OTD: 3-1 V BRUM (2023)

On this day in 2023, Eliezer Mayenda made his Sunderland debut off the bench as Sunderland beat the Blues 3-1, with Jobe Bellingham scoring against his old club and Dion Sanderson putting us back ahead via an own goal. Here's Sobs' report from that day...

The Bluenoses brummed into town on their funky mopeds and lost out as we took all the points despite a display that was very much like the famous curate's egg - good and bad in parts. We should have been three up before their goal, but we were effective when it mattered.

Naturally, much of the week was taken up wondering who'd fill the central defensive roles, and who'd persuade Luke to give up his wrestling antics in our penalty box. Would we go for two "proper" CHs in Seelt and Triantis or keep as many experienced players in as possible and move Hume or Cirkin to the middle - bearing in mind that, at 22, Huggins is the eldest of the three.

Oh, and who'll be captain - Dan Neil for me.

It being a daft kickoff time, alarms had to be set for a home game and full English had at Expresso's was planned - but a lie/sleep in knackered that one. Never mind, young Alfie won us the football card on the bus.

Patterson

Huggins Seelt Triantis, Hume

Neil (c - telt yer) Ekwah

Roberts Bellingham Clarke

Rusyn

... and a bench of only Bishuuurrrp, Pritchard, Ba, Dack, Mayenda, Hemir, Aouchiche, and Burstow because Cirkin pulled up in the warm-up.

On a still and bright dinner time, and after a very impressive poppy display in the Roker End and an impeccable two-bugle rendition of the Last Post, we gave it Wise Men Say. Brum kicked off North, as it should be, and within 90 seconds Rusyn had flashed a shot wide. A tremendous tackle by Hume set us away again but we were thwarted by former Lad Dion Sanderson. Nine minutes in, Clarke played it across to Roberts and his low cross was put behind for a corner on our right - but we put it just wide at the back post.

Roberts then found Rusyn on eleven minutes and he beat the keeper to his right only for the shot to hit the upright. Huggins then went a bit mad, popping up on the left wing and at centre forward and helping get the ball to Ekwah who was very obviously pulled over 25 yards out in a central position. He took the free kick himself, but it was comfortable for the keeper. Clarke ran at the defence again, seeing his cross met by Rusyn, with a corner on our left the result on 15 minutes. Rusyn met the near post cross with a diving header across the goal for Jobe to put away. Thoroughly deserved, but we didn't manage to build on it.

Their number two then fouled Clarke to earn a booking, then setting about repeatedly hoofing Roberts up in the air. We won a corner on the right and it bobbled about in the box before Rusyn beat the keeper only to see his shot hit the same but of wood. Roberts was fouled again and needed treatment before Huggins cleared off our line as we were waiting for Paddy to come back on.

Slack passing on the half hour let them break down our right and the low cross was turned in for 1-1. Thoroughly undeserved, but it was enough for us to spend most of the rest of the half going to pieces. The ref steadfastly refused to give a second yellow to their 2 despite him fouling Roberts another four times. We couldn't increase our lead in the five added minutes and 1-1 at the break was probably a fair reflection of how the half had panned out.

In came Darren Williams to do the draw, which was appropriately won by ticket number 1918.

No changes for the second half, and Clarke was pulled over in our first attack to bring a yellow to ironic cheers. Do they get these refs from the home for idiots?

Despite having lots of the ball, we seemed to lose our composure in either box, but at least our centre halves had taken notice if Tony's half time instruction to get closer to each other and block that big gap in the middle that had been so inviting to Brum. On 56 a short corner on the right went very deep from Clarke for Hume to head back and Triantis to force home from a foot or so

Relief. Five minutes later Rusyn made way for Ba, who produced a series of trademark mazy runs, then Bellingham and Roberts made way for Adil and Mayenda. A couple of minutes later, Clarke danced and twazzled his way into the box and hit it low for Adil to fire home from a couple of yards.

Even more relief. Mayenda showed that he could both hold it up and run past people. There was a hilarious attempt by a fan to volley it back from the west stand, then Mayenda was wrestled to the ground on the corner of the box but Adil's shot was cleared. Clarke left the field on 87 with Burstow coming on, and our loanee curled a shot wide soon after. Six added minutes were announced, and we (and Ekwah in particular) kept creating our own problems with loose passes in our own half. Burstow and Mayenda both made the keeper work, Patto made a couple of saves - one comfy, the other a very good tip round the post - then the whistle went. Girrup!

A well deserved win, but I doubt we'll play so patchily again and win 3-1. One day one of our forwards will score - Rusyn, Burstow, and the surprisingly muscular Mayenda all went close and on another day would have had at least one each.

Man of the Match? Neil was steady throughout, Hume was terrific in the first half and good in the second, but I'll give it to Clarke for opening up the visiting defence in the second half.