens on Sunderland 3 West Ham 0: comfortable win for the Cats

Salut! Sunderland tries hard to get Pete Sixsmith’s seven word verdict and Jake’s full time graphics onto the site as soon as humanly possible after the final whistle. Quicker even than the Echo Pink used to hit the news stands but with all the team at the game today it is a little later than usual. Still who’s going to complain after the result?

Read more

Sixer’s Bolton Soapbox: Gardner and Brighton conspire to beat our Supersub’s blues

Still in it, says Jake
Still in it, says Jake

With Pete Sixsmith otherwise engaged on family matters, once again Supersub Robert Chapman steps up to the plate with his thoughts on the game at Bolton. It’s fair to say that he wouldn’t have been the only Sunderland fan in a good mood as kick off loomed, as the not unexpected news from Brighton got the afternoon off to a fine start. Certainly the BBC Newcastle team were in upbeat mood about the Black Cats’ cahances as the teams were announced but as Nick Barnes warned, potential banana skins await the overconfident.

And so it proved, as once again the Sunderland team put its supporters through the gamut of emotions with relief and renewed expectation of a 40th anniversary FA Cup run as the final whistle blew. Mind you had we known in advance the identity of our potential 4th round opponents there may have been a little less confidence. Still bogey teams are there to be beaten but first there’s still a tricky replay to negotiate.

It's Bob Chapman on this week's soapbox but Pete's smiling anyway
It’s Bob Chapman on this week’s soapbox but Pete’s smiling anyway

Read more