Welcome back to the second part of my documentation of how the play-off semi-final unfolded through the emotions of myself, a Sunderland exile living in Northern Ireland.
It was a quick turnaround for the Lads as the Championship semis were played on the Tuesday and Wednesday. I don’t know why the FL did it this way and gave those in League One and Two more recovery time, but they did and that was that. Anyway we were still on a high from Saturday night’s escapades although with a very narrow lead. The good thing was that Luton’s away goal counted for absolutely nada so the equation was quite simple: avoid defeat and then we could look forward to the next challenge.
Yet it wouldn’t be easy as the Lads had even more injury concerns going into that second leg. Both Pritch and Paddy had picked up knocks but we had been boosted by the return of the big unit known as Alj Alese to bolster the defensive core. Therefore there was plenty of trepidation in the collective air as we got ready for our biggest test so far. I was a bag of nerves myself, just didn’t really want to talk much about the forthcoming game at work and trying hard to stop getting carried away. Could we do it?
I have been to Kenilworth Road a few times actually, and its narrow compact surroundings are a far cry from the SoL. From approaching the stadium and seeing Asian greengrocers dotted here, there and everywhere with toilet rolls on sale outside, to that unique away end where it feels like you are walking through someone’s backyard to get where you want to be. For a player I can guess this stark contrast can be quite intimidating but the Lads had a job to do.
Team news comes in and both Pritch and Paddy are fit to start, so Mogga names an unchanged starting eleven. I am concerned though that neither will last the whole game and we will have to replace them at some point during the proceedings. We’re prepared though, with three of the six outfield substitutes being defenders who could cover every single position in the back four. Nothing like being prepared for battening down the hatches should we need to shut up shop.
The main thing is that we need to ride out the early storm and not concede. That’s because we know that they will come out all guns blazing and out to rub our slender advantage as quickly as possible. 10 minutes in, and those fears are confounded as Osho scores following one of their many set piece plays. We twice appealed for penalties but Andre Marriner wasn’t having anything of it. Long ball after long ball continues and the alarm signs are flashing constantly. We have a few close shaves including one cleared off the line by wee Trai, L09 stops an own goal and Pogo Patterson makes an incredible reaction save.
Can we survive it until half time? That’s the plan I’m sure as the minutes and seconds tick onwards. Then we come unstuck again from another set piece as Lockyer heads home. Advantage Luton for sure. If only those injuries to both Ballard and Batth hadn’t happened then we would have dealt with this, although wee Trai and L09 are doing a manful job as deputies in unnatural positions. Our Achilles heel had been exposed by Luton and boy do those Luton supporters know it. Still there’s 45 minutes left to change it. We’ve come back a few times when all seemed lost, can the Lads do it once more?
The second half sees Sunderland go about it and try to grab that goal which would give the home team some food for thought. But they’re defending as if their lives depend on it, whilst still keeping the Lads on their collective toes when attacking. I’m starting to look to the heavens for divine inspiration, maybe if God is a Mackem, as we all think he is, then perhaps he will do something good for us. We have five or six minutes time added on, but a last gasp corner which even Pogo goes up for can't change the final result. It’s not a third trip to the National Stadium in as many seasons for the Lads and no cheesy chips on Wembley Way for the fans. The Lads have given it everything but just fallen short.
As I switch off the TV, I ask Alexa to play one final random tune for the night. The strains of Labi Siffre’s “Something Inside So Strong” pierce the night air, and I resonate the words of Lurgan’s own Neil Francis Lennon in 2011 when Rangers beat Celtic on the final day of the season: “This is not the end, this is just the beginning.” He was right then, here’s hoping those same words prove prophetic for the Lads in the 2023-24 season. Bring on the first weekend in August.
