Another dour performance, another dour result and its now five calendar months since Sunderland registered a league win. Despite all the talk midweek about how we needed to win the next two games and despite the fact Fulham played away in Europe on Thursday, Sunderland failed to carve out a solitary goal scoring chance and had to settle for a goalless draw at the SOL on Sunday afternoon.

All week we’ve heard the usual patter from Bruce about how we’ve been hit by injuries, suspensions and how you need to be a big player to play for the lads, then Eric Black comes out and says the R word is banned from the dressing room but after today’s dreadful effort relegation is a serious prospect.

We lined up with Gordon in goal behind a back four of Hutton, Mensah, Turner and Ferdinand. In midfield Campbell right, Richardson left, Cana and Cattermole in the middle looking to supply Bent and Jones. Bobby Zamora shook off an Achilles injury to lead the line for Fulham.

To be brutally honest there was absolutely nothing to write about the first half as neither side looked dangerous in the final third. I think the first shot we had came on forty one minutes when Schwarzer parried a Darren Bent free kick. Zamora and Mensah had an ongoing tussle with the Sunderland defender showing his class and how much of an attribute he could be to the side should he manage to have an injury free run in the side.

Seriously though this game was dreadful and we looked devoid of ideas and incapable of breaking down a Fulham side that have an away record to rival ours. After the break Cattermole, whom I presume is injured, was replaced by Zenden who went onto the left with Richardson moving into the middle alongside Cana, who was a passenger yet again today.

I’m scratching my head now to think of anything else to write about but Mensah went off injured again and was replaced by McCartney, whilst Benjani came on for Jones late on. Benjani flashed a cross shot along the six yard box just ahead of Bent and this was probably the closest we got to a goal.

The full time whistle was greeted by boos which were totally justified as I think I would have had more pleasure sticking pins in my eyes. The club had a promotion running for this game where season ticket holders could get an additional ticket for a tenner, I got one for my dad, he’s been on the phone saying he’s been robbed.

Final Score: Sunderland 0 Fulham 0

ALS Man of the Match: No One

Aidan Crowe

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