OTD: MOWBRAY FIRST GAME

On this day in 2022, Sunderland beat Rotherham United 3-0 at the Stadium of Light. It was the start of the Tony Mowbray era on Wearside. Here's Sobs' match report from that day:

Hot on the heels of the official departure of the Snake, first choice replacement Tony Mowbray was installed as our new head coach. The Lads responded by basically carrying on where they left off on Saturday in terms of application, and after a slightly frustrating first half, simply blew the Millers to dust and their first defeat of the season in the second. Jack Clarke set up two for Stewart with some clever wing play on the left, then twazzled his way across the box to claim the third. Happy days.

Some say there are too many football men out there who plod on before being replaced by a younger, more "progressive" boss - we've tried the progressives (Ross, Johnson...) so why not give a wise, oldish, head, for whom the job isn't too big, and who has displayed commendable loyalty throughout career both on and off the pitch, a go? A "progressive" young gun might well have ripped it up and started again in an attempt to stamp his style on the team, the last thing we needed. Mowbray is wise enough to recognise that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. He can see, as we all can, that we're playing good stuff and have been a couple of minutes away from another two wins, meaning that there's not much in need of changing. I doubt if there's a steadier "football man" out there, and he's ours now, his record is canny, so let's give him all the backing we can. It's the least he deserves and we'll get nowhere without it. Anyway, a quick catch up with young Liam at Vaux's after a quick ride down from our hols in Northumberland, and it was time for the match - and a combination of work and family commitments meant that Gooch was the only player our Gaz had seen in a Sunderland shirt. Doesn't time fly?

Patterson

Gooch O'Nien Batth Cirkin

Neil Evans

Clarke Pritchard

Simms Stewart

...and a bench of Bass, Alese, Wright, Matete, Roberts, Embleton, Hume

You know how that lot lines up - Mowbray isn't so daft as to change a team that's playing well in an established system, is he?

There was a great reception for our new gaffer and we lined up defending the North Stand - and Pritch kicked off with his new yellow boots... that turned white the closer he got.

The first five minutes were spent in their half once we'd dealt with a long one down our left, with 09 defending halfway as if he was six foot three and fifteen clem. Mad, Luke - but well done. LND stretched a telescopic leg to win the ball and fed Clarke on the left, whose cutback to the edge found Neil (the nice one) but the shot flew well off target. Moments later, a Gooch cross was cleared only as far as Clarke, who scooped his effort way up, and Stewart took a reet clatter as the ball dropped into the keeper's arms. Vinegar and brown paper were required as we held our breath. He was back up and at 'em fairly quickly, thankfully.

Gooch, in trying to turn past his man near halfway, slipped and let them through, but Batth showed strength and anticipation to get in a vital block.

We quickly won a corner on the left that Stewart got to first in front of the near post, but his stooping header went wide. Another corner followed, but Rotherham, in their tiger costumes, got it away. Gooch was giving them problems down our right, continuing his recent conversion to the quick passing game, but we never quite created a clear- cut chance. Simms was onto a through ball (you know, the sort the Everton fans said he doesn't like) and when it looked like he'd been forced too wide to be dangerous, flashed in a shot that almost dipped into the keeper's top left corner.

Clarke was seeing plenty of the ball, but his choice of cross was a bit lacking - having said that, a clever one to the onrushing Cirkin allowed our left back to hit a cross that was just too high for LND, who could only head over.

Neil picked up the ball centrally, but was fouled in Pritch territory - however, the position favoured a left-footer and Pritch's attempt to rind the top right corner with his right didn't dip enough.

Gooch was at it again, helping set up Stewart, but with the keeper nowhere, Ross's effort was hacked off the line.

Rotherham had a couple of chances, but Patto was down smartly to beat one away and drop onto the other. A third was blasted close to the visiting fans, but it was us playing the good football. Stewart dragged one a foot wide with their keeper well beaten after some nice passing, and when the two added minutes were up it was the home fans bemoaning the fact it was level. Having said that, we had yet another ref who seemed intent on baffling us with his inconsistency as he allowed one thing for one side but not for the other. Where's my uncle Bob Hodgson as an assessor when you need him? Needless to say, must of the leniency seemed to go towards the yellows, although he'd resisted the urge to book O9 for nowt, which seems almost mandatory this season.

The break saw four new Lads wheeled out for our delectation - forgive my not naming them, but apart from Michu, they were pretty much like sound effects to me. They can't have failed to be impressed by the reception they got.

No changes for the second half, but two things were apparent fairly quickly - firstly, Evans had been force-fed a gallon of Red Bull (other energy drinks are available, but not Rich Energy, obviously) and a big bag of Haribo. Secondly, Clarke had been taken aside by Mogga and telt to release the ball sooner.

A Simms take on the chest preceded him turning to shoot over, but while it was off target, it served notice to the Millers that we weren't letting up and when they got their second yellow soon after (ref, have you not read your anti-Sunderland instructions?) Pritch found the head of Batth - but the header flew wide. Should have been a goal, Danny.

Not to worry, Clarke was fired up and dangerous, almost putting the full back on his backside before placing a cross in the perfect place for LND to sweep home left-footed on 52 minutes. Up went the crowd as relief whooshed around the stadium in a millisecond. The breakthrough we'd been waiting for, and it's a lovely place to be when it happens.

We kept at it in the same vein, feeding Clarke and Gooch after O9 mopped up all the loose stuff at the Roker end like he was trying show Mogga that he could do anything. On 65, Stewart needed treatment and had to leave the field, but jogged back into the fray on our right - just as Clarke was at it again, this time hitting a low cross with the outside of his right foot - one of those that spun away from defenders and basically had "Roscoe, please score" written on it. So Roscoe did, having galloped down our right to the back post, putting it away nicely and adding to the joy by having their keeper clatter into the post in a vain attempt to keep it out. Hey Rotherham - he's enormous, how could you not see him?

At this point, Rotherham heads understandably dropped and we went for the jugular. Clarke was having the time of his life, and yellow cards were fluttering in the visitors' direction. With about 12 to go, Pritch was given a breather, replaced by Roberts and we anticipated mischief with his ability to run at, and past, opponents through the middle. Two minutes later, Stewart earned an assist, but to be fair, Clarke's dancing run in from the left and past defenders along the edge of the box was his own assist to the almost inevitable right-footer, cut back low to the keeper's right and just inside the post. Gerrin! What a beaut - the sort that would be endlessly replayed on MOTD... come on ITV 4, get your EFL highlights edited to accommodate.

Game over, basically, and we controlled it thoroughly. Evans was still stotting about like.... O9, and O9 was defending like Colin Todd on acid. Clarke began to perhaps let the situation go to his head and started to be clever in our half rather than running at their right back, but I suppose there's no real harm when you're 3-0 up and cruising. Rotherham brought on three subs to add to their earlier two, but it would have taken a miracle for them to have done any real damage to us. Wright replaced Clarke with about ten to go, with huge and deserved applause, and he went to the right side as we switched to three at the back with 09 on the right - Luke actually sprinted to halfway to shake Clarke's hand as he jogged off. Great touch.

Patto did well to be strong and collect an awkward ball that got over Luke's head, and we put Gooch in possession as he now had free rein to stay up the field and keep Rotherham's left flank in their own half.

Four minutes added time were announced when I'd have been relieved at six, but there was still time to set Simms on a gallop goalwards in the inside right channel only to be caught by a defender who got in the road of the shot. There were crunching tackles right to the last, which says a lot about our players' mentality. 3-0 up and flying in like John Kay in a mood? Girruppp!

Peep, game over, great performance Lads - and one that should have Mowbray smiling himself to sleep. He's fallen in his feet here, inheriting a good squad, a good system, a side in decent form that doesn't require turning around, and a big crowd in a good mood. Jammy beggar!

Man of the Match? After that "nearly" first half, Clarke produced half an hour as effective as any I've seen from a Sunderland player. Drawing fouls, putting defenders on their bums, shooting, crossing, scoring and generally entertaining. At the back, O9 was simply radged in the nicest possible way, (as our Gaz says, he's great to watch but might not live long) while Gooch barely did owt wrong defensively or in going forward. Cirkin grows in authority with every game, our number six does exactly what it says on the tin (Batth) and our front two could turn out to be the Championship's surprise package of the season. Neil (the nice one) came close to setting up a goal several times and only got caught in possession once, and that was after the game was won. Pritchard was Pritchard, with his ability and reputation preceding him and putting the opposition on guard from the off.

It's got the be Clarke - you can't set up two and score one then go unrewarded.

Welcome to Wearside, Tony Mowbray. Enjoy the ride.