I hate the wind. It messes your hair up, blows tiles off your roof and ruins football matches when it’s too strong. Which is pretty much what happened today. It was as gusty as I’ve known it for a long time and was the dominant factor in what was, understandably, a scrappy game.
There was a load of rubbish on the pitch too. Not, for once I’m happy to report, the players I’m referring to but a whole load of crap that was being blown around the pitch. Plastic bags, chip boxes, pie trays the lot. Most of it was congregating round the dug-outs, but I’m sure Keane won’t have been bothered about it too much.
All attention was on Stokes who was making his debut and started and there were home debuts for Evans and Edwards. Nosworthy again was employed as a centre half but with 2 make-shift full backs in Wallace and Whitehead they’d all have to be on their mettle today. The midfield pretty much picked itself.
For a change at home Sunderland started brightly, Wallace got forward on the left and Stokes and Connolly were causing problems up front and on 13 minutes they got the breakthrough. Edwards had the ball on the right and fed the ball to Stokes who made a good run down the channel, he took it to the by-line, swung in a great cross and Connolly tapped it in for the opener. It was an encouraging start from Stokes who looked at home straight away.
For the next 10 minutes we could have scored more, Stokes and Hysen had shots blocked and also had 2 good penalty shouts turned down. Gradually however Ipswich got themselves in the game. The extra man they had in midfield meant that Sunderlands 2 got squeezed and found it hard to dominate.
However, despite their midfield presence they never got near to scoring, thanks mainly to Nosworthy and Evans, who had a great game. As assured a performance from a defender in a red and white shirt I’ve seen for a long time. He reads the game well, is always in the right position, doesn’t panic, is a good tackler and dominant in the air. A clearance on the line in the 2nd half was crucial also after Ward was beaten. If he continues this way he’ll be a regular in Man Uniteds side in 2 years.
Second half saw much of the same, neither side looked like they were going to score at any minute but neither side could be comfortable. It shouldn’t be underestimated how much of a part the wind played the whole game. It added a bit of a lottery effect to the game in that basic passes were either going 15 yards wide of their desired destination or clearances up the line were going into row 30. Two more good penalty shouts were turned down, it seems were destined not to get any this season. Maybe were saving them up for a bigger game coming up, maybe in late May….
Edwards did ok. He looks to have some pace, stays wide and can run with the ball at his feet. Stokes looked very good, he’s got good pace, plays off the shoulder of the last man at lot and has good movement. The ball never really fell for him to have a good chance for a goal today but I’ve no doubt he’ll score goals. He and Connolly worked well together.
Predictably the last 5 minutes saw some close shaves at both ends. They had a good shot flash wide and Elliot, on as a late sub, was through on goal but shot straight at the keeper.
All in it was a decent performance and a very good 3 points. Keane is starting to get his own side out now and the results are showing. There’s some winnable games coming up and while its still early days for Keane and there’s no pressure on him, failure to reach the play-offs from this point would be very disappointing.
Man of the Match – Jonny Evans
Report by marcopaul