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.
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 of one who is usually there …
Feb 8 2012 FA Cup 4th round replay: Middlesbrough (0) 1 SAFC (1) 2 Quality came through in rousing cup tie
Feb 4 2012 Stoke City (0) 0 SAFC (0) 1 *McClean clincher makes winter seem less bleak or (Sixer’s delayed verdict) bêtes noires beaten in Artic type conditions
Feb 1 2012 SAFC (2) 3 Norwich City (0) 0 An absolute stroll as Canaries brushed aside
Jan 29 2012 FA Cup 4th Round: SAFC (0) 1 Middlesbrough (1) 1 Honours even in typically scrappy cup derby
Jan 21 2012 SAFC (1) 2 Swansea City (0) 0 Quality goals and a very disciplined performance
Jan 14 2012 Chelsea (1) 1 SAFC (0) 0 * Fine performance not reflected in the score
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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 …
A real cup-tie between two committed teams played in a good spirit.
This match is a demonstrates the fine margin between success and failure in football. I was convinced we were heading for my prediction of 1-1 AET and penalties. Instead Smallwood’s block fell to Sessegnon and a shot through a crowd of players went in instead of bouncing away.
I think in the end, what made the difference between teams was the quality of the finishing.
Towards the end of the match it was great to see a Middlesbrough team studded with products of our academy holding its own with the premiership’s form team. A glimpse of a possible future.
It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to meet the contributors on this board. For your sakes and for the Northeast I hope you go on to win this cup, as long as you promise not to get too cocky about it, at least when it comes to the Boro. You can be as cocky as you like around “the best supporters in the world”.
For us, I think we have demonstrated what can be achieved even with a below strength team.
Back to the mud and nettles of the Championship on Saturday, it’s a long hard season, but I think we have cause for optimism as we come back to full strength. See you all next season in the money tainted Premiership.
You might like the “prune juice” reference here:
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough/9517142.Keith_Lamb_talks_money__Boro_and_Mowbray/
btw, did I miss something about Ingerlund? I was too busy concentrating on the football. Just heard the Prime minster of the United Kingdom talking about it. Glad to know there aren’t any more important matters that deserve his attention.
We did it, oh yes we did it! (Who gives a feck about Capello?)
Talk about doing it the hard way! I hope this doesn’t wear us out for Saturday.