Looking for another league double, the Lads welcomed Luton to Wearside and for once didn't let a team in a bad run of form end that run. A beautifully placed first goal for Enzo thirteen minutes into the first half and a clinical finish by Issy thirteen minutes into the second did the damage, and the expected aerial stuff in the latter stages was dealt with efficiently enough - well, they didn't score, did they, and that's what counts. As does the fact that we're now a whole 17 points from seventh place.
The return of Bellingham was most welcome, hopefully energised by his day off and their young'un's dramatic late winner in Manchester. Against another team in bad form, perhaps playing two up top might have been an idea - but the tactics could provide positivity enough. The U21s seven goal romp on Tuesday not only gave Browne a decent run out, but a chance for Abdullahi to answer those who'd commented on the video of his weekend goal. "Sluggish" was one of the kinder ones, but a hat trick against Huddersfield in a 7-0 romp sent out a good signal. A seat on the bench with the big boys soon, I think.
Being a lazy sort, I opted against a trip to Eppleton to witness his heroics and instead made the short journey to watch Greg Halford come off the bench to play up front for Bishop. Summary? Ashington won, and I realised why we played him at right back all those years ago. Don't bother asking yer dad.
With the traffic at the top of Houghton Cut a happy indicator of a relatively comfy end to our journey, in came the team news with a couple of changes - one expected, one not.
Patterson
Hume Ballard O'Nien Cirkin
Neil (c) Bellingham
Roberts Rigg Le Fee
Isidor
..and a bench of Moore, Mepham, Mayenda, Hjelde, Jones, Samed, Seelt, Ogunsuyi, and Aleksic. No sign of Poveda - mebbe ten minutes a month is all we can risk him.
A bit of a surprise return for Big Dan in place of Mepham, but we seem to have a glut of central defenders, so we might as well give them a try.
They kicked off North on a damp and chilly evening in front of a crowd that was a bit smaller than I'd hoped - even if I did only just catch the start. We got onto the front foot early and Isidor looked to be held as he tried to run into the box - but, as we discovered on Saturday, holding Issy isn't an offence. Roberts then intercepted a pass thirty-odd yards out and it was fired across to Issy on the left but his shot flashed across and inches wide.
The space on Luton's right was being exploited by the Le Fee/ Cirkin combination and it brought us our first corner which eventually led to Neil and Cirkin having shots blocked - we could have been two up in the first ten minutes.
A few minutes later Hume drove across from the right and his deadly accurate pass found Enzo, who cut inside his marker and placed his effort across and in. A lovely goal that was no more than we deserved in the 13th minute.
We had chances to increase our lead with three or four clips into the box down the inside right channel close to bearing fruit, and numerous interchanges on the left almost getting us in.
A foul on Roberts 25 yards out gave Enzo a shooting chance, but he hit the wall in somebody's gut, so the game was stopped and the ball given to the keeper despite it having been in our possession in our half. Baffling, but it seemed to bring Rigg, who'd had a quiet start, to life.
Luke and the linesman collided on our left, so our favourite nutter picked up the flag and waved it. Mad, but we gave the visitors a chance by conceding a free kick that caused a bit of chaos, with Patto pushing the ball onto the post -the rebound was close to going in, but offside was given anyway. Too close for comfort, mind.
Rigg responded by blasting in a shot from distance that the slightly nervous - looking keeper saved, then we had a few corners and came close to that elusive second. Luton did get a shot in, but it glanced off a Sunderland shin on its way over the top and we had to defend the resultant corner.
A single added minute was announced and we went into the break deservedly ahead but needing the second goal, as Luton would surely resort to type and hoy some long ones at Luke and company.
No changes for us (but you'd guessed that) and we were straight at them down the right when Luke hit a raking ball from our left to Roberts. He combined with Rigg and we sent a shot close, then it began. With Luke and Dan swapping sides to try to baffle those hoofing it at them, the long balls rained in. We had to produce some desperate defending, but kept the ball away from Patto, although it was a bit hairy for ten minutes or so. That hairiness ended when the appropriately named Fanne (pronounced Fanny) poked a pass away from Bellingham in the edge of their box, but straight into the box past Issy, who spun and drilled it past the keeper's right hand. Just what we needed, and we relaxed a bit to play some nice passing stuff.
On the hour, it should have been three. Issy wriggled into the box after a glorious trademark backheel by Le Fee had set us away but he ran into traffic instead of laying it back to Rigg, who was in a great position to score. I think even Ronaldo would have chosen to pass it. Luton backed up their straightforward game by bringing on a couple of subs, including Adebayo (6' 4", in case you were wondering). Rigg took a couple of knocks but still kept Roberts and Cirkin fed, and Paddy in particular gave their defence a twisty time.
After a Luton shot caused a few folks in the Roker end to duck, Roberts danced between a couple of defenders to whack it from the edge of the box past the keeper - but it smacked off the far post and away. That signalled the end of Rigg's involvement as he made way for Mayenda for the last fifteen minutes. Just what we needed - more running power up top to keep their defence on their back foot ( back feet?). He had a couple of good charges at them, helping Issy into the space to cross low, but it was put behind for a corner.
A couple more half chances came our way, with Hume going for a curler rather than a blast, and missing the target and another low cross flashed just past the far post when it looked destined for a vital touch. On came Samed for Issy (job done) to beef up the middle and protect our lead. It worked, as we were the ones pushing for a goal in the five added minutes.
A third would have been very nice and probably a fair reflection on the way the game had gone, but two will do. We had three times as many shots as them, and Patto had only one save to make, which just about sums things up.
Man of the Match? Great stuff out wide from Roberts and Enzo, and resolute defending for the duration at the back - with Hume tackling like a tank and adding to the attack as well. Probably because he showed us what we'd missed at the weekend with his carrying of the ball away from opponents and his general calmness, Bellingham deserves a mention. Their young'un should really have stayed in the country and come to the game.
.. having said all that, for a beautiful goal and some outrageous touches, it has to be Le Fee.
