Yet again another last minute winner does the business for the lads. Daryl Murphy sent the Smog Monsters back down the A19 with nothing after he rose highest in injury time to flick the decisive goal in off the bar. Murphy, the super sub, sealed a dramatic 3-2 win for the lads and our Premiership status in front of a packed and boisterous SOL crowd.

After last week’s debacle it was no surprise not to see Paul McShane in an area with SR as a postcode, whilst joining him on the sidelines was Daryl Murphy. There were returns to the side for Michael Chopra and Kieran Richardson as captain Dean Whitehead switched to right back.

Just as I was settling into my seat I was hit by déjà vu, we found ourselves a goal down after five minutes when Tuncay ghosted through the defence unmarked to fire past Gordon. However this weekend, spurred on by the best support in the land, Sunderland found a passionate and immediate response.

Chopra found space in the box to shoot goalwards, only to be denied by the stretching Wheater for a corner. The lads levelled from the resulting corner when Danny Higginbotham got onto a loose ball to flick past Brad Jones.

The SOL was rocking and we had Boro on the ropes when after another corner penalty protests were waved away by one of our favoured officials Steve Bennett. Andy Reid’s cross looked to strike a Boro arm but the man who disallowed Danny Collins’ legitimate injury time winner against Villa this season “missed” the incident.

After the early two goals the game settled down with neither side really threatening. We almost took the lead made way in the first half when Chopra cut inside Wheater on the edge of the box, but with just the keeper to beat the striker lost his footing.

There was to be no such mistake before half time though when Chopra gave the lads the lead. He found space down the right before cutting inside onto his left foot before firing past Jones courtesy of the bar and post.

After the break the lads continued where they left off. Kenny Jones had a great chance snuffed out by namesake Brad Jones. Then Chopra found himself clear again courtesy of Carlos Edwards only to blast his effort over high into the North Stand.

Having another quiet game it was no surprise to see Carlos soon make way for Grant Leadbitter. The substitution seemed to swing momentum in the way of Boro as they started to pressure the Sunderland goal though the best effort they could muster was a free kick from Brazilian Alves which almost put out the window of Joan’s cafe.

Massive Smog centre half Dave Wheater was in the thick of much of the action and managed to cause facial injuries to both Sunderland strikers Chopra and Jones. In the first half Chopra suffered a head injury and was forced to change tops due to blood loss. Then Wheater was at it again in the second half when he busted Kenwyne Jones. The big striker was down for a good five minutes and needed a Terry Butcher style head bandage to finish the game.

With twenty minutes to go Boro looked to have nicked a point despite the lads dominating much of the game. Arca’s cross into the box wasn’t dealt with and the second ball eventually fell to Alves. His shot was part saved by Craig Gordon though the rebound trickled over the line in a similar fashion to Darius Vassell’s goal the other week.

As another 2-2 draw between the sides seemed on the cards, Roy made a final throw of the dice bringing on Murphy for Chopra. In injury time Kenwyne forced a corner in the North West end. Grant knocked it over for Murphy to flick in.

Cue mental celebrations and a well deserved result which by sealing our Premiership status goes at least some way to making up for last week’s shambles.

Final Score: Sunderland 3 Boro 2

ALS Man of the Match: Michael Chopra

Aidan Crowe

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