To win a football match you need to out battle the opposing team, once you’ve done this your work rate should see you win the match. It’s just a shame our players don’t know this. We were out battled and out passed in every department last night. Some may blame the weather conditions for our lacklustre performance, but even if it had been a nice sunny day we still would have performed very poorly. I’m beginning to see a pattern with Sunderland at the moment, win one or two games then have the same amount of poor results. Maybe it’s down to Keane not sticking with a winning team or perhaps our players are simply not good enough to go on a long run.
For some strange reason Keane decided to stick with Brown and Murphy up-front. I can’t see why these lads are still playing for Sunderland football club, every match I’ve seen Murphy play he never looks bothered and doesn’t work hard enough for the team. Brown on the other hand does work hard but is simply not good enough to be a first team player at this club. Neill Collins came in at right back which saw Whitehead switch into which meant Leadbitter dropped to the bench. Wallace was replaced by Hysen.
Cardiff were the brighter team at the start and their persistence paid off after only three minutes. A good cross into the box which was left by Varga, who possibly misjudged the ball in the wind, and Chopra was then free from six yards out to blast the ball home. Not a good start. This goal seemed to give the lads the kick up the backside they needed and we pressed for the equaliser. Hysen looked bright and Yorke was again pulling the strings for us in midfield. Six minutes after Cardiff had scored we were back level. Patient build up play down the left hand side saw Hysen break down the wing and cross a beautifully weighted ball into the box. Chris Brown was at the back stick waiting for it and smashed the ball home with a terrific header.
Gerrin 1-1, at this point I expected us to kick on and win the game, the fans were behind the team and everything was in place for us to do well. We had lots of possession and pressed Cardiff but didn’t make too many good chances; those which were made were either over hit passes or very poor shots. In typical Sunderland fashion while we are pressing the other team grabs a goal. Another abysmal piece of defending saw Chopra unmarked, again, to blast the ball past Ward who had no chance. Then the little Geordie idiot decides to provoke the fans, however the ref didn’t really care and let him get on with it. Surely the referee’s should be following the rules at all times, after all Wallace was booked and subsequently sent off at Hull for over celebrating and getting in with the fans, so why isn’t Chopra booked?
The second goal seemed to knock a bit of stuffing out of the lads and the fans. More was expected for the second half
Second half began poorly; Cardiff again started the brighter and attacked us. We were very poor and our full backs were trying to cross the ball from the half way line, obviously this was of no use. Even our so called ‘home’ players weren’t up for the battle. Hysen, who had started brightly, had something to prove, if he thinks he’s good enough to play week in week out he should show it, however he was very poor and almost invisible in the second half. Too many of the players were like this to list. As the half went on we began to create half chances but with no success. Time was running out, something had to be changed.
Keane brought Kavanagh and Leadbitter on. I presume he did this to try and win the battle; both players looked lively and should be starting the next game. However, they were unable to help us. Ten minutes to go and Sleeves came on, again another player who was very lively, but the other players weren’t on the same wavelength and didn’t want to battle. Elliott, who only played the last ten minutes, won more balls in the air than Brown and Murphy in the whole match which is a bit worrying.
At the full time whistle a few boo’s rang out around the stadium, a bit unfair considering previous results. A lot of work needs to be put in in every game not just a few if we’re going to do anything this season.