Saturday Preview

Things didn’t go too well for us this afternoon as although Newcastle continued their slide with a 3-0 defeat and thereby increased their negative goal difference, Fulham managed a good draw at Blackburn and Reading also won well 2-0, which took them above us. If I was a betting man, I’d put money on Newcastle to go down. They’ve lost five and drawn two of their last seven games and have some tough fixtures coming up, especially on April 19th. Looking at our match tomorrow it’s the first time this season that I’ve thought we’re going to lose and I’d be very happy to get a point. We all know what happened at Goodison Park in late November and Everton have maintained their good league form since then. Yakubu and Anichebe will be the danger men so Nos and Evans will have to be in extra good form to keep them out.

During

This was the first time for over three months that I was able to listen to the match live on my laptop at home. I was pleased that Stokes was getting a start as I’m sure that one day we’re going to see some great stuff from him. The first half of the game sounded pretty nondescript and once again I don’t think we had a shot on target. We appeared to be playing 4-5-1 and so I figured Keano had settled for a draw, a goalless one presumably. Everton had more of the play and were certainly closest to scoring in the 44th minute when Stokes cleared off the line. Lescott, despite playing at left back, sounded like the most dangerous Everton player. Still 0-0 at half-time suited me and I hoped that we’d try a more attacking formation in the second half.

Chopra came on for Stokes, who’d certainly earned his wages with that goal-line clearance, but in the 55th minute Everton scored after slack defending by Collins allowed Cahill (or maybe Johnson) to score from close range. Reid came on and then Prica replaced Leadbitter fifteen minutes from time and though we switched at last to 4-4-2 and created more chances we still didn’t look like we’d get a goal till the later stages of extra-time when Reid’s free-kick was well saved by Howard and then Lescott headed Kenwyne’s shot off the line. On a more positive note, Reid did sound like he added some much-needed invention to our play.

Afterthoughts

So, another defeat and even though I expected it, it’s never easy to digest. Wigan managed to get a good home draw against Arsenal which hardly added good cheer to our afternoon. The next two fixtures against Chelsea and Villa certainly don’t offer much comfort either and if we can get a draw from either of them, I’d be surprised but the following six games are winnable and I think we can keep our heads above water then.

Finally, I’m pleased to welcome a new fan to the warm bosom of Sunderland A.F.C. In addition to Alfredo in Rome, my former student Takashi, now sojourning in Boston on his way home to Tokyo, has swelled the ranks of our overseas fans and will be keeping in touch via this site. Cheers, lads.

ALS Books click here