For the first time in three games, Martin O’Neill had something to smile about at the final whistle. A decent second-half recovery saved the day after Bolton doubled their early lead. Sunderland live to fight on – we’ll know tomorrow what the reward would be if the replay saw us progressing to the next round …
Pete Sixsmith was playing truant again today, for the unusual – for him – reason of a family commitment, a relative’s 90th birthday if Monsieur Salut remembers correctly. What he missed at the Reebok, and Bob Chapman saw in his place, was a familiar tale: worrying injuries (Rose and Cuellar) and a self-inflicted mountain to climb, two down on 48 minutes. It was done, keeping us in the FA Cup 40 years after we last won it, with what the BBC calls the substitute Connor Wickham close range strike and a “stunning 20-yard drive” from Craig Gardner. We live to fight again, which is more than Newcastle United can say …
Here’s a very quick posting of the last of Pete Sixsmith‘s New Year trilogy … plus excuses for absence from the Reebok ..
This is a posting that could not decide whether to be one of those occasional Salut! Sunderland reviews of the week just gone, a simple Guess the Score competition or a second bite at the “Who are You?” cherry.
Monsieur Salut thought of rolling them all into one but finally accepted the rebuke of Terry McLoughlin who, while boldly offering a scoreline forecast of Liverpool 1 SAFC 2, questioned the device of mixing up Guess the Score and further debate on the Tottenham Hotspur post-Olympics diving squad. “Too much talk, too few predictions,” Terry thundered.
In Yorkshire near Rotherham, goes the great little traditional song Spencer the Rover***. Well our Spencer’s in Lancashire, near or even in Bolton, and is accordingly a Wanderer. Maybe Monsieur Salut and Spencer Rathbone* should be meeting for a veteran versus upstart game of badminton (BBC Radio Newcastle’s Martin Emmerson may remember what happened when he took the upstart’s role a few years ago) before having an old hack/aspiring hack chat about journalism and watching the FA Cup third round tie together.
I am not sure what to make of the claim I came cross online that Wanderers fans sing a song just for Spencer – but will assume it to be a compliment to either his Wanderers fan site or his drinking habits. As for us, we just need to move on from the disappointments of recent days. A 40th anniversary cup run would help …
Following on from Pete Sixsmith’s comments on the Guardian’s take on Premier League statistics, John McCormick decided to do his …
This was another game that we might have expected to win. Since the MON revolution got off to such a fantastic start, the reality of the squad’s capabilities is maybe beginning to show. In recent weeks we have had to settle for draws against sides we fans thought should be beatable and the hopes of a top eight place are now on hold. Saturday’s game produced another disjointed performance against a side supposedly fighting for survival. The Chelsea hammering of QPR and the effect it has had on the relative goal differences must give Trotters’ fans cause for optimism. Their point at the SSOL was deserved but whilst they go into the remaining weeks of the season dreaming of Premiership survival we must once again content ourselves with the hope that summer signings will lead to greater things. At least we are not caught up in the dreaded drop avoidance scenario this year. Pete Sixsmith gives his views on the game and speculates on what the team selection tells the manager about some of his squad.
Martin O’Neill knows this was another disappointing display against opposition we should be capable of beating. Change must be very firmly in his mind …
This was so typical of the poorer parts of the season: easy surrender of possession, sloppy defending and a failure to build on or even protect a lead. Fortunately Sunderland also broke the April duck with two well-taken goals by Nicklas Bendtner and James McClean to make sure we at least were not defeated.
But a 2-2 draw at home to Bolton Wanderers, with plenty to play for if we seriously want to match or better last season’s 10th finish, is short of acceptable even allowing for the opposition having a great deal more at stake. And Martin O’Neill knows it. Only the alertness of Craig Gordon, on his welcome if shop-windowish return from long-term injury, prevented us throwing away three rather than two points in stoppage time.
Couldn’t in the end be bothered with another look at the Coventry relegation. Let us just savour Pete Sixsimith’s responses to the Bolton fan site Burnden Aces*.
If you want to see what else we have been up to, just visit the home page and indulge in some easy navigation … www.salutsunderland.com