I was not sure whether it was great decision to go to this match. Near to Christmas, a night out on the Friday, and it being miles away meaning a painfully early waking up time. Coupled with an SAFC away form book being of a similar standard to USA – Al Qaeda foreign relations, the quandary was clear. Still, Sunderland AFC is my drug of choice, and I am addicted. A sell out away section showed I am far from alone.

After loading the buses at a freezing Stadium of Light, it was time for a sleep to catch up on what was lost by the 5.30 a.m. alarm. I’d like to report on all the fun and frivolities I had all the way to Berkshire, but I’d be a liar. I was a boring bastard reading a book and getting a crook neck by awkward sleeping positions. Plus the frustration of bus drivers as per usual stopping at the worst service station known to man. A free breakfast bribe goes a long way to forcing fans to sit bored for half an hour.

The Madejski Stadium was equally bleak. Situated on a motorway junction with industrial units for ‘entertainment’, I scoffed my rat and cheese burger, and entered the boring stadium. Despite the aforementioned crap away form, the ALS staff opinion was that we could get a win today. Reading were extremely poor in the reverse fixture and were struggling at the wrong end of the table like ourselves.

Sadly the Lads on the pitch did not feel the same. Despite starting with four strikers we offered a whisker more than sod all going forward for forty five minutes. Meanwhile at the back our defence was all over the place. In one memorable moment Higginbotham actually ran out the way of Kevin Doyle to allow him a clear shot on goal. This was possibly the most bizarre decision I have ever seen a centre-half make.

It was the recalled Craig Gordon who kept us in the game first half, with one memorable pointblank save from tramp looking Hunt who looked certain to score from two centimeters out. Reading dominated proceedings throughout, with the ball flashing across our goalmouth countless times. Old man Andy Cole had our only chance, and it was a good one. Slipping clean through, Cole shot straight at the big yank goalkeeper… damn! But wait! Cole has it back at his feet only a few yards out, and the ‘keeper is on the floor! However, this is Sunderland, and Cole is old, meaning the ball ponderously wandered in to the goalkeepers arms instead of shooting. Cole contributed virtually nothing else of note all match.

The fact that I can say the same about Yorke and Murphy shows how poor we were. Yorke is so clearly too slow, he should be retired, yet he inexplicably starts in a Premier league side, wonder why Kavanagh can’t get a game. If Sunderland had put in that performance at any decent team we would have gone in four nil down at half time.

The second half could hardly be worse, and thank the Lord near His birthday it wasn’t. Sunderland showed more purpose and actually went forward with some intent. It was a bit of a bugger then when Reading took the lead, more of a bugger that it came from a free kick awarded for a perfectly good tackle from the excellent Danny Collins. It was however a poorly defended free kick, the ball dropping in to the six yard box without an attempt to clear it. A desperate and weak parry by Gordon left the simplest of chances for Reading to prod home.

At least this Sunderland team never give up. We may be struggling for quality, but we graft. It was Jones who dragged us back in to the game yet again, forcing his way through in to the box where he was intelligent enough to fall over a dangled leg. It was soft, but it was a penalty in my eyes. Having not had a penalty in ages, it was surprising to see Chopra grab the ball, and bloody pleasing to see him slot it home.

The fans went crazy, sensing a valuable away point, or even yet another last minute winner. Alas, it was not to be. Jones went through again but failed to pass to better positioned Stokes and saw his shot saved. The horrible sucker punch came from the hand, or rather flag, of the officials for the second match in a row. Gordon pulled off a superb save from another Hunt header, pushing the ball off the line. However, the linesman made an inexcusable decision, flagging a goal. How he can make such a decision without being 100% sure is mind boggling.

Yes, Sunderland were poor, but to lose to the match officials for the second week in a row is beyond annoying. Keane needs to make some drastic changes or this season will end in disaster. Etuhu is not a footballer. Cole is too old and slow. Yorke needs to be put down like the struggling animal he is. The defence needs shaking up completely.

Another sad trip home. Not good enough.

Merry Christmas.

Final Score: 1-2

ALS Man of the Match: Danny Collins

Dan McGwinn

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