Sunderland went to the Eco-Power stadium and brought back three points, having comprehensively whipped a Doncaster side that looked weak and dispirited from the moment the ref signalled the start of the game. Solid at the back, composed in the middle, and energetic up front, we didn't really need to be well organised because we had a better player in every position than the home side.
As it was a daft kick-off time, we were straight to the ground to discuss life, Christmas, the universe, and team selection, in the big bar next to the main entrance. And the Spenny v Darlo derby the day before, which had crowd trouble, two on-field brawls, a couple of red cards, and a 1-1 draw before it kicked off in the town. A decent warm-up for today.
Hoffmann
Flanagan Wright Doyle
Dajaku Embleton Evans Neil Gooch
Pritchard Stewart
In yellow, Pritchard set us away, kicking away from our 4000+ fans - about 40% of the crowd, as it turned out. We quickly realised that it looked like a "no contest", and that Gooch and Dajaku would cause Donny problems. We got it out to Dajaku on the right on five minutes, and he danced along the edge of box, then in, and none of the home players moaned when he was upended and the ref pointed to the spot. Stewart hit it low to keeper's right as he went the other way to open the scoring.
Soon after that there was a foul on Neil just outside box, in the inside right position. Pritch curled it, but not quite enough, and the ball smacked off the outside of the right hand post. Embo then cut in from left and hit a shot from the edge of the box that went straight down the keeper's throat, as they say on MOTD.
Donny tried a little foray up our end, but the shot (or cross?) was fielded comfortably by Hoff at the foot of his right hand post. With the home side allowing us to sprint away from them at almost every opportunity, we set up Pritch to hit a belter from distance that was tipped away for our first corner, on the right
Donny had looked a beaten team from the opening goal, and Gooch and Dajaku were running the home defence ragged, with Pritch doing a passable impersonation of a Duracell bunny (other batteries are available) as he twisted and turned away from his marker. Having said that, on 25 minutes they belted down the right to put in a cross that Wright did well to head away for a throw. That was the first serious bit of defending we'd had to produce.
Another corner on our right was cleared by the home defence, then it was Neil's turn to burst into the box from the right and fire into the side netting as we entered the final five minutes of the half.
Just as we were wondering how it was only 1-0, as Donny didn't know what to do with Pritchard, and seconds after Neil's effort, Embo was onto a Pritch ball in the box and he hooked his shot down and it bounced across the keeper and in. That's more like it, Lads, and no more than we deserved.
Even Doyle was venturing forward, and he won a corner when his cross from the left was poked behind. Several corners followed, then Stewart hoofed one a mile over, and one added minute announced.
We were well worth the lead, as we'd completely dominated the game, with Hoffmann having that single, weak, shot (or cross) to deal with comfortably at the foot of his right hand post early on.
We made no changes, and Donny showed more activity and intent in the opening couple of minutes of the second half than the entire first 45. That said, our back three dealt with whatever came at them, and gave it to Evans, who calmed things down.
Five minutes in, though, Gooch ran at the defence, jinked right to the byline and whacked in a cross that Pritch flicked against a defender, forcing an own goal for 3-0. A smashing goal, and just reward for Pritch's endeavours.
Soon after, Donny did have a shot, which was saved by Hoff up aheight - but, truth be told, it had been hit from distance more in hope than expectation.
Dajaku, for the umpteenth time, zipped down the right and put in a cross, which Stewart headed high and wide as we entered a period of…. just showing off, really.
Gooch ran at the defence and slashed one wide, then, on 57 minutes, Evans went off, replaced by Cirkin with Gooch pushing even further forward. We took a few minutes to compensate for Evans's absence, allowing Donny a little period of possession in our half, but imposed ourselves eventually.
Again, it was Neil's turn to dance into the box from the left, and his cross was met well, but blocked. Then we hit the outside of the post again, and on 65 Hoff pulled off a good save low to his right.
Pritchard continued to run around like a Jack Russell after a full bag of Haribo, and he helped the ball to Neil on 71 minutes. Neil pinged it across to Dajaku who ran into the box and squirmed between two defenders, going down with what looked a fairly obvious arm around his neck, but no penalty was given. Perhaps the ref thought he made too much of it - that's all I can think.
A couple bid minutes later, Pritch went off and Hume came on, making us wonder how many left backs we could fit in. Gooch went into Pritch's place as we shuffled things around again. Hume's first touch was to pop home Dajaku's low cross after Gooch had wriggled away from his man in the centre circle to set Leon away - but it was given as offside. Damn. There was another smart low save by Hoff, but that was a brief glimmer of positivity for the home fans, who I sort of felt sorry for.
Dajaku galloped into the box again, but was unable off balance when the ball sat up, and he poked a left-footer wide when a cross was the better option. On came Wee Willie Harris for Stewart for the final ten minutes, to give the hard-working Scot a rest and his understudy a valuable taste of the big time.
There was a daft yellow for Doyle when he hoyed the ball into the crowd after conceding a throw, which proved to be the afternoon's only downer.
Flan was damaged helping a Donny shot go wide, but he recovered after treatment to see out the four added minutes.
A thoroughly convincing win, and while the opposition might have been the weakest we've seen, you can only beat what you're up against - and we did.
Man of the Match? Wright was sound as a pound at the back, but it would unfair to give it to a defender against a team like Donny. There were really good shifts from Embo and Neil, while Gooch and Dajaku were impressive - even if the latter does make the wrong choices at times. Stewart put himself about and never gave up, but for me it has to be Pritchard. All energy, always available.
A very good day at the office, Lads. Twenty shots and 60+% possession isn't a bad return, and made for a great awayday. Oh, and a word on ref Bobby Madley...only one contentious decision in 95 minutes just shows that a Prem official makes all the difference, even if he was only there because the cameras were.
Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to see Sunderland win away. HEY!
