Martin O’Neill is not one to make excuses and in his post match missive this is as close as he has come. But where other men’s explanations come across as whingeing, this manager’s are reflective and realistic leading as they do to the obvious. We were beaten again, by a team who performed much, much better on the day.
The half time analysis on Radio Newcastle focused on the result of the US Masters such was the paucity of action in the first 45 minutes. The 2nd half commentary of Barnes and Bennett struggled to make itself heard above the singing Evertonians in the press box as the Toffees ran riot yet again. Well at least we don’t have to play them again until next season.
Here 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 …
Firstly, thanks from Monsieur Salut to his noble deputy, Malcolm Dawson, for his sterling efforts to keep the site afloat in troubled waters.
Well it has to happen sooner or later. After two draws and a defeat, we could do with beating Everton, praiseworthy a display as we mustered to hold Spurs. And Jogger, one of the Gang of Five behind the admirable Everton fan site, Blue Kipper, believes the time may have come. That, or another draw. Quesions posed and thoughtfully answered – including great candour on the inevitable Leon Osman question – before the weekend games …
It all began so well with a comfortable win over QPR that dumped them in the relegation zone and, with Everton winning 2-0 at Swansea, pushed us back up to eighth top. Unfortunately, Everton had the taste for victory more powerfully rooted in their mouths and proceeded to repeat the scoreline at the Stadium of Light.
In need of being jolted out of a post-Everton sulk, Pete Sixsmith took the road to Whitby where a grand fish and chips meal, leisurely harbourside strolls and reacquaintance with Darren Williams did the trick …
For anyone who needs to know what went wrong last night, the search ends with this quite superb account by Pete Sixsmith, which Monsieur Salut humbly commends to a certain Mr O’Neill, of how Everton were able to make such light work of Sunderland and end, in disheartening style, our Wembley hopes …
No excuses, no complaints. Martin O’Neill tells it straight: we got what we deserved from this game and so did Everton. If the nature of the defeat has left Sunderland fans feeling flat with only might-have-beens to dwell on, MON sees eight remaining league games as a chance to make his first season with us matter …
Here 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.
So we got as disappointing a performance as any of us could have imagined the team producing on such an important night for Sunderland supporters. Seventy-five years after our first FA Cup trophy, 39 years since the last (with none in between), we never looked like making the semis. Tim Howard barely saw the ball in the first half and his status as non-paying spectator continued for most of the second.
Here 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.
Everton deservedly led 1-0 at half time. Tim Howard had little to do whereas Simon Mignolet had plenty before Nikica Jelavic’s goal went in. A sense of urgency, a grasp of midfield and an ability to threaten the Everton goal now and again are vital if we are to keep the cup dream alive. We saw none of that in the first 45 minutes.
FULL TIME: SAFC 0 EVERTON 2 – this posting has now been superseded by https://safc.blog/2012/03/sixers-sevens-safc-0-everton-2-not-remotely-good-enough/