Thirty eight years ago today, Sunderland played at Notts County in the third round of the FA Cup, down at Meadow Lane. In the draw that ensued, there was no Ritchie Pitt, no Ron Guthrie, and no Vic Halom. The defensive gaps were filled by Joe Bolton and John Tones, while the presence of Jacky Ashurst, usually a defender, in midfield meant that Billy Hughes was more or less on his own up front. A fantastic save, right up there with his Wembley wonder, by Monty as he arched back to flick a header over the top from just under the bar, and a typical Dave Watson header, meant that we lived to fight another day. In the replay, Mick McGiven replaced Ashurst, another goal from Watson and one from Dennis Tueart saw us through, and the rest, as they say, is history. The crowd for the midweek replay at Roker was 30,033, was 45% above the season’s home average of 22,613. Last season’s crowd of 25,190 for our 3 rd round tie against Barrow was 51% down on the season’s home average of 38,190. That’s effectively a 100% change in interest since I was a lad, when folks would choose the Cup over the League almost every time when it came to attending matches. Who says the FA Cup hasn’t lost its magic? How can people not get excited by the thought of a potential trip to Wembley, even at this early stage? Never mind Wembley 1973, I only have to look at that photo at the bottom of my cellar steps to get a bout of Cup Fever. That picture of Johnny Byrne heading the ball into the Leppings Lane net in 1992 always does it for me, and I pass it every time I go for coal.

If you’re not sure about what the FA Cup is really all about, have a look at Lance Hardy’s excellent book “Stokoe, Sunderland, and 73” which was published a year ago – borrow it, get it out of the library, or buy the paperback version that is out later this month. Whatever you do, read it, and you’ll never want to miss another FA Cup game in your life.

After our recent run of injuries, it has been a bit of a bonus that Meyler will “only” be out for ten weeks or so, rather than the six months initially feared. All the best for a full recovery David lad, we need you back. Shorn of his services, as well as those of Captain Catts, we’re well short in the central midfield ball-winning department, so it was no surprise that Jack Colback was recalled from his loan at Ipswich – although he’d probably regard himself as more of a ball player. Step forward Riveros, I think. There had been rumours of other loanees being dragged back to Wearside to fill in the gaps – McCartney, Healy, Reid et all had been mooted as possible starters.

...and they did.

Ming

Angeleri Ferdy Da Silva Rico

Reid Colback Riveros Steed

Bent Gyan

..and yes, Reid was on the right and Steed on the left. There wasn't much to choose between the sides in the first few minutes, but when Lee Hughes crossed and Ferdy bumped into Ming, it was 0-1 thanks to Westcarr, and only four minutes gone. Well, lots of time to win the game, then. If that was the case, then it didn't look like it for the remainder of the first half. We did manage to show a bit of quality as Reid and Gyan combined (ok, there was a bit of lucky bounce in there, but I'll take it) but it ended as the former curled his effort wide. After half an hour of ineffectual huffing and puffing, Reid and Steed swapped wings, and we could have had a penalty when Rico might have had his legs taken away. Not that we shouted that loud for it, mind. Ming produced a great save after 40 minutes, then Colback almost broke through and Gyan had a decent chance before Bent saw his cross cleared.

Behind at the break, and probably deservedly so, as we'd failed to produce any shape at all, with the central midfield unable to decide who was supposed to be winning it and who was supposed to be playing it. Even the slow-motion scoreboard during the break didn't raise our spirits that much.

No changes for the second half, but we did come out with a little more life about us – to be honest, it would have been hard to show less – and produced a bit of early pressure, with a (very hopeful) shout for handball in the box. Angeleri blasted way over from 30 yards on about 55, then, on the hour, on came Hendo and Elmo for Riveros and Colback. Straight away, Hendo, from his central position alongside Steed, imposed himself on the game and we looked like we might just get something back. With Reid hanging left and trying to bang in a few crosses, there was always the chance that we might break through. Hendo won the ball in our half and immediately played it to Elmo down the right, and the cross found Gyan at the back who shot over. That was really the story of the second half, with us producing almost decent passes, but missing the target when we did get through. Bent headed wide, Steed curled one wide off the outside of his left foot, and Bardsley replaced the hopelessly out of depth Angeleri. Bent cushioned a header across the goal for Steed, but it was a foot in front of him and yet another half-chance was gone. With fifteen to go, Ming did well to stop the onrushing Hughes with his feet, but the loose ball was popped home from a narrow angle by the same player.

Could it get any worse? Not really, and with ten to go Reid was tripped in the box for a fairly clear-cut penalty which Bent put away well. For the remaining time, including the added five, we pressed forward with no real conviction. There were a dozen half-chances, none of which we made the keeper work hard to keep out, and when the whistle went there were boos aplenty for a display that simply wasn't good enough. So we had a long injury list. So we had a disrupted side. So what? It was an awful display from fourteen players who should have been good enough, in any sort of combination, to beat the real magpies. To lose to a genuine bloke like Alex Rae isn't that bad, but to lose to a cowardly whinge-pot like Paul Ince really hurts.

Man of the Match? Hard, as we were that ineffective, but I'll give it to Hendo for changing the game and showing just what an important player he is. If Angeleri was in the shop window, then he'll not be going anywhere, and several others just didn't play at the level required. At least I didn't have to try to spell Onuoha.

A crowd of 17, 582 backs up my point at the top of the page. Maybe if the fans were a bit more bothered about the cup, the players might be – or perhaps nobody cares about it any longer, on either side of the white line. Let's see how many of County's impressive following turn up in their next 6,000 home league crowd.

17, 582

Keep the faith

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