Salut! Sunderland’s Week: Boro, Norwich and Stoke in seven days

… in which another week is reviewed for the reader who is too engrossed in work, study or play, or too forgetful, to visit Salut! Sunderland every single day …

A busy week on the pitch started with a setback, managing only a draw against Boro in the FA Cup.

We all look forward to cup runs. Being dumped from the Carling at the first attempt, and at Brighton of all places(despite their repeat of the feat versus Newcastle), and then having to replay a 4th round tie at the Riverside cannot be described as runs.

Pete Sixsmith has been busy, too, as a direct result of all this playing time.

He rightly applauded Fraizer Campbell’s excellent finish to a fine pass after James McClean’s breakaway run, but recognised that a draw against inferior opposition was in the end fair. Read his analysis of a typical derby at this link: Bouncing back from our “had-to-happen” moment.

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Three days later, another Fraizer Campbell goal this time a real beauty, had Pete purring in the East Stand: “No problems knocking Norwich over; bring on Stoke”. I should point out for those who missed it that Andy Gray, while giving full due on TalkSport to Campbell’s control and volley, thought the Sessegnon goal, following superb link-up play with Campbell, even better.

Beating Norwich 3-0 put us top of one league, as Salut! Sunderland readers discovered here: “Forget Man City and United: guess who is really top of the league”. In case you did not see it, I will not spoil the fun (follow the link and see for yourselves).

In between times, Pete had also examined our transfer window dealings, concluding that of we ended up without anew striker it was because Martin O’Neill saw good reason not to buy or borrow what was on offer.

And we looked forward to today’s game at Stoke City, not our happiest of hunting grounds but a game our newly invigorated and confident team should relish. The Stoke City “Who are You?” candidate was Chris Jones, active of three City message boards as an administrator and a man of many words: his verdict on Sunderland old boys at the Britannia was fascinating:

With KJ, as your fans have said, when he’s up for it he’s brilliant. Trouble is this is a rare event. I expect him to go in the summer. Danny ******* Collins grrrr why us eh, what have we ever done to you? Rory’s been amazing for us but in my opinion he should be put out to grass now. Tommy has been good and he’ll be good for Begovic’s development. Deano … what can I say!! My favourite Stoke player, what an engine might not have the skill or goals but … I can’t explain it HE IS A STAR.

Monsieur Salut will be at three Britannia, having caught only Sixer’s heartwarming goal flashes by text and the back end on television of the Norwich win. Paris had lured me for a short break, where I saw Sunderland the play at a theatre where Salut! Sunderland’s coverage was displayed prominently along with reviews from French publications.

More of that later. Ha’way the Lads at Stoke and Boro.