This is where 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 is a rare halftime update. Pete’s text – see the Seven below – sums up a tough old opening 45 minutes that ended sweetly with Gardner’s free kick in stoppage time. And soon enough after the interval, James McClean made all of Sunderland, most of County Durham and every Derry City fan happy by doubling our lead … keep it going Lads was what I said, Wigan quickly getting one back was what happened. Game on. Or it was: cue Sessegnon and Vaughan and we’re 10th top, for however long, and heading for bliss!
The full Sixer’s Sevens archive – see link below – sums up what all Sunderland supporters feel, from darkest gloom to sublime elation, in the words one who is usually there …
Jan 3 2012 Still Playing: Wigan Athletic (0) 1 SAFC (1) 4 Tight game: could be behind but aren’t!
Jan 1 2012 SAFC (0) 1 Manchester City (0) 0 An absolutely incredible win. O’Neill is god
Dec 26 2011 SAFC (1) 1 Everton (0) 1 Wind and Webb deny us a win
Dec 21 2011 Queens Park Rangers (0) 2 SAFC (1) 3 Deserved to win despite mad ten minutes
Dec 18 2011 Tottenham Hotspur (0) 1 SAFC (0) 0 One sloppy pass undoes a solid performance
Dec 11 2011 SAFC (0) 2 Blackburn Rovers (1) 1 Sheer perseverance gives MON vital winning start
To see Sixer’s Sevens in full, click here. If an asterisk precedes the comment, the words that follow are the work of someone else because Pete is for once absent from the game or his verdict has been delayed …