Well, what a crap week to be a Sunderland supporter. Teatime yesterday saw us second bottom, following positive results for Swansea and Norwich, and, although we’re only early in the season and we should be looking at what we can do over 38 games and not what we’ve done in the handful played so far, that was not a good place to be. Rumblings of discontent amongst the supporters have been getting louder, justified or not, and they don’t make pleasant listening. To be honest, although we haven’t scored that many, we’ve been creating chances, and at least that’s a good thing. If we weren’t creating chances then I’d be moaning as loud as the rest of them – says he, trying to sound a wee bit positive. Then the Bardsley affair – I’ve watched it again and again and still can’t decide if it’s deliberate or accidental. And did he decide to forego an appeal because of what happened when Turner appealed? And remember, it’s only a game – as the awful events near Swansea this week have gone to prove. That’s one thing we don’t miss about the pits.  

Elsewhere, Chelsea saw 10,000 empty seats for their Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen as fans voted with their feet because of ticket prices – the visitors having subsidised their own fans. Huddersfield took only 1,500 to Sheffield United compared to last season’s 4,000 plus as an unofficial boycott took place, because of ticket prices. Let’s see what happens with QPR, eh? On a positive note, Sunderland have actually warned fans that the game at Spurs may be put back a day because of their Europa League game on the Thursday – shouldn’t the Premier League should have said something about this already? Well no, as that would involve showing common sense and actually considering the fans, which is something they simply don’t do. Unless Sky tells them to, of course.  

Then came Stoke. You know there are thing in your life that you occasionally question? Like having a shave every bloody morning? Would the world stop turning if you didn’t have a shave (ladies excluded)? Likewise Stoke – I can’t really remember enjoying any game against the Potters, and I’ve never liked American football, so therefore I don’t like the current Stoke style of football.  

O’Shea really fit? Well, yes he was, and after a couple of hours in a dead town centre, we saw him line up with the others:

Ming  
Brown O’Shea Bramble Rico  
Elmo Gardner Vaughan Larsson  
Sess  
Bendtner  

Well, Sess sort of started out on the left, but the important thing was that we went forward and they didn’t. To be honest, they looked like they’d walked back from Kiev, and there must be questions flying about on their homeward coaches about whether they give a poop about the Prem.

We were only a few minutes in when we won a corner, and Stoke made an absolute arse of clearing it, leaving a loose ball for goal-machine Bramble to poke in from a few yards. Great start, certainly, but it got better five minutes later when Woodgate, that all-round good guy, got ahead of Bendtner to thump a header into his own net. Only eleven minutes gone, kicking the wrong way (North in the first half) and two up? Thank heavens for little Stokes, who come along every season to save your manager’s bacon.

To be honest, we ran at them and they ran away. Quite an easy summary but just about right. They flung the ball at Crouch, who was frequently out-jumped by Brown – and Vaughan- and left it at that. Apart from the thuggery at the back, of course. If Bardsley is going to get “done by TV” then Huth and Woodgate should be put away for a year apiece. With Elmo flying down the right and Vaughan finding time and space to play the sort of ball we’ve been crying out for all season, we were well on top, and when Gardner took another pass from the right and hit one off the defender’s ankle, looping nicely over the stranded keeper, it became a very good day at the office. There was a minute added at the end of the half, then out came Denis Smith to do the draw – decent applause from us and the packed (but small) Stoke section.

No changes for the second half, and no changes to the manner of play, in that we did what they didn’t. Bendtner and Sess were both on the receiving end of Huth (elbow, arm whatever, something should be done about him and his ilk) before we the latter was flattened on the edge of the box. Up stepped Larsson to flight one from the inside left position across the keeper and in. Stoke visibly faded, we shouted abuse at Crouch regarding their lass’s shopping habits, and they clattered Ming. After lengthy treatment, he played on, but I doubt if an outfield player would have. Huth again. Larsson got some of the same, and was replaced by Colback, then Ji came on for Sess, who had worked his little socks off. A few minutes later, Wickham replaced Bendtner, who had treated his socks in a similar fashion. They brought on Jones, who got even more abuse than Crouch, and Ji showed his now customary lack of respect for English defences and ran at Stoke like a mad bugger, almost creating a couple more goals. Stoke seemed absolutely pissed off that six minutes were added, having already booked their places in the bath.  

So an easy-peasy win for the Lads, and one which must have the Stoke fans wondering if Europe is really worth it. As for performances, Ming decided early on that he wasn’t going to get battered like he did at the Brit last season and was quick and decisive on several occasions. Captain O’Shea showed why we bought him, and Vaughan showed what we’ve been missing for weeks in the centre. Bendtner and Sess ran the visiting defence to death, while Elmo and Larsson kept the width nicely.

Man of the Match? Vaughan. Made a better player of Gardner and showed what Cattermole can’t do.

Keep the faith

Sobs  

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