This was the performance we needed. Ferdinand, Zenden and Sessegnon shone as we swept aside survival jitters, a quite exceptional response to that run AND the atrocious injury problems Steve Bruce has had to endure. Starting with a winning away trip to Bolton, these are the most recent of Pete Sixsmith‘s incisive seven-word verdicts capturing the essence of just about every game. When, rarely, Pete is absent, a supersub does it for him. There will be no immediate post-match report, though Pete’s full analysis will appear within the next couple of days.
The full Sixer’s Sevens archive – see link below – encapsulates the matchday experiences, from darkest gloom to sublime elation, of a fan who is usually there …
May 7 2011 Bolton Wanderers (0) 1 SAFC (1) 2 Great result, strong performance and safety assured
April 30 2011 SAFC (0) 0 Fulham (1) 3 No forwards, creaky defence, hurry up summer
April 23 2011 SAFC (0) 4 Wigan Athletic (0) 2 Showed great character for well deserved win
April 16 2011 Birmingham City (1) 2 SAFC (0) 0 Soft goals mean our position is critical
April 9 2011 SAFC (2) 2 West Bromwich Albion (2) 3 All our weaknesses horribly exposed: totally inept
April 3 2011 Manchester City (2) 5 SAFC (0) 0 No shape, no fight, heading for oblivion
March 20 2011 SAFC (0) 0 Liverpool (1) 2 Liverpool better, but crucial decisions against us
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 …
I’ve just missed your ritualistic infusion of positives to this noble site, Davey.
Two wins since when Davey? I trust that your fire and ardour are better contained in any courtship dance with a young lady. Otherwise your garments may be in need in sudden ablutions! Calm yourself in the mathematical certainty of another year of Mr Bruce’s stewardship. The presence of the Cribbensesque one will not quell the Birflattian’s notion that this hath neither the tools nor manner for the journey ahead.
Your goblet of hope brimmeth over but without just reason. Davey and Mr Martin are staunch advocates for our current custodian, but there are a fair few doubters remain whose breast not be soothed by a victory of such slender means in the land of the Trotters.
Excellent post CSB. It would be all too easy to mistake that visceral reaction of relief to elation.
The performance in many respects casts even more doubt on the ability of Bruce as a manager given the commitment and desire to win which was evident in abundance on Saturday. Some explanation is required of Mr Bruce regarding the lack of application and willingness to fight which has been absent for months. Our league position is an astounding one, more attributable to the closeness of competition in the division this season. Look at the points tally and then scan down the table, and the sense of euphoria exhibited by some members of this parish should subside to a more temperate response to a last gasp win.
One swallow does not the summer make, and one victory on the road for months does not the season make. I am all for getting behind the lads and a performance like that gives hope. However it would be remiss of us to stick our heads in the sand and think that all was fine.
Things have gone badly awry in the latter half of the season and it does need looking at. An abject display against Fulham and then a stirring performance against Bolton. This Jekyll and Hyde personality is cause for concern. Hopefully SB can sort it in the summer.
We can get the remaining six points and finnish the season on a high, and may be in the top ten if we put in a Bolton performance in the remaining two fixtures.
It’s 6 more points than BB and friends have been expecting over the last few weeks . Perhaps they will shut up and get behind the lads for the last 2 games now !!!
That’s 3 more points than I expected.