After back to back wins and scoring eight goals in the process I felt today would go one of two ways. We would either carry on our good run and win by a couple of goals or we would be brought back down to earth with a bump by Fat Sam and a rejuvenated Blackburn Rovers side. As always I was wrong and the two sides fought out a goalless but entertaining stalemate at the SOL.

The Boxing Day fixture provided Fat Sam the opportunity to stand on the SOL touchline and manage a Premiership football team, but not the club he really wanted from Santa. Up until his appointment at Rovers he had been using the press embarrassingly to beg for the Sunderland job at every opportunity he got. However, he wasn’t wanted on Wearside by the fans or the club especially giving how well the caretaker manager is doing at the moment anyway.

Ricky S, as he has done throughout his reign as Sunderland manager, did the obvious things and stuck with the side that has won back to back games. Obviously Premiership management is pretty tough, but I think if you pick you best players in the best positions and stick with a settled side you have half a chance.

Sunderland started well and Cisse latched onto a Richardson through ball to go one on one with Paul Robinson down the right hand side of the box. Robinson was quick off his line and did well to knock the ball away from Cisse and do enough to prevent a shot on goal. Cisse did cross the rebound but it was easily dealt with.

The lads bossed the remainder of the first half with Bardsley having a storming game and getting forward at every opportunity possible to support Steed. Steed dazzled with his footwork whilst Reid on the other flank also got into some good positions. Despite this the best chance of the half was blazed over by Jones. Robinson and the Blackburn defence despite being under pressure for large periods of the first half restricted us in terms of chances.

After the break Blackburn started much the stronger and looked to have taken the lead within about five minutes. Samba rose highest to a corner but the ref ruled he punched the ball over the line rather than head it cutting short the celebrations of feeble gathering of Blackburn supporters.

Blackburn continued to create chances and Fulop had to be at his best to deny Pederson from a free kick right on the edge of the area. Danny Collins had given away a free kick on the right hand side of the area after chopping down Brett Emerton. Pederson who is lethal from that area curled a great free kick over the wall only to be denied by a great save from Fulop.

Fulop had to be at his best again when Rovers again found themselves with a great chance. The ball fell to Roberts in the box who from about twelve yards saw his well struck shot tipped over by Fulop.

At the other end Sunderland started coming back into it with Cisse firing over from a Jones knock down. Though the lads were getting behind both Blackburn full backs their centre half’s Samba and Nelson did well dealing with Cisse and Jones.

As the game looked to be heading for a draw Ricky S made changes firstly bringing of Tainio for Whitehead. Then with about ten minutes to go bringing off Cisse and Richardson for Murphy and Leadbitter.

Leadbitter had a couple of shots from distance whilst Murphy showed what’s infuriatingly good and bad about him. He went deep to win back possession with his strength, ran at pace with the ball past a couple of Blackburn players but before deciding where to pass to or whether to shoot he was himself robbed of possession.

Sunderland poured forward looking for the win and were almost hit with the sucker punch. A long punt over the top from Samba caught the Sunderland defence out. Roberts, played onside by about two yards by Nos, went clean through against the advancing Fulop only to roll the ball wide of the post. A right let off for Sunderland but a horrible miss for the striker. Before the final whistle the lads managed a final effort on goal when Murphy hit a volley from about twenty yards but Robinson dealt with it fairly easily.

Final Score: Sunderland 0 Blackburn Rovers 0

ALS Man of the Match: Marton Fulop.Though he made a couple of good saves and also took some good crosses against a tall strong opposition.

Aidan Crowe

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