As far as games of football go this season, this one was like a nice comfy chair that was a little bit awkward to put up. A teeny bit tricky for a while, but once you got it worked out, it was just right.

So despite our bus getting stuck in the lay bye opposite the Worm, meaning a longer than usual walk for a midweek game, things went rather swimmingly.

Ming
Bards O’Shea Turner Rico
Larsson Gardner Colback McLean
Sess
Campbell

Young Fraizer had obviously survived his half game on Sunday, and new boy Bridge was on the bench, unlike the Greek feller (I’ll attempt to spell his name later). Kicking south, we started more on the front foot that we have of late, not allowing Norwich to come at us so much. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing to get the rhythm of the game, Rico played McLean down the left, and his cross was headed into the keeper’s hands by Campbell. Larsson was next to have a pop, when Sess wriggled into the box and rolled the ball into his path, but the effort was dragged wide. Just when we thought we were controlling the game, Norwich came forward and forced a decent save form Ming, then a good block from O’Shea.

Gardner looked to have a chance of breaking towards the box, but his touch was a bit heavy and he was booked when he overstretched in trying to retain the ball. A throw on our left was taken quickly to McLean, and when he was challenged near the corner of the box, the ball broke to Campbell, who took one touch and then looped a delicious volley over Ruddy and into the far corner. Shades of Phillips against Chelsea, and yet another goal in our recent catalogue of snorters. Still seventy minutes to add to it as well.

McLean was almost put through by a clever Sess ball before the Beninian (Beninese?) took the ball in the centre circle and nutmegged his marker and fired a pass for Campbell to run on to down the right. The first-time cross was perfectly placed for the shortest man on the field to head firmly back across the keeper for 2-0, and only 26 minutes gone…and yet another cracking goal.

Immediately, Norwich won a corner, the first of the game, but they managed nothing. With Gardner doing the Catts stuff well, and Colback doing the sensible, straightforward stuff, we were bossing the centre of the field and playing in our wide men regularly. Under MON, Sess seems to have found a real purpose in that “hole” that managers are so fond of talking about. For the last five minutes of the half we allowed Norwich a bit more possession but precious little to aim at up front. We were well worth our lead, and I’ll hit you with just one statistic – ten fouls by Norwich, no bookings. Three fouls by us, one booking. Do the maths, as they should say – a little unfair on our lads and a little easy in the visitors.

The second half had us wondering if a quick goal would earn Campbell an early finish to save his recovering legs, but he continued to bomb about like someone who’d never been away. Larsson drifted inside to bolster the centre when Norwich threatened to play a bit of football. McLean was helping Rico by chasing back, and in return was getting a lot of ball down his wing. When he didn’t get it from Rico, he nicked it from his fullback, and almost got us into the box. Down the right, we put together a dozen or so passes, ending with Bards breaking along the by-line and doing exactly the right thing when faced with a six yard box full of bodies– thumping in a hard low cross. Bang, was in the roof of the net, with Bards initially claiming the goal. To be honest, if it hadn’t hit Ayala’s knee and gone in, it’d have probably taken O’Neill’s head off. 3-0, lovely.

Another lightning break down the right after a Norwich corner (sound familiar?) saw a cross just evade Campbell at the back post, and Lambert tried to shake things up on 62 with a double substitution, but in didn’t make much difference as his team were all but beaten by then. Their number two must have wished he’d been taken off, as McLean was having his life. Despite Bards taking his customary couple of knocks, it was Campbell who made way for Ji on 74 – thunderous applause for the departing striker. After Colback saw his shot saved, they replaced Grant Holt, who’d been well controlled and thus ineffective, and we brought on Meyler and Bridge for Sess and Rico – two cracking shifts having been put in by the two leaving the field. As we broke from an Norwich corner – in now-typical Sunderland style, Ji was chopped down on the left to earn Norwich their first booking. We basically ran the game down by holding onto the ball and attacking the opposition, which is a nice way to do it. The three added minutes weren’t nervous, as they used to be, as we roared the Lads on in pursuit of what would have been a deserved fourth.

3-0, a great result and a great performance. Another change of personnel for us, but the same outcome in terms of performance. This team, whoever is in it, knows no lost causes. If we lost it, we made sure we got it back. Ming did what he had to do, which wasn’t really that much thanks to his defence. Bridge showed in his ten minute cameo that he has a nice touch, and Colback only played one bad pass all game. O’Shea and Turner had their hands full with Morrision and Holt, but did everything they needed to do. Bardsley was solid, and Gardner harried, probed, and shot when the opportunity arose. Larsson showed that he’s prepared to forsake his natural wide role when the team needs him elsewhere, and Rico put produced a fine exhibition of attacking from full-back.

Sess – well, I’ve spoken about him already, but the little feller really does have magic in his boots. Campbell – well, I’ve spoken about him already, but it’s like MON has signed a new £10 million striker. Hard work, and lovely touch, and a willingness to get stuck in.

Picking a Man of the Match from that display isn’t easy, as there were fine performances all over the field as we nullified the visitors and played some expansive football. At the risk of getting a bit repetitive, I’ll have to go for McLean again, just ahead of Gardner. Why on earth our previous manager chose to keep the Ulsterman under wraps only he can explain, as I doubt if there’s a club in our division that wouldn’t like to have him in their squad.

Aint football great? Onwards and upwards!

Keep the Faith

Sobs' Book click here...