Sluggish Sunderland had to come from two goals behind to salvage a draw against Premiership strugglers West Bromwich Albion at the SOL on Saturday. Steve Bruce’s side got off to the worst possible start inside five minutes after goals from James Morrison and Shane Long gave the visitors a shock lead but the lads managed to rally and nick a point with first half goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Elmo.

It’s not been a great week for SAFC on and off the pitch. After the abysmal performance on Monday night at Carrow Road which lacked pace, passion, creativity and effort, Steve Bruce made two changes to the side. One enforced thanks to a certain centre half who is now suspended by the club after deciding that a night out was in order following his poor display at Norwich. What a fool.

The defeat at Norwich also saw the odds tumble on the manager being the next Premiership manager to leave with Bruce moving to second favourite as short as 3/1 behind Blackburn manager Steve Kean. It seems the mass hysteria has spread from the fans and media to the bookies.

Bruce kept faith in Simon Mignolet in goal behind a back four of O’Shea, Turner, Brown and Richardson. In midfield there was a return for Lee Cattermole who started in the middle alongside Craig Gardner, with Larsson on the left flank and Elmo on the right. Up front Nicklas Bendtner continued alone with Sessegnon in the hole.

What can you say about the start? We were two behind after five minutes, thanks to some horrific defending. Firstly, James Morrison, the former Boro winger, got a free header in the box to glance a Chris Brunt cross into the bottom corner. Then moments later Shane Long, a reported former target of Bruce, waltzed through the Sunderland back line of Brown and the abysmal Michael Turner before casually slotting past Mignolet.

The atmosphere was poisonous around me, people chanting for Bruce’s head whilst others passionately defended the manager. Boos rang round the SOL and stewards had to intervene a few seats along from us when one argument almost went too far as supporters almost came to blows. I also got a text off one of my mates who had left in disgust and he wasn’t the only one as others flocked to the exit.

WBA were in complete control of the game with Sunderland looking shell shocked. James Morrison and Chris Brunt both had long range efforts on goal but neither troubled Mignolet.

Around fifteen minutes in we looked to have got back in the game when Larsson turned in a cross from Bendtner but the flag was up for offside. We did manage to get a foothold in the match after twenty minutes after a decent spell of football. O’Shea, Sessegnon and Larsson combined to feed Bendtner on the edge of the box to notch his first goal for Sunderland aided by a slight deflection. Moments later Bendtner turned provided for Elmo to level the game, with the Egyptian heading past Ben Foster. The Sunderland players ran to the manager to celebrate with Bruce clearly relieved we were back in the game.

We ended the first half on top without threatening to score again though Craig Gardner did have a sight of goal but his effort sailed into the away end. The returning Lee Cattermole also picked up his customary booking for a tackle on the touch line where there was no danger.

After the break, and after being served for a pint in record time at the SOL thanks to the poor attendance, we went in search of a winner and although we had the majority of play with Sessegnon looking threatening the best chance of a winner fell to Wes Brown. The former Manchester United defender snuck in at the back post but could only head the ball into the ground after getting on the end of Larsson’s cross.

The returning Lee Cattermole was fortunate not to be sent off with fifteen minutes to go when he committed another needless foul, but the leniency of the referee allowed him to continue though he was subbed soon after.

We continued to huff and puff and managed to muster another chance for a winner when Elmo was played into the box but his tame side footed effort was palmed away by Foster.

It was another bitterly disappointing performance from SAFC with Steve Bruce in charge and the excuses and apologies are starting to wear a bit thin. I’d like to go out clubbing tonight, maybe in Yarm as I’ve heard it’s a good night, but I can’t as I’m skint as my direct debit for my season ticket came out this morning.

Final Score: Sunderland 2 WBA 2

ALS Man of the Match: Stephane Sessegnon

Aidan Crowe

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