Rockin's rant
If we are to stay in the top flight for longer than one season, we are going to need to win some games ugly and that’s something we’ve started to do at home. Our home form is going to play a massive part in our fate come the end of the season due to our abysmal away record, though if this were to change in the coming weeks it may take some pressure off the players at home. The already bare looking midfield lost another member on Wednesday as Liam Miller was injured on international duty with the Republic of Ireland. Dickson Etuhu was now back after being away at the Africa Cup of Nations and replaced Miller in midfield, Chopra moved up front with Jones and Roy O’Donovan came in at right wing.
The game was only a minute old when we were awarded a free-kick 30 yards from goal, a great position and a great chance for the lads to grab a goal to settle the nerves. Michael Chopra stepped up for the free-kick though in typical Sunderland fashion the free-kick went straight into the wall and the chance was gone. Just minutes later Roy O’Donovan went close with a decent header from Daryl Murphy’s cross, the lads looked well up for the game at this point. The game then became very scrappy and we lost whatever control we looked to have had, the shocking state of the pitch didn’t really help either teams passing.
Wigan were perhaps the better of two poor teams and created some half chances which were well blocked by the lads or ended up going horribly wide. The lads had to dig in and didn’t give anything away cheaply. The breakthrough came just minutes before half time when Dickson Etuhu powered a bullet of a header passed the helpless Kirkland from Dean Whitehead’s free kick, 30-yards from goal. I don’t think anyone truly expected to see a goal from what was an
awful first half.
Half time: 1-0
Wigan came straight at us in the second half and it was definitely a case of backs against the wall for the lads. Craig Gordon has came in for a lot of stick over the season, mainly down to certain fans’ inability to forget about his price tag, though he was definitely on form today and pulled off some world class saves which resulted in “There’s only one Craig Gordon” from areas of the stadium. It is fair to say Gordon and the rest of the defence kept us in the game today as we were unable to keep hold of the ball long enough to relieve some pressure. Daryl Murphy could have given us a 2-0 cushion early on in the second half, but he screwed his shot wide. Murphy made amends 15 minutes from time, after some brilliant play by debutant Andy Reid, who had only been on the pitch for 30 seconds. Reid sprayed a beautifully placed pass from left to right and straight into the path of the on running Murphy. Murphy then cut inside, 25 yards from goal, and unleashed a magnificent left foot strike into the ‘keeper’s top right corner. Memories of Carlos Edwards against Burnley last season came flooding back. It was an amazing goal from Murphy who’s in fine form.
Full time: 2-0
Attendance: 43,600
Five points clear of the relegation zone gives us some breathing space and a good foundation for survival with trips to Portsmouth and Derby in the next two games.
MOTM- Craig Gordon, who made some crucial and world class saves.
