Sunderland v Arsenal, Saturday 15:00 – A Craig Gardner penalty was not enough for Sunderland as they fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Reading last weekend. – Defender John OâShea continues to display the composure in defence that made him a stalwart at Old Trafford for so many years. He leads the Sunderland […]
Sunderland
In-depth player stats: Sunderland vs Swansea
Sunderland v Swansea, 19:45 Two goals from Steven Fletcher and a penalty from Craig Gardner helped Sunderland battle to a 3-2 win over Wigan in their last league game. Gardnerâs goal was just his third of the season, despite having had 39 shots at goal this season with 61.4% on target. Gardner has […]
A good day out for Sunderland fans in Wigan
Pete Sixsmith did not expect to be at the DW Stadium. His original plan involved a trip to Bitton, not far from Bristol, to see Shildon in the FA Vase but he wisely changed his mind even before all Saturdayâs games in the competition were called off. So he became one of the 5,000 candidates […]
In-depth player stats: Wigan vs Sunderland
Wigan v Sunderland 15:00 Â – Wigan managed to claim a deserved point after a Franco di Santo goal secured a 1-1 draw against Fulham last weekend. Given the amount of chances his side created, Roberto Martinez may have been disappointed not to be have taken all three points but it was a performance to […]
Sunderland out of the cup after Bolton defeat
Ruby Tuesday. Had Sunderland won last night, that 40th anniversary cup run would still have been on â if only until the visit of Everton that wonât now be needed. An abysmal display against Bolton Wanderers, watched by a paltry crowd of 17,500 including our own, occasionally rejoicing but less occasionally suffering Pete Sixsmith, must […]
STATS: Sunderland vs West Ham
Sunderland v West Ham, Saturday 15:00 – Sunderland are another team who will be hoping for better results than their year started with, having suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Liverpool in their last game and being forced to a replay in the FA Cup by Bolton. – Martin O’Neill has suggested […]
NEW YEAR TREBLE PART 2: LIVERPOOL V SUNDERLAND
Peter Sixsmith began his New Year footy fix with a trip to Whitby where he saw the home side come from behind to start 2013 on a winning note. There was little to cheer him on the his trip to Merseyside where Liverpool achieved a comprehensive victory against a lacklustre Sunderland. The final part of […]
In-depth player stats: Sunderland vs Tottenham Hotspur
Sunderland v Tottenham, Saturday 12:45 Former Manchester City man Adam Johnson scored a sensational winner against his old club to give Sunderland a 1-0 win over the reigning champions on Boxing Day. Â That followed the same scoreline against Southampton before Christmas, courtesy of a Steven Fletcher goal. Fletcher is returning to the form […]
Fonte’s interceptions for Southampton vs McClean’s hard work for Sunderland
Southampton v Sunderland            15:00 – Southamptonâs last fixture on the 8th December saw them grab a 1-0 over fellow strugglers Reading thanks to a second half Jason Puncheon goal. The Saints created more than enough chances to extend the scoreline even further and Nigel Adkins will be looking for more ruthlessness in front of […]
Sunderland fan’s grim fairytale afternoon at Manchester United
Malcolm Dawson writes: Itâs the pantomime season and Sunderlandâs defenders had obviously rehearsed long and hard as they totally ignored the cries of âheâs behind youâ that echoed around Old Trafford throughout the afternoon. It was difficult to decide whether it was Bramble, Cuellar or OâShea who was playing the back end of the pantomime […]
Manchester United fan on Sunderland’s Poznan
In the league table of human wickedness, the Poznan mockery by Sunderland supporters â after Manchester United lost the title in extraordinary fashion despite beating us on the final day â is some way lower than Inquisition, the Holocaust and 9/11. Itâs not even as bad as singing âyouâre s**** and you know you areâ. […]
The beginnings of a Sunderland revival or papering over the cracks?
Malcolm Dawson writes ⌠It was cold last night at the Stadium of Light, when Reading came into town. It began like a dream, when our own James McClean put the visiting side one nil down. After such a great start, the defence played their part and Mignolet seldom looked troubled. Before very long, with […]
Can Sunderland get out of the bottom three?
A three all draw is always more satisfying when your team has recovered from three nil down than when it has thrown away a three goal lead. Against West Brom, Norwich and now Chelsea, we have gone two or more down and fought back. The teamâs performances in the latter stages of those games can […]
Sunderland vs Chelsea – Johnson’s crosses vs Cole’s tackles
Sunderland v Chelsea – 15:00 Â – A solitary Craig Gardner goal will have provided scant consolation for Martin OâNeillâs Sunderland, on a day when they created plenty of chances but just couldnât find their killer instinct in front of goal. The 2-1 defeat now leaves them precariously placed just above the drop zone, something […]
Sunderland would struggle against a team of pensioners
Peter Sixsmith stuck in the wilds of snowy Shildon, delves into his bumper book of footballing phrases to sum up Sundayâs game in the flatlands of East Anglia. Whilst this one didnât have Delia ranting and raving like some inebriated old harpy on the pitch at the break, she was seen in close up on […]
Getting a bit depressing for Sunderland fans now…
Peter Sixsmith has been watching Sunderland since the days of Cec Irwin and Ambrose Fogarty. In that time he has witnessed some dross and he now adds Tuesdayâs visit of the Premier Leagueâs bottom side to that collection. Much of the pre-match speculation was about the effect Harry Redknapp would have on the game but […]
STATS: Fletcher’s accuracy for Sunderland vs Graneroâs crossing for QPR
Sunderland vs. QPR (19:45) Both sides will have something to prove heading into this tie, with new Râs boss Harry Redknapp hoping to weather the Black Catsâ determination to bounce back from a loss on Saturday. Â There is plenty of reason for Sunderland fans to be cheerful despite the result, and theyâll have high […]
Sunderland don’t need a new manager…
Malcolm Dawson writesâŚ.: There are times when I question the logic of spending good money going to football. Yes there are times when the team puts in a performance that lifts the heart, when a close game or a dramatic fightback creates a tension that gets the pulse racing, when a back to the wall […]
STATS: Mignolet’s top saves for Sunderland vs Lukaku’s sharp shooting for West Brom
Sunderland vs. West Brom (12:45) Martin OâNeill has called for calm at Sunderland after a mediocre opening twelve league games, rightly pointing out that his side are playing at home in four of their next five outings. Fans will be hoping Sundayâs convincing win at Fulham will be a springboard to better form, with […]
GIFS: Goal of the week – Suarez? Bale? Sessegnon?
By Far The Greatest…Goal of the Week (12) The Premier League threw up its usual amount of excitement and quality again last weekend. 1. Gareth Bale v Arsenal 2. Anthony Pilkington v Manchester United 3. Luis Suarez v Wigan Athletic 4. Stephane Sessegnon v Fulham 5. Jason Puncheon v QPR