Martin O’Neill had every reason to be proud again today as Sunderland went eighth with what will be remembered as a tremendous team performance to beat Liverpool. In his post-match e-mail, Martin expresses delight for Fraizer Campbell and Nicklas Bendtner, whose joint assault on goal produced the winner …
Here Pete Sixsmith captures the glory and shame, hope and despair, excitement and ennui of the Sunderland matchday experience. When, rarely, Pete is absent or delayed, a supersub does it for him and the seven-word verdict is preceded by an asterisk. Pete’s full analysis of the game will usually appear within a day or two.
This was a terrific win for Martin O’Neill’s resurgent team; a goal from Nicklas Bendtner on an eventful afternoon for him – he was later stretchered off and we wish him well – sealed it. At half-time, Monsieur Salut – adrift from the action in France – heard from the Stadium of Light (Pete) that there was not much going on and from Spain (Jake) that we were doing well. Then came the second half, the goal and – said Gary Bennett when M Salut finally located some live commentary – fully deserved victory.
You all know what has been in the news, and therefore dominating Salut! Sunderland, this week. If you want to recap on the derby, there is loads to see and all is highlighted on the home page: www.salutsunderland.com. There are also two great reads from Liverpool supporters ahead of today’s game.
Pete Sixsmith on being a star broadcaster and giving the Newcastle-Sunderland reserves’ match a miss …
There are a few things I regret in my life. There was the night I stood up Julie Christie because I preferred West Auckland v Scarborough in the Vaux Floodlit League.
Then there was the time I opted to go for a haircut instead of seeing Jimi Hendrix at the Imperial Hotel in Darlington. Now, you can add last night to that ever growing list …
Well, one “Who are You?” candidate, Phil, had a “week from hell” and looked unlikely to deliver. No sooner had I appealed for emergency supersubs – and received two much appreciated offers – than Phil surfaced with renewed promises. It was too late. Maybe we will return to him for the cup semis or final! Meanwhile, after Keith Conneely’s excellent contribution yesterday, my Abu Dhabi colleague Michael Barnard* has provided another fascinating set of answers ahead of Sunderland v Liverpool tomorrow. He expects a draw, but his thoughts on Carroll (“oh Carroll, I was such a fool” could be Kenny’s new take on the old Sedaka hit) and Henderson are especially illuminating …
Murphy’s Law decrees that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Sod’s Law is subtly different; bad fortune can be “tailored to the individual”, good may come about despite anything the individual does. In seeking an emergency substitute for the Liverpool “Who are You?”, when circumstances left me facing an empty page, I approached two new targets with tales of Sod’s Law. Luckily, Murphy did not intervene and Keith Conneely*, the second of two “Yes” responses, had already completed the Salut! Sunderland questionnaire (No 2 can be found at this link)…
So both Newcastle United and Sunderland face FA disciplinary charges over the tempestuous Tyne-Wear derby. It was the sort of announcement that ought to have had the United manager Alan Pardew quaking in his boots about the likely nature of action against him personally.
As the dust settles on the epic battle/brutal thuggery that was Sunday’s Tyne –Wear derby, Pete Sixsmith thinks it is time to move on. Or at least he does until tonight.
Pete Sixsmith descends from the insult to humanity that passes for the Sports Direct Arena/SJP away end, accepts safe passage through the gauntlet of hate and rues the late, late Ameobi show …
On March 21, Lee Barry Cattermole will be 24. Hardly a milestone, it is nevertheless an age at which a footballer might be expected to have acquired some degree of self-discipline.