EFL

Sixer’s Sevens: blushes avoided as Watmore, McNulty and Grigg edge SAFC past Grimsby Town

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Was it inevitable that despite sacking Jack Ross, Sunderland still contrived to go behind to opposition they should be walloping? What happened to No Manager Bounce?

Well, it bounced. The same resilience we showed on better days under Ross surfaced and goals from Watmore – welcome back – and McNulty put us ahead. There wasn’t even time to think of a late flurry of SAFC goals as Grimsby drew level immediately courtesy of Pete Sixsmith’s regular companion. ‘appalling defending’. We were spared penalties – and blushes – by a good Sunderland move, Hume’s cross headed home by Will Grigg. A first step back to Wembley of the EFL Trophy (aka Leasing,com)?

What you see below is Sixer’s instant seven-word verdict. One of 6,952 souls present at the SoL, he’ll be back with more …

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Sixer’s Sevens from Sheffield United: tremendous display sees off more Premier League opposition

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Stop Press: and it’s another away game in the next round: hardly a glamour tie but at Oxford United, once again testing our (present) owners’ loyalties

Monsieur Salut writes: bravo Max Power, bravo the Lads.

It’s one of the traditions of Salut! Sunderland that Pete Sixsmith supplies a seven-word instant verdict – hence Sixer’s Sevens – after each SAFC game. If he doesn’t attend the match himself, someone else steps in. Tonight, he was indeed present (I have happy memories of meeting up with Pete before Bramall Lane on Boxing Day 2017; it was happy until 3pm since the Blades hammered us 3-0 and we were probably lucky to get nil).

Tonight started better and stayed better. Having barely seen the ball, we went ahead early with a wonder strike from Max Power (‘a beauty’, said Pete’s text message) after nine minutes. At half time, he was applauding an ‘inspired’ first 45 minutes. The Lads saw out the game in reasonable comfort and might have scored again; the super-critical Gary Bennett spoke of how well Sunderland had for once managed a lead.

And see how Sixer summed up the game with two versions of his seven allotted words (to be followed by his customary full analysis tomorrow) …

Jake: ‘Gan canny lads, at this rate we might end up at Wembley again’

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That takeover: the Ellis Short era seems all but over

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Keeping faith?

 

No need for much more to be said than that Stewart Donald is now on the brink of completing the takeover of Sunderland AFC from the hapless Ellis Short. The EFL seems ready to confirm the change of ownership.

Here is the helfpul if limited club statement:

Following a meeting with the EFL on Friday, and the provision of further information, we can now confirm that the proposed sale of the club could be concluded as early as next week.

We would like to place on record our thanks to the EFL for their assistance during the process, at what is a very busy time of the football calendar for them.

 

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The First Time Ever I Saw Your Ground: Aston Villa and Villa Park

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Sleek Sixer …

John McCormick writes: I suspected this would be one of the grounds that Pete Sixsmith counts among his favourites. After all, not only  is it old and venerable, like the man himself,  with international matches and semi-finals galore on its cv, it has the Archibald Leitch connection that he relishes.

And there’s a bonus for me, by some coincidence. Some random bloke I met this morning started talking about the ’73 cup final and the save, which got me mentally singing “Aye Aye Aye Aye, Monty is better than Yashin”. But I couldn’t  for the life of me remember who was better than Eusabio. Now I know, and I’ll sleep happily tonight. So it’s a double thankyou to Pete, for filling in that gap, and for another excellent read:

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Sixer’s Sevens: SAFC 1 Sheffield United 2. Blades cut us to pieces.

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Jake: ‘it won’t always be pretty’

For the second time in recent games we had more possession than our opponents, yet were  beaten. I said the first time that the defeat had to be a message, for our players, for our manager and, above all, for our owner. They don’t appear to have understood, so Sheffield United obligingly repeated it.

If that’s not enough Pete Sixsmith’s seven word text, sent immediately after the final whistle, puts it simply:

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Sixer’s Barnsley Soapbox. ‘There are interesting times ahead…’

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John McCormick writes: it’s getting near to the point where I’ll be getting to a game or two. My Preston ticket’s already sorted and now we have Everton in that carathingy cup, whatever it’s called. You know, the one where draws take place on another part of the planet, and over a timespan that a geologist might recognise.

But do I want to go after yesterday’s shambles? Like you, I’ll have to read Pete Sixsmith’s match report to see if there’s anything to salvage.

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