SOBS V CHERRIES

The Lads, fresh from European success, went as far from Wearside as you can get without needing a passport, and a much- changed side were well beaten by early goals in each half. Oh, and an early sending off. The lack of contribution from our wingers of late has brought a lot of comment, so (perhaps in response) we started without any, and didn't bring any on. Ha'way man, Regis - it's not as if we're short of them! The lack of an experienced forward was also telling, but you can hardly give Tutierov grief considering the very few minutes he's played for the first team. Three shots, all off target, to the Cherries' 23 pretty much sums things up.

Emptying the dishwasher at 3 in the morning isn't something I'd recommend, but I was up and had a bus to catch. Said bus interrupted our attempt at sleep by having a coolant issue in Berkshire, but, nowt serious, we were at the ground by 11:30 - and, in as bright a day as you'll get in mid October, the floodlights were on. Showing off, I reckon. 

Trying the Park Hotel for a change, we found it home fans only (boo!) so we legged it to the Cricketers again. Apparently, pronouncing Jail Ale the County Durham way (Jayul Ayul, a  full four syllables) is a tad confusing for the staff. They'll learn.  

In came the team news..

Roefs 

Mukiele Danso Alderete Reinildo 

Xhaka (c) Sadiki 

Hume Rigg Le Fee

Tutierov

... and a bench of Ellborg, Talbi (yay!), O'Nien, Methalie, Fofana, Riquelme (aka the other Angulo), Ahoka, and Fofana. No sign of Issy or Brobbey, though.

Pretty in pink, and after the pyrotechnics had scared the pigeons and the smoke had nearly cleared, we kicked off attacking the end to our fans' right - although it did go straight to Roefs. 

We were bullied off the ball several times in n the opening minutes, resulting in a corner on our right which we cleared. Another "turnover" gave the home side the chance to cross, which they did, and Tavernier headed home Evanilson's ball in a reverse of last season's home goal, with only six minutes gone.

Bah. Start again, Lads.

When we won a free Xhaka floated it in from deep (very deep) but Toots could only head it wide. We were at the "getting knocked off the ball" business again soon after, when two of our players were outmuscled, Danso chased their attacker, and they tangled in what looked like six of one and half a dozen of the other, but in those situations in the Premier, the outcome is almost inevitable - red card and a free a few yards outside the box. Only 17 minutes gone, and Hume had to go to fullback with Nordi going central. 

We couldn't get Toots in, as the home side took advantage of their superior numbers by knocking it about patiently but also with pace. When Nordi burst down the right he was chopped down near halfway and had to leave the field for some vinegar and brown paper to be applied to his left knee, while his assailant was booked. Roefs somehow dug the ball out of a goalmouth scramble more reminiscent of a Sunday morning than the Premier, and Nordi hopped back on. 

We got stuck in a bit up the right, with a series of decent challenges perking up our support, but not really getting us anywhere - to the extent that the next effort was by the home side and thankfully way over. Roefs then saved a header with his feet, we went up the field and won a corner on our left but it was taken comfortably under the bar by their keeper. No challenge, Lads? Ha'way, get into them!  

There were six added minutes in which we needed a good tackle in the box by Alderete after Le Fee lost the ball, and our fans tried lifting things with a decent amount of noise. All we got was a yellow for a foul near halfway on Rigg, then it was time for a sit down to consider our options. 

No changes for the second half, and there was a decent low save by Roefs near his left post which preceded a half-decent bit of play down our left. When it went to the far side I, and everyone else in our stand, thought it had gone out but no - and away went Evanilson, round Roefs and it was 0-2 barely three minutes into the half. 

Game over, really. 

For the next ten minutes the home side passed it about, then we made changes as Alderete and Tutierov made way for O'Nien and Diarra. We immediately won a corner on our left, but Enzo's cross was cleared all the way to Roefs. He belted it up to our right and the cross-shot flew across and wide. The next intervention by our keeper was a decent save at the expense of a corner. Rigg was carded, after damaging himself in the challenge, and was replaced by Ahoka on 64. With Diarra now our centre forward, and Ahoka at inside left, we tried feeding them but couldn't get through the home defence. On 70 minutes there were two shameful bits of conning by the home side - a pretend broken nose courtesy of no contact by Ahoka and a stabbing by Reinildo, who'd applied the gentlest of pressure to his opponent's back.

A card for a pull on Diarra in the centre circle gave Xhaka the chance to launch one into the box, which he did, and Hume met the clearance reasonably well, but the effort was off target. Another six added minutes, a crucial (in terms of keeping the score at two) intervention by Luke, and that was it. The end of a very disappointing afternoon. As King George V didn't quite say - Bugger Bournemouth.

Man of the Match? Probably Rigg.