Wiggum’s Whinge
First report of the new season from myself, and I hoped it would start off with a win and more importantly three points that the new regime is desperate for.
Unfortunately another game, another loss, and the hope and optimism that ‘Quinny’ wants circulating around the club is so sadly vacant.
The game was viewed by the fans as a celebration of Sir Niall stepping into charge of our club, but as he looked around and seen not even 25,000 fans at the game, he must realise he is going to need miracles.
The game was dubbed “St Niall’s Day” and the atmosphere was hyped as being joyous and fun, but the Sunderland players yet again have let down the fans by not playing in “St Niall’s way”.
The team started the same as it did against the loss against Birmingham, apart from Clarke taking over for the injured Caldwell. This home start for the ex-hammer only lasted around 20 minutes due to a switch from Quinny bringing on Wright.
Another disappointment before the game got underway was the non appearance of Reira from Barcelona ‘B’, maybe lacking match fitness but on the evidence of this performance is an addition we sorely require.
Just after kick off a hopeful ball was played over top to an in-form Daryl Murphy, who showed persistence and drove the ball through the oncoming goalies legs. With this bright start and overall stronger team than Plymouth, this was just the start we were in need of celebrating.
The commentator must have been in on the joke of Miller being invisible as he announced it was his goal but was later corrected to Murphy for his 2nd goal in three games.
The same old story unfolded after the goal, with Sunderland not realising that when a goal is scored it is not a bad thing. The defence looked shaky throughout the whole game and the task of clearing our lines cost us for all three goals.
Their first goal was to be honest, a great finish, but the doubt of the defenders around Norris was obvious and let him strike it just as Stern John did for Coventry.
The defence looked out of depth all game and the offside trap was very ineffective as nearly all the long balls played forward looked like catching out Cunningham and Collins.
The second goal for Plymouth just summed up how our team is playing recently with a hopeful clearance which could have easily been cut out leading to their goal. Cunningham tried to back-pass to Alnwick but with no strength or direction it lead to the striker who stepped past the keeper and blasted it past the poor Collins.
The mood of the stadium changed as it always does once they realise we are not the team we badly deserve, and this atmosphere will certainly not help the players, but what other option do we have as paying fans who watch this shit, week in week out.
With Lawrence on the right side we did have options going forward, but Lennie had a game that can only be described as awful, every cross was shin-high and his passing and control was just never there. He was later substituted for Stead later in the second half and deservedly so by Quinn.
As the second half started Sunderland in spells played a lot better with focus and aim in their movements forward, this was largely through Stead who had a good game creating passes and movement that was not evident in the first 45 minutes.
The equaliser came thankfully from a pass to Stead to Murphy who got to the by-line (finally) to cross in for an easy header for Elliott.
The equaliser breathed new life into the average squad and lead to a few chances which should have killed the Plymouth boys off. A glancing header from Murphy which was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by their goalkeeper, and a drilled effort from Elliott was again tipped around the post.
The luck again was not on our side but the chances that we missed were not the reason we were beaten today, it was in my mind to do with one player, Danny Collins. Every touch or clearance looked nervy and to say he looked comfortable on the ball would be the biggest lie I have ever told.
So as usual the game was decided by a stupid mistake which again should have been cleared by Collins, instead he let it bounce, then fall over and gift the opposition a goal that any player would pay money for.
The team that I witnessed this afternoon is the McCarthy generation but although we were dreadful last season, we were up against some quality sides. Today we were beaten by a team who we last beat 5-1 at home, and have the likes of Barry Hayles up front, who tore apart our defence throughout the game.
Times are getting worrying for a Sunderland fan, three games into the season with no points and only two new additions, who have not made any impact as of yet. The hopeful arrival of SKP is the only positive I can take from watching this dismal display.
Man of the Match – Stead for the 30mins he was on.