SOBS V WOLVES

After what seemed like an eternal international break, the Lads welcomed Wolves to Wearside and scrapped our way, patiently, to what looks like a comfortable win. A lovely first half goal by Mukiele and an added time OG on the end of a lightning break did the business and we went home happy. Very happy.

As far as international breaks go, it was a good one for us with various players helping their nations to the World Cup and - despite typically rumbustious performances by Ballard, Hume, and Alderete, nobody got broken. There was a scare about Omar and Noah, but they're made of stern stuff. As are most Sunderland players past and present, keeping in shape for as long as necessary - only last night Darren Holloway bought a home gym off our Gary. In a back lane, in Crook. Small world, most of the population of which seemed to be in the Isis and the Vaults - like the old days.

Of course, I crossed the new bridge, which shouldn't really have been an emotional experience - it's just a bridge, even if they have missed my great great granddad's ship off it - but it was, and everyone else seemed to feel the same, judging by the smiles.

Roefs 

Mukiele Ballard Alderete Hume

Sidiki Xhaka (c)

Traore Rigg Le Fee

Isidor 

... and a bench of Patterson, O'Nien, Neil, Mayenda, Brobbey, Masuaku, Adingra, Geertruida, and Talbi.

They kicked off south in a peculiar greenish kit, and had the best of the opening exchanges, in which a dreadful Xhaka pass allowed a Wolves shot that thankfully flew well wide. We defended well, before getting hold of the ball and setting Issy away down the left on 8 minutes, and he lashed it high into the net only to be called offside - great finish, though. Hume was operating at left back, but Mukiele was taking the long throws, so the pair spent a fair amount of time swapping sides. The noisy visiting fans called our long throws "boring" but hey - if you can, why not?

A string of fouls as the visitors, particularly Strand Larson, seemed more interested in banging into our players than winning the ball, brought free kicks to add to our long throws, and we hoyed everyone forward for them apart from Sadiki (and Roefs, obvs) as we got on top of things. Just after the quarter hour, Nordi took another long throw and stayed on the left as the passes pinged about he was on the end of the last one to pop it away, although it seemed to take an age to actually cross the line between the keeper's legs, I think. 

Marvellous goal. Just marvellous.

Another Nordi throw, from the right this time, found Hume at the back post but his header went into the side netting as we enjoyed a spell of dominance - ending with a Wolves break and shot that went well over. We seemed to go to sleep around 36 minutes and created our own problems - or is that just me reverting to standard SAFC fan mode of pessimism? A corner on our right found Big Dan, but his header was easy for their keeper. 

There were four added minutes, in which there was time for good defensive work by Rigg and a naughty foul on Nordi, a shot to be blocked and Xhaka's blast to be bravely headed over for a corner.

Worth the lead? Yes. Comfortable? Not quite.

There were nice presentations at half time, as part of the Founders thing, to the descendents of various record-breaking players - and Gordon Armstrong in person, who looked particularly happy with his memento. 

No changes for the second half, and we looked to have a chance when Issy broke, but he made the wrong decision, opting to go through rather than lay it left to Enzo. Damn. 

As the visiting fans sang "how sh1t must you be, it's only 1-0" Issy was in the end of a beautiful pass but his typical shot from the left flew across the face of goal and wide. Traore was replaced by Talbi (not before time, I reckon) and the subs pace quickly became a factor on the left as Rigg went right with Enzo just inside. 

Roefs produced his first save on 69, and we got it up the field to win another free - which Dan almost got into at the back post. For the last fifteen we brought on Mayenda and Geertruida for Rigg and Isidor, with the former making some good carries from our half and the latter going to right back. It seemed that Regis was hall with 1-0, as was I - but two would have been so much better. Another excellent header by Hume, back to Roefs, preceded six added minutes being announced. 

Geertruida got it to Talbi, who turned on the afterburners and burst into their box and when their man sliced his clearance it flew into the net. Which was nice, and ended things. A knock on our very own Duracell Bunny (Sadiki) gave Dan Neil a few minutes on the field and we coasted through those few minutes.

Three more points.

Man of the Match? Wow. These days it's so much of a team effort that it's difficult - Hume and Mukiele were tremendous at the back, Sadiki was all over the middle, and Xhaka was Xhaka. Roefs made the three saves he had to, but I think I'll give it to Mukiele. Just.

Ha'way the Lads!