I never thought that things would get to the stage where I’d be saying this, but going to the football just isn’t fun anymore. Going to the match without any expectation, any excitement, just going because it’s the match, it’s what you do, just isn’t fun. But it’s now got to that stage and it’s very worrying to say the least. Even in my short time supporting Sunderland AFC, I’ve gone through 2 relegations. By the end of this season it’s most likely going to be three, but after yesterday, I just couldn’t see it getting any worse. It wasn’t just the performance, although shocking once again, it wasn’t just the manager’s ineptness, it wasn’t just the fact that this match was another example of the shocking situation our chairman’s put us in, it was the whole soulless atmosphere, the complete sense of apathy, almost acceptance of the fact that we’re going down and that there’s nothing much we can do about it.
On paper, this was a six pointer, a game of massive importance between bottom and second bottom and a game we could have and possibly should have won but, if I’m perfectly honest, it didn’t really matter. I doubt that even the most staunch and optimistic Sunderland fan would have predicted a home win. With Elliott, Wright, Arca and McCartney still out injured and Stubbs picking up a groin strain last week Mick was forced to field an even weaker side than the team embarrassed against Villa last week, just heightening everyone’s fears that we could be in for another one. As it was, though, the result was not embarrassing at least, the performance however, even by the manager’s own admission, was just that. Yet the start was slightly more promising. Tommy Miller, the latest player to be tried on the right wing, made more cutting passes in 15 minutes than he’s made all season, linking up well with John Stead, who also looked livelier than usual and, consequently, managed to carve out a few half chances. However, the best chances of the half did fall to Birmingham. Breen had to race back to steal the ball of Kilkenny after he deliberated over his shot for far too long and missed out on a very good one-on-one opportunity. In the end, it was another first half that ended 0-0, but the script already seemed to written for the second half.
You’ve got to wonder what is said in the dressing room at half time but it’s rarely very effective and, once again, did nothing to the Lads’ performance in this game. Changes were made, Lawrence replacing the ineffective Welsh and Nosworthy and Hoyte, surprisingly changing positions. This was baffling to many as it swapped two players who had looked comfortable, if not amazing in their first half positions and meant that there were now two strong right-footers on the left-hand side. It was a move that arguably played a major part in Sunderland’s almost inevitable downfall. Birmingham attacked well and often down our left flank as Nosworthy had no answer. Pandiani saw his long range shot well saved by Alnwick as Birmingham now took a hold of the game. Whilst Mick took the option of bringing Chris Brown on for the un-interested Le Tallec, City brought on Julian Gray as it was clear to see who was the more established and wealthier premiership club. Whilst our substitute could only put himself about with little effect, Gray won the game for Birmingham, netting a soft rebound as Alnwick parried Pandiani’s header. It was from then on that the embarrassment occurred. Watching the Lads have no answer to a goal from very poor opposition was soul destroying. Watching that gutless, completely ineffective capitulation in the last 20 minutes in complete and utter silence was like having a part of you ripped out and stamped upon. It was horrible. We never ever looked like scoring and it came as no surprise that the final whistle signaled another defeat. What was surprising, though, was that this whistle was greeted by silence, broken up only by a few boos. Apathy and realisation has truly set in. On the pitch, the players looked as if they felt the same way, trudging off, eyes transfixed to the floor. Nyron in particular, with head in hands, looked very distraught and, after receiving some abuse from the stands went over to confront the fan in question. In the end though he shrugged his shoulders, as if to say that he is only doing the best he can. He like many of the players brought in by McArthy, is completely out of his depth, through no fault of his own. Things at the club are now in a very sorry state and aren’t going to get much better unless major changes are made.
Man of the Match: I’m not even going to bother
Matthew Woolston