Walking across the SOL car park, which was frostier than a snowman’s knackers at 7am this morning, I reflected on the worst decision I’d made for a while. “Why aye, the Blackburn replay sounds like a good idea, it’s always a decent trip.” That’s not really the case when your nursing a classic case of man flu in a time when half of England seems to have shit themselves 'cos of a bit snow.

Add to that I’ve started work early to get my jobs finished before the 2pm bus departure and rumor has it both us and Blackburn will be playing severely weakened teams. God knows what that will be like, since this will be the sixth time this season I’ve watched these two teams battle it out (one for the reserves) and to be honest, both teams have been pretty poor on all those occasions.

Jack Colback’s dad turned up hoping to jump on the ALS bus at the SOL after news his boy might get a run out tonight. The Reserve Team’s “Captain Fantastic” as official ALS second string reporter Dov would have put it, was in the squad with another couple of young’uns. Maybe they’d show a bit more fight and passion than the rest of the lads who played in the original tie just over a week ago? It couldn’t be hard; it was possibly the most boring 90mins of football I’d watched for a long time. Mr Colback found himself a spare seat and we headed off towards the A1 hoping there’d be no repeat of a few years ago when news of postponement reached us when we hit Clitheroe.

Supporters In the Fernhurst pub before the match were in decent voice as Georgie Thompson revealed via Sky Sports News that Craig Gordon would be starting for the first time since Keano’s fateful last game against Bolton. Michael Kay got a start at right back, while Leadbitter, Murphy and Healy got rare run outs.

The game started poorly for us, a Blackburn attacker getting in front of his man from a corner and arrowing the ball goalwards. Gordon palmed the ball onto the post before a scramble inside the box saw the ball cleared from near the goaline. Gordon pushed another shot wide then we went up the other end and took the lead against the run of play. Darryl Murphy’s shot on the turn deflecting of a defender and falling to Healy who fired into the far corner. A cracking finish across the ‘keeper. That’s what happens when you shoot…. Michael Chopra. Gordon continued to make saves throughout the first half as we sat back and invited Blackburn onto us. Santa Cruz put a header wide when six yards out and in the middle of goal.

Gordon was finally beaten not long before half time. Danny Collins charged down a shot that fell into Mokoena’s path about 25 yards out. The shot flew into the top corner and gave Gordon no chance. At this point it seemed as if our early goal hindered us. We sat back and invited pressure on leading to Blackburn creating chances and us none. Michael Kay was lucky not to receive a second yellow card just before the break after a clumsy tackle with the referee looking as if he was going to book the youngster, before realising what the consequences would have meant.

Kay again escaped a second yellow early in the second half after another poor tackle. Ricky Sbragia did the sensible thing and swapped him for Bardsley. Just after the hour we started to push forward a bit and actually looked like we wanted to win the game. Reid had a free kick easily dealt with by Paul Robinson while Leadbitter’s shots total must’ve been in double figures without conjuring up anything worthy of a goal. Dwight Yorke came on for Steed Malbranque and quickly influenced the game with his willeness top receive the ball and ability to pass.The game played out until full time and for the third time this season the teams couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes.Whilst other results filtered through the bloke next to me groaned. He was one result away from winning 500 quid on his bet for the night. He should have followed my dads rule and never bet on Sunderland.

Extra time started with Sunderland looking in control in midfield and Dwight Yorke pulling the strings but not being able to find that final pass to make things count. Nathan Luscombe replaced George McCartney during the turn around and the game headed for the draw. Maybe we jinxed when me and my two mates started discussing if we’d go down the front for the penalties. With a couple of minutes left Blackburn floated a free kick into the box where Benni McCarthy lost his man far too easily, Craig Gordon never moved from his line and the ball was headed into the back of the net. 120 minutes played for nowt. So dreams of a decent cup run are over. Even more disappointing is the fact that we’d have played Coventry at home next, surely an easy passage into the quarter finals? Well, it should be for Blackburn anyway.

Oh aye, Jack Colback was an unused sub.

Final Score: 1-2

ALS Man of The Match: Craig Gordon pulled of some class saves, Danny Collins was an s solid and dependable as ever, but it seems illegal not to give it to Anton Ferdinand these days.

John Longford

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