Fabio Borini

Sunderland v Everton Guess the Score. Win to make Watford a party

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Jake: 'give us another burst of pride, Lads'
Jake: ‘give us another burst of pride, Lads’

Monsieur Salut says: win on Wednesday and the Lads should be given the freedom of Sunderland, whether or not that still entitles holders to drive their flocks of sheep across Wearmouth bridge. It wouldn’t make a bad season great but it would give us all proper reason to believe the future can be brighter (yes I know) and enable us to breathe freely on Sunday. Read on to see how you can win the prize …

Let nobody be too quick to count chickens. There’s still scope for snatching misery from the jaws of bliss.

Saturday’s outstanding comeback to beat Chelsea, coupled with defeat for Norwich and a draw at Villa for Newcastle, gave us great hope. And that hope that can be turned into reality on Wednesday night. As every schoolboy should know, Sunderland stay up if they win.

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Sixer’s Sevens: Sunderland 3-2 Chelsea. The stuff off dreams. Magnificent, Lads

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Jake: 'One word: magnificent'
Jake: ‘One word: magnificent’

Colin Randall writes: Sensational. After a heartbreaker of a goal at the end of the first half, Sunderland came back from 2-1 down to win with wonderful strikes from Fabio Borini and Jermain Defoe to add to Wabi Khazri’s first-half screamer. The referee Mike Jones had a stinker and at times made it look as if SAFC were playing 12 men with some crazy decision all over the pitch. He should have sent off Cahill in the first half (Terry did go right at the end) and repeatedly got his calls utterly wrong. Never mind. One win – at home to Everton on Wednesday – and Sunderland are safe yet again. Expect Pete Sixsmith‘s considered account to be somewhat upbeat; this is where his seven-word instant verdict appears …

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SA’s essay: we can enjoy the weekend, not to mention the journey back.

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Jake's take on Big Sam
Jake’s take on Big Sam

John McCormick writes: this was surely an “I was there” game, only I wasn’t, I had to make do with the TV. A nervy start had me hiding behind the settee and I found it difficult to watch, even at 2-0 up, but I persevered and managed to relax when young Duncan scored. What must it have been like for yet another magnificent away crowd, and for the players and manager to win in front of them?

Here’s what Sam has to say in a letter he composed and sent to Colin (and maybe a couple of others) before getting back on the bus

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If this doesn’t inspire the Lads against West Bromwich, nothing will …

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Jake: 'you know what's required, Lads'
Jake: ‘you know what’s required, Lads’

Sunderland cannot save themselves with one game, as we did when West Bromwich Albion visited the Stadium of Light on May 7 2014. But that was the last-but-one mat ch of the season. We’d done the hard work under Gus Poyet, beating Man United and Chelsea at their own places and walloping Cardiff at home. We sent Norwich down by beating Albion 2-0.

This, ahead of another home game to WBA that is nevertheless of immense importance and could well influence our fate, is how Pete Sixsmith recorded that fabulous night. His Soapboxes are always great reads; they are not always happy ones. This, for those who do not stray here often enough to know, is how Sixer does happiness. Let it inspire Vito, DeAndre, PvA, Younes, JoS, Lamine, Jan, Wahbi, Jeremain,Jack, Seb, Fabio, Dame, Jermain – already too many, so whoever turns out – to do what is necessary on Saturday. Now, over to Pete, version 2014 …

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Wrinkly Pete: wise men say only fools rush out

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Peter Lynn: What does he think of N'Doye?
Peter Lynn: players must take responsibility?

Amid a barrage of criticism levelled at SAFC ownership and management, Peter Lynn offers an alternative view of on and off-the-field problems that include, in his view, the spectacle of supporters leaving the Stadium of Light early …

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Wrinkly Pete, and why he hates the loan system

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Peter Lynn: What does he think of N'Doye?
Peter Lynn: I wonder what he think of N’Doye?

John McCormick writes: Another cup weekend means we can take a break from the “Guess the score” and “Who are you” features which signal our build up to games. We have a chance to look at some other aspects of our club and of football in general.

Which brings me to Wrinkly Pete and a thought producing opinion on the loan system. It was written before we beat Man United. I wonder if that game will have made Pete want to add Dame N’Doye to the list.

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