Keano decided to stick with the same formation that granted wins against Colchester and QPR and a point against Wolves, and the 4-5-1 seems to be a complicated system for SAFC.
Although we have gone a great five games unbeaten and proved to have turned the corner, the formation does still prove to be a frustrating one to watch each week, but finally we seem to be getting the lucky breaks that we have been missing over the past few season. Call it Irish Luck but it maybe it is finally Sunderland’s time to come good and push on up the table which still remains tighter than ever.
Keane again tinkered with the squad but made changes that were necessary due to injury to Nyron and suspension of Varga, with Nyatanga and Whitehead coming in to replace. Yorke who was rested against QPR and showed we do not need him in midweek returned to the impressive SAFC bench.
The game started in cold conditions with Murphy on his lonesome having the best of the opening chances with a long range drilled effort straight into the keeper’s body (Lee Camp— insert pun here). The game on paper looked like it would be a good battle and a test for the lads but the 1st half was mainly all dominated by Sunderland.
Elliott, who was always lively and bright on the right hand side, looked like the one who could crack the Norwich defence but poor passing and lack of clear cut chances were again Sunderland’s downfall in the 1st half. A key example of this was when Ross Wallace teased a lovely cross into the area, only for Murphy to try flick it in the net rather than using his head. There were encouraging signs but as the balls from defence continued to go astray the home fans got that constant reminder it could change any moment in their favour.
The best player on the park was Liam Miller who controlled an uncertain midfield with many passes going out or to the opposition, he was the one who calmed it down and created passes for the wingers. This performance from Miller was assured and shows how important he will be in the middle of the park when he is called upon.
It was horrible at times to watch the defence play these long hopeful passes up to Murphy who was all alone and had no service, it was annoying also that Caldwell simply did not learn from this and continued to hoof pointless balls out of touch and even to their goalkeeper at times. The best chance of the 1st Half fell to the big Scot as Kavanagh whipped in a cross only for the Norwich keeper to palm wide. There were signs of a goal from Sunderland but it was obvious the passing had to improve or maybe bring Elliott more into the striking line for the 2nd half.
Keano decided against my and many fans wishes to change it a little by sticking to his guns and keeping the same shape for the beginning of the 2nd half. The ex Canary Darren Ward had not one thing to do in the opening 50mins of the game.
The 2nd half started in the same way with passes and shots not troubling Norwich, the more the ball was played to Elliott however my hopes were raised. He never gave up Steven and played well again as a makeshift winger and his shot was just wide on 58m. Leadbitter who had a much quieter game today also had a rasping shot that was always rising over the bar.
Throughout the game a change was needed as it didn’t look like we would break down the stubborn Norwich backline and finally Yorke was introduced for Leadbitter in the 73rd min. This sparked a bit more urgency in the midfield and proved to be the deciding factor with Murphy unleashing a cracking low shot into the keepers right bottom corner.
Some may say that Keano’s decision to make this change sparked the chance and the goal which led to the victory, but some others may say he admitted playing 4-5-1 was wrong to start with. I think the sub was made at a critical time and maybe shows the Sunderland fans that Keano does have managerial ability to turn games with his choices.
Once the goal was finally on the scoreboard, Sunderland relaxed and sat back in the last 10minutes with Norwich rarely threatening apart from Miller cutting out a dangerous cross from a counter-attack.
So the debate of which formation is best will continue amongst the fans, but although it may be hard to watch at times it is proving to be a winning formula. Maybe with better players in January the system will really kick on but for now we are unbeaten in five and the Geordies are in the bottom three. What more could we ask for?
MOM – LIAM MILLER
Clancey_Wiggum aka Gary Johnson