It seems like ages since that win at Hull – maybe it’s down to the fact that the pressure’s been off, as we were safe and only had a climb up the league to aim for. Maybe it’s down to the fact that I’ve been on holiday, with one of the aims being to avoid football. I was doing quite well until Wednesday, when we bought a paper in Barmouth (right on the middle of the Cardigan Bay coast) and they gave us the North East edition of the Mirror. They made Bent NE player of the year (obviously), Henderson NE young player of the year, and gave an honourable mention to Craig Gordon. Mind, they were listening to Radio Norfolk in that part of Wales, so maybe the newspaper shouldn’t have been such a surprise. I also met Frank Skinner’s uncle Reg, a man with a Black Country accent so thick you could spread jam on it and sell it as a flyover. For the record, Frank’s fatha belonged West Cornforth and played for Spenny. His uncle Reg didn’t, but was a lovely bloke.

One of the other things hey mentioned was the dignity with which the mags had gone about wining their league. Now, I’ll admit that they did what they had to do better than expected, and Hughton has shown that he’s not a bad manager/coach despite not being a natural in front of the cameras, but when they played the song “Dignity” at their last home game, they sort of shot themselves in their fat Tyneside arses. As I said, they accomplished what they set out to do, and did it well, but then in typical magpie (lack of) style, felt the need to shout “look at me, look at us, aren’t we dignified.” Oh dear.

I also managed to watch the Special One do Barcelona (nailed on for Hughton’s job, then), miss Fulham’s finest hour, and watch Liverpool show why relying on one forward in the Prem and Europe is plain stupid. What was more surprising, and what showed how stupid football has become, was the rumour that Juve are ready to give Benitez £80million to spend as their manager. This to a man who has spent several times that amount to bring several trophies to Anfield, but this season has hoyed it against a wall.

Still, we’re back in the glorious North East in time for the last home game of what’s turned out to be a decent season, with breakthroughs from Henderson and Meyler – the new Irish midfield battler, we hope – being two of the player highlights. We’ve arrived at the last two games having re-established that appreciation that we gained in the first few months, and with teams giving us the respect we’ve earned. So Man Utd was never going to be a game we were favourites to win, and when Chelsea did for Liverpool in the early game it was one the visitors had to win.

Gordon
Bardsley Mensah Turner Richardson
Henderson Meyler Cana Steed
Campbell Bent

Despite the Sun in its wisdom telling us that Bardo would be left back and Steed right wing, we set out as above but with Campbell hanging wide right. Gordon and Bardsley did well to keep Rooney out early on, and for much of the first half it was a case of us allowing them far too much time on the ball. There’s respect, and there’s too much respect, but when Steed galloped away down the left and took a return it showed that we had enough about us to make a game of it. Bardsley was very much up for the game, getting several important challenges in, and we were frustratingly between patience and sitting back too much. we forced several corners, and fashioned a good chance for Mensah, but he headed wide from the front post. That was about his last contribution, as after his usual string of interceptions, he left the field on 17 minutes. Shame, but probably that’s the last we’ll see of him, as we can’t afford to waste a substitute on his chronic fitness problems. On came Kilgallon, who did very well, showing composure and decent timing, as well as getting forward on occasion. We almost worked a shooting position but were crowded out in the box, then Giggs and Evra combined for the former to skim the bar with a shot. Not to be outdone, we copied their build-up and saw Hendo and Steed swap passes for the Frenchman to have his effort tipped over.

That was on 24 minutes, and three later we stood off too much in the box and allowed the ball to drop to Nani, who resisted the temptation to hurl himself to the ground (see later comments) and fired across Gordon and into the side of the net. Bugger. A case of them using their superior ability to capitalise on one of the chances that came their way, I suppose.

Steed had a free-kick punched away on the half hour, then Meyler hit the deck and left the field on a stretcher. Not good, and on came Cattermole after a lengthy stoppage. Richardson appeared to be hauled all over the place as he tried to get into the box, but the ref, from a few feet away, deemed the shirt pulling legal – not for the first time. Berbatov, having a typical game in that he managed to display sublime skills without appearing in the least bit arsed about what was happening, missed a good chance, and four minutes were added without Fergie asking for them. We’d won the corner count by 5 to 1, but they’d got the goal and that summed up the half.

No more changes for the second half, and when Campbell’s run into the box was halted, Berbatov again missed when the visitors broke quickly. Cana was flattened by Paul “it’s Scholes, he’s never been able to tackle, just give him yellow” Scholes, then when we broke into the box down the right, Bardsley was booked for diving. Sometimes, you wonder if referees have ever watched games other than those they’re spoiling. Phil Bardsley, diving? With a perfect chance to cross, against his former employers, the well-known trickster would throw himself over an imaginary leg? If he deserved a yellow, Nani deserved six. Kilgallon dribbled into the box down the left, Berbatov went off before he fell asleep with Carrick coming on, and we eventually brought on Jones for Hendo. Kenwyne quickly found the slippy part of the pitch and fell over, but was soon where we wanted him to be – in Vidic’s face.

Rooney and Catts both shot wide, then Evra hauled Jones all over the place but was awarded the decision as the ref continued to frustrate. Gordon saved, Turner cleared off the line, and Steed was booked for a 50/50 – howay man ref, the lad hasn’t got a bad challenge in him! Campbell tried an overhead kick which went way over, we won more corners, and Nani threw himself to the ground to get Richardson booked. Bardsley and Jones combined to win a corner, which Turner headed wide at the back post, and three were added. To be honest, if we’d stayed there for another three hours, United would have probably soaked up what we threw at them and taken the 1-0. Fair play to them, they’re bloody good at what they do and probably just about deserved the win, although they couldn’t have complained (well, they would) if we’d nicked a leveller.

So, the season’s over at home, we had a comedy pitch invasion by one of the Sunderland Echo’s High Street Honeys who tried to get a kiss off all the Sunderland Lads and Wayne Rooney – and got a glove around the lugs for her troubles.

Man of the Match? No bad performances on the day, but we should have gone for them a bit more. At this stage of the season, 0-2 is no worse than 0-1 really, so we should have taken the risk. Steed gets my vote for his persistence and ability against top opposition.

Keep the Faith

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