It is a well known stereo-type that Scousers are known to steal things. The resuIt would have been daylight robbery had it not been at night. The referee appeared to be from Liverpool as well after not awarding Sunderland a clear penalty.

Interesting to hear the Skunk on the Leg-Ends show en route to Hetton. Apparently they played so well, it made us look like we only had 10 players on the pitch, black and white genius. First time I’ve smiled since Sunday. Our time will come.

In the monsoon Sunderland lined up with the not so popular 4-5-1 formation, David Healy up front with Nathan Luscombe and Jordan Cook supporting him on the wings. Unlike the weather it started well, Robbie Weir getting forward from right back and unlucky to see his shot saved. However, Liverpool undeservedly took the lead three minutes later. The referee gave Liverpool a debatable free kick on the right and Michael Ngoo headed the ball off Robbie Weir to give Liverpool the lead.

Sunderland responded well and after a period of good possession nearly got an equaliser. David Meyler, who was controlling possession in midfield, sprayed a wonderful ball to Nathan Luscombe who brilliantly controlled the ball at full pelt, sprinted past the full back, cut inside the centre half but was superbly denied by the keeper. Liverpool though, got a second two minutes afterwards through a corner by Jesus Fernandez, ricocheting around the box and luckily bouncing in off Victor Palsson.

Keith Bertschin took David Meyler off after only half an hour, perhaps so he doesn’t get tired for Saturday or maybe it was too soon for the lad. Me and 40,000 others hope it was the former. While you could tell he hadn’t played for a while, he played some wonderful cross field balls and nice one touch football.

Sunderland continued well though and Meylers' replacement (Nathan Wilson) played extremely well too. It took him only four minutes to make an impact nearly finishing off a great Sunderland move. Sunderland ended the half strongly with a trio of chances for Healy, Cook and Luscombe.

At half time I saw Darren Bent go into the reserve dressing room, ironically the only thing that had been missing was Bent’s clinicality.

We started the second half brilliantly putting Liverpool under immense pressure before the referee made a howler. A corner on the right was floated to the edge of the box to Liam Noble who hit it, Scholes-like, on the volley. It was flying in to the top corner before Stephen Irwin, Carragher-like, miraculously palmed the ball over the bar amazing if he had been the goalie.

However, the referee was tying his laces or possibly even texting because he claimed ‘he didn’t see it’. Now to have not seen it but be looking in that direction would be the equivalent of not noticing Andy Caroll in a crowd of jockey’s. We scored from the resulting corner anyway, Dan Madden majestically heading home Liam Noble’s corner. Game on.

Or, it would have been without Liverpool’s shameless time wasting, their goalkeeper getting booked for doing precisely that. We kept on plugging away but could not find an equaliser, Healy firing just past the post in the 89th minute.

We deserved at least a draw from this match, but our performance alone is encouraging enough and we should hopefully beat Blackpool next at home.

Ones to look out for: Full backs Blair Adams (again) and Robbie Weir. Liam Noble controlled the midfield and can take a great free kick. We all know about David Meyler who looked as though he was recovering from injury well.

Final Score: 1-2

Sunderland: Lewis King, Robbie Weir, Blair Adams, Liam Bagnell, Dan Madden, Adam Reed, Jordan Cook, Liam Noble, David Healy, David Meyler

Crowd: 352

Michael Glancy