Stoke, one of our least favourite opponents for some reason, came north and, confused by the 3pm Saturday kickoff, let us score late in the first half and early in the second which was nice of them! Add to that a change from our usual short passing game to a faster way of if getting it forward (down to the coach, I guess - credit where credit's due) and the 3-1 win was a blessed relief from the media nonsense of the last week.
With the transfer window about to close, we've made no signings and that's hardly surprising given the attitude of some of our fans to potential targets. Callum Styles could be the next Evans, with over 200 games in the bank at only 23 - but he's been the subject to some pretty horrific online abuse, presumably based on the twenty minutes he played against us for Millwall just over a year ago. Who'd want to sign for us given that sort of introduction to our fans? Anyway, congratulations to our FA youth cup side, 3-0 winners at Gillingham, for providing something to smile about and all the current discontent. Our super-efficient bus driver had us in the Isis by 1250 so that we could pick the team. Quite easy, we thought...until the Pritchard stuff came out, which had us seriously considering staying in the pub all afternoon. Mebbe it's Pritch's cockney accent, it's certainly not about timing. I reckon if this club went for a number 2 it'd forget to take its trousers down.
Let's just say my day was potentially ruined an hour before kickoff and I can't remember heading to a game in such low spirits. Only the Sheepfolds drummer was upbeat.
Patterson
Seelt O'Nien (c) Ballard Hume
Neil Ekwah
Ba Bellingham Clarke
Burstow
...and a bench of Bishuuurrrp, Triantis, Pembele, Mayenda, Rigg, Watson, Crompton, Rusyn, Hemir.
We set things away on a pleasant afternoon, attacking the Roker End and with the crowd in a surprisingly bouyant mood. It only took a couple of minutes for BA to be fouled out in the right, but Clarke's free only got us a corner on the left, which Seelt won at the back post only for Stoke to clear. A proper Huuuume tackle prevented a breakaway at the expense of a throw, and we had a couple of corners to deal. We had a few "almost" through balls, but Burstow always had a defender tight on him. Patto did well to tip over a dipping shot on the be quarter hour, we cleared the corner and Neil got it to Clarke who in turn switched it to Ba. He got into the box but someone shot over - at least a bit of positivity. Clarke was at it again, finding Ekwah but the shot, despite looking like it had taken a deflection, ended with a goal kick. Let's just say the Roker End weren't happy.
O9's hoof from sixty yards curled inward to become our first effort on target after 21 minutes, just before a Stoke shot over the top and a yellow for a block on Clarke as we got the goal kick up the field. Unfortunately the free went straight to their keeper. After another yellow for a pull on Clarke, Patterson pulled off a great save and we got the follow up off the line before Stoke shot over. Too close for comfort, but we kept at it with Clarke going down the left and forcing a low save from the keeper, but he didn't hold it and Burstow was on hand to put it away. Two to go to the break, then an added minute in which an embarrassingly obvious dive in our box went unpunished, and we were happy as Marco did the halftime draw.
No changes for the second half, and Patto was quickly called upon as he took a low cross from Gooch. Ba then broke down the right, switched it to Clarke, and was in acres of space to receive the low cross at the back post. 2-0. Another Stoke corner was taken by Patto who set Clarke away but this time nobody was on the end of the cross. A lovely dummy on halfway by Jobe set us away again and we win a corner before Ba once again found Clarke but his first-timer hit a blue leg and went for a corner.
Stoke brought on three subs on the hour but scooped a good chance over but soon after Ba was away again, this time cutting it back to Ekwah who blasted in our third. Happy days, but we are Sunderland and Seelt was caught in two minds by a bouncer and chose the wrong one, touching it in for an OG. Bugger.
Stoke pushed everyone forward, we bypassed them and went close a few times. Rigg, Rusyn, and Pembele replaced Burstow, Bellingham, and Ba before Gooch got the biggest ovation of the day as he was replaced. Seven added minutes? No problem. Comfortable enough in the end, and well done Beale for the tactics.
Man of the Match? Clarke was his usual mix of effervescence and trickery, but for me Ba was the man. Goal, assist, assist. Nice one.
