Our season was summed up in 95+ minutes today; a combination of, at times, the good the bad and the ugly, with Boro’s David Wheater filling the part of the dam right ugly. Perhaps the media and fans questioning Keane’s decision to play 4-5-1 away to the mags had some effect on him as he decided to play 4-4-2 today, though the 4-5-1 formation has worked at times this season and hasn’t been a complete disaster as some people seem to think.
Thankfully Dean Whitehead was at right back today for Paul McShane who was well below par against Newcastle. Kieran Richardson and Michael Chopra came back into the team, with Chopra being given a role up front with Kenwyne Jones.
We started quite poorly and Boro made their early possession count through Sanli Tuncay. The striker ran on to Alves’ through ball and slotted past Craig Gordon. The Boro fans’ excitement was short lived as Danny Higginbotham equalised within minutes of Boro scoring. Higginbotham rose like a salmon to head the ball across the ‘keeper and into the net from a Danny Collins cross, who was making his 100th appearance for the lads.
The game was finely balanced again and turned into an end to end type of match. Neither side could carve out any clear cut chances and the referee’s whistle happy attitude didn’t help the flow of the game, though Steve Bennett’s lack of ability is not something which anyone needs reminded of.
One minute into injury time and we were in the lead. Chopra raced on to Liam Miller’s through ball, after turning past Wheater in the box he curled a left foot shot in off the post.
Half Time: 2-1
We seemed quite comfortable in the second half and Boro never really posed too much of a threat. Chopra could have had another two in the second half and was unfortunate to not, Jones could also have bagged himself a goal but never really got the ball out of his feet and enabled the Boro ‘keeper to smother the ball at his feet.
The lads were made to pay for their missed chances 15 minutes from time, Arca’s deflected shot landed at Alves’ feet whose shot hit off Gordon and somehow managed to squeeze into the corner.
Boro seemed quite happy to take a draw and went more defensive, a win was crucial for us and the lads pressed for a winner. Many fans began to make their way out at the 80 minute mark which is quite surprising considering the amount of late goals we score.
Just like on eight other occasions this season we got a late winner. Grant Leadbitter’s corner was headed in at the front post from Daryl Murphy, the celebrations began quite flat as the majority of fans in the Stadium of Light weren’t sure if the ball had crossed the line and with Bennett as referee it was 20 seconds of panic. Thankfully the linesman waved his flag to signal the goal and also signal the celebrations!
Full Time 3-2
Attendance: 45,059
The win makes us mathematically safe and as a Sunderland fan it is quite strange being nearly at the end of the season and not being disappointed at relegation or ecstatic at promotion, hopefully those emotions wont be felt anytime soon.
MOTM – Kenwyne Jones, he worked his socks off this afternoon and a one point didn’t look he was going to return to the pitch after his head injury but that just shows what kind of spirit and attitude he has, a fantastic player for the club.
