A point, very often during this tense last home game, was more than Sunderland deserved. When Phil Bardsley scored one of his occasional screamers, it looked – briefly – as if we might get the three to secure safety. Not to be. Pete Sixsmith – who summarises the outcome and/or performance of virtually every game with a seven-word verdict, followed by his considered Soapboax report – feared the worst at half time and wasn’t a great deal happier at the final whistle. So the season comes down to this: an improbable result at White Hart Lane or Arsenal avoiding defeat to Wigan before the Spurs game is reached. Wigan must surely be expected to offer Wembley-style heroics against either Arsenal or Villa or both…
Southampton
Guess the Score as SAFC/Southampton, Wigan, Newcastle, Norwich, Aston Villa, Stoke, Fulham fight drop
Only one relegation spot left yet any of eight teams could fill it.
The scenarios are not endless but they are certainly plentiful. With Wigan engaged in the FA Cup final this weekend, the agony may go on to the last day.
The Southampton Who are You?: ‘draw at Sunderland and sky’s our limit’
It’s our Champions League final to quote Paolo Di Canio and victory would make us safe without having to rely on others. Saints are a point better off so can also ensure Premier survival. Chris Rann*, another of Monsieur Salut’s fellow-contributors at ESPNFC.com, does the honours with a wide-ranging interview charting Southampton’s astonishing ups and downs, SuperKev’s less-than-super status among Saints fans and his dwindling attachment to the international game …
How dare we? Where Man Utd lead others will follow.
John McCormick writes: I was supposed to be enjoying the onset of Spring in the Yorkshire Dales. It wasn’t quite like that, and the internet connection I had was also short on promise. Never mind, I’ve negotiated the weather and the M6 and am once again able to bring you my thoughts.
In this latest instalment of our new How Dare We? series, rather than bombard you with dodgy statistics and contentious argument, I’m making a case for referees and rules. How dare we? you might ask, given the going rate for fines when half a Premiership team abuses a ref is less than the income from 1,000 spectators at a single match. It’s just part part of the service, ladies and gentlemen, which we spare no expense in bringing to you without fear or favour.
McCormick’s Craic: down among the dead men, a lifeline for Aston Villa
So who is going down? For virtually the first time this season neutrals are mentioning Sunderland as serious contenders. Given our awful run, and the tough bunch of games to come, that is hardly surprising. John McCormick has been studying trends again and comes up with potentially good news for Aston Villa, though he still sees QPR and Reading going. At whose expense would Villa survive? Ours? Not according to whatever can be gleaned from the stats John has been reviewing. Read on but expect to be blinded by this branch of science …
Sixer spots the difference as Portsmouth follow Southampton to Hartlepool
.. that difference being that the Saints were on the way up when they visited the Victoria ground. Pompey are heading in the opposite direction. From the heights of the Premier and Wembley to the foot, or nearly, of the third tier with worse possibly to come, Portsmouth present a sorry face. Pete Sixsmith hails the 400 Pompey stalwarts who still travelled north for a midweek game at bottom-placed Hartlepool …
Tuesday night and a glance at the fixture list flags up Hartlepool United v Portsmouth as the game of the evening. Four years ago, Pompey were playing at the Stadium of Light, Old Trafford and, er, the DW Stadium. Now, they are appearing at Gigg Lane, Boundary Park and Broadhall Way, Stevenage. Next year it is likely to be Plainmoor and the Crown Ground, Accrington.
It is a dramatic fall for a club that has connections with Sunderland. Like us, they are an industrial city. Like us, they have a long history. Like us, they have had good and bad seasons. But never one like this.
Sunderland, Newcastle safe (ish). And the losers are … QPR, Aston Villa plus Reading or Wigan
It may not seem a good time to be predicting relegation for Reading (just after they’ve beaten us), QPR (buoyed by big new signings with an escapologist in charge) and Aston Villa (didn’t we somehow contrive to make even them seem half-decent?). But John McCormick has been pottering around with his blinding statistictal science again, attempting to calculate the impact fluctuating goal differences can have on survival prospects. As things stand, he sees safety for Sunderland but not by a comfortable margin and a possible lifeline for Reading, at Wigan’s expense …
Sixer’s Soapbox – Southampton 0 Sunderland 1: the view from the subs’ bench
He’s been threatening to cut back for weeks and with the prospect of a Northern League double header with Spennymoor …
Martin’s Musings from Southampton: praise for travelling faithful as Sunderland pick up the points
In his post-match e-mail from the St Mary’s, Martin O’Neill can reflect on a job well done on a filthy afternoon. With Christmas just around the corner he shares his goodwill between his team and its fans.
Sixer’s Sevens: Southampton 0 SAFC 1 – Saints bring Sunderland Christmas cheer
Pete Sixsmith’s seven-word verdicts usually follow a Sunderland match as night follows day. But with the rain falling, and a desperate shortage of gopher wood in the Shildon area, he decided against the long trip to Southampton and spent the day instead searching desperately for a Northern League ground which could satisfy his need for live football. So it falls to *Bob Chapman to sit in as a much appreciated replacement. His seven word verdict is below.