Sixer’s Sevens: a good day for Sunderland at Rochdale, Burton and Luton

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John McCormick writes:

do games get much closer than this? To come from 1-0 down to win 2-1 away, with a last minute goal from a captain who came on as a sub. And this on a day when Barnsley lost and Luton only managed a draw at home. And, if my maths is correct only Peterborough can deny us a playoff place. They need to win every game and overturn a 26 goal deficit to do it, though with results elsewhere going our way we’ll be looking to not need that chance.

Pete Sixsmith’s report will be here tomorrow with an introduction from Malcolm, who was also there, so that’s something not to be missed. Here’s a taster, in seven words, no more, no less – plus Jake’s essential scoreline banner …

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The First Time Ever I Saw Your Ground: Rochdale and Spotland

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John McCormick writes: My mam worked in a munitions factory during the war, so I suppose she was – “the girl who makes the thing that holds the oil that oils the ring that works the thing-ummy-bob that’s going to win the war.”

You might ask why I’m telling you this.

It’s because  Pete Sixsmith resumes his journey around football grounds and his “First Time” series with a visit to Rochdale, home not only of the Pioneers, Cyril Smith, Lisa Stansfield and a football ground once known as Spotland but also Gracie Fields, who sang some excruciating songs before heading off to Capri, much to my mam’s relief.

Over to Pete…..

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The Rochdale Who are You? Sunderland should be too good to let Wembley affect them

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Jake: ‘more of the same, Lads’


Monsieur Salut writes: we had to bounce back from Wembley and we did, in some style as you’ll know if you were there or have read Pete Sixmsith’s rousing account of our 3-0 win.

Now another Lancashire test awaits. We need to do something similar at Rochdale on Saturday. Over to Ian Wright*, our Dale stalwart, with answers to Salut! Sunderland‘s questions. Even before the win at Stanley, he reckoned we should have enough quality to overcome any post-Wembley doldrums….

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Sixer’s Sevens: Accrington Stanley don’t bog us down after Portsmouth

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John McCormick writes: put yourself in my place.

0-2 up away from home, with 15 minutes left. If Accrington score and we win 2-1 your “guess the score” is correct and you win a shirt. Do you want Accy to score?

It took me less than a minute.

“sod it” I thought “get a third”

And we did, a minute later. So I thought “get a fourth, and a fifth. Haway the lads!” But we didn’t. So much for the power of positive thinking.

Pete Sixsmith’s report will be here tomorrow. Until then you’ll have to make do with the knowledge that this win did us a lot of good just when we needed it, and very positive seven word post-whistle text.

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The Accrington Stanley Guess the Score: now for the bigger prize

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It is obvious enough. Time to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and put together the run we need to overtake Barnsley and leave Portsmouth and Charlton behind, says Monsieur Salut.

Of course Sunday was a great occasion and a game we all wanted to win. But promotion is – for me – by far the bigger prize.

Guess the Score.

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