From my seat: Sunderland (A)

A visit to the home of the Mackems is never the best of away trips but, in our present league position, one that engendered both excitement and dread. Could we make it seven wins on the bounce? Could we go 4th? Could Barry survive a 10th yellow card? Well... 'Yes' was the ultimate answer — but not without a rollercoaster of emotions.

A visit to the home of the Mackems is never the best of away trips but, in our present league position, one that engendered both excitement and dread. Could we make it seven wins on the bounce? Could we go 4th? Could Barry survive a 10th yellow card? Well... 'Yes' was the ultimate answer — but not without a rollercoaster of emotions. Top versus bottom, and add to the mix both teams desperate for a win, for differing reasons, was always going to produce a game that pitted two teams fighting for their lives against each other and (in true football folklore) the game would be decided by no more than the rub of the green.

The moment of silence was interrupted a little by late arriving fans but otherwise very respectful. The game started with Sunderland fast out of the traps and looking for an early breakthrough; their start did seem to unsettle us a little and our usual flow was definitely short-circuited. We eventually settled and had forays forward that looked promising; by the 25-min mark, we had Deulofeu racing forward and twisting and turning to make space for a shot that went straight to the keeper, as did one from Lukaku after he was put in. Then the big chance when I think Baines fed in Naismith who did a delightful turn but blasted over which was a bit of a shock after the goalscoring form he has been showing of late.

You could say that, by now, we were mostly in control without looking particularly sharp where it matters. Sunderland were making it difficult, as you would expect, but it did not account for both Baines and Deulofeu putting in crosses from dead-ball situations that were best described as flat and poor.

Sunderland were always looking to break and in the final fifteen we almost paid the price for momentarily switching off when their attack ran out of steam, allowing Baines a free kick at the ball; he chose to pass back to the keeper without looking and did not put enough pace on it, allowing a Sunderland attacker to pounce as Howard was left stranded... but for the excellent Stones getting across to clear from the line, then who knows how the game may have gone? We did get a free kick near the edge of the box; real Baines territory, you might say... but, alas, his dead-ball kick was again poor as he merely hit the wall and the chance was gone in a flash.

Into the last five minutes of the half and Sunderland had a right go; but for the energetic McCarthy making three blocks, we may have paid a heavy price, as the half ended in scrappy fashion.

Half-time and chat centred on Spurs 3-1 down and many a call for the manager to change it during the break with most favouring Mirallas and Barkley for Deulofeu and Osman. Roberto’s response – No change.

Second half and it started as the first had ended, producing a game that was a contest between two desperate teams, a league game with cup-tie connotations that ensured end to end stuff with no quarter asked or given.

Fans were on edge and our crowd sort of sang, sort of chanted... but, such is our desire for CL footy, the best we got was a roar for a foray forward and a slightly different roar for rearguard action to be completed.

The hour mark came and we are under some pressure, so the manager swops Osman for Barkley, which was quite well received, but Sunderland had a corner that almost undid us; from my seat it resembled a mass of bodies... somehow someone got a boot to the ball and we set off on a break via our outlet ball to Deulofeu who, at pace, reached the by-line but yet again his final ball was poor. For once the ‘Martinez way’ was abandoned from time to time as the defenders under pressure decided to lump it but, just like the old times, it kept coming back. Yet, from one of these lumps, the ball fell between keeper, defender and Naismith, it was kind to our man who had an open goal to aim at but alas he hit it horridly and wide. Two sitters missed by Naismith! Almost unheard of these days.

Time was moving on – ever faster, it seemed. All were getting edgier and edgier as most feared another three points dropped to Sunderland in one season could well see our season end. We were living on our nerves now. Almost a goal when Big Rom spotted Barkley at the far post and crossed, Barkley didn’t get the best connection and allowed the keeper to put it behind for a corner which Baines took, hit in low and the chance was gone. We got another corner on the other side, how would he take this? Much better, it turned out, and Big Rom headed just wide – Oh the tension!

Into the 70 minutes now and Sunderland swop Colback and find renewed energy: from one sustained attack, Ki fires hard and low but Howard saved yet the ball got away from him but he was up like Big Nev and gathered at the second attempt and started an attack which yet again saw Deulofeu race his way into the box but yet again prompting me to call for Mirallas to replace him – good job I am not the manager, eh!

As we go on a forward spell ourselves that sees Barkley mis-hit one from 20 yards; then, on 75 mins, Deulofeu was played into the box again: same scenario, twists and turns and a cross from the by-line but this time he pulled it back a little, hit a defender and into the net — Pandemonium on pitch, terraces and wherever Blues were watching the game. I imagined fans coming from behind sofas and dancing around rooms yelling as though demented. A scrappy goal, yes, an undeserved blow to our hosts... but, at that moment to us, it was the goal of the season.

I am not sure what happened in the next few minutes as we were still taking the goal in and, in true fan fashion, no fretting about not letting that lead go. I got back into the game on eighty minutes when our manager swopped Deulofeu for McGeady and he left the pitch to a hero’s acclimation; would it have been the same without THAT cross?

Ten mins to go and Sunderland, with absolutely nothing to lose really, went for it with and our rear guard was tested with Stones probably having the coolest head of all and without doubt saving the day on two occasions when you thought ‘that’s it’.

The clock ticked down ever slower, Sunderland didn’t afford us any time to show our Olé football, à la Arsenal, so hoof it was again witnessed – but did we care? Did we hell! "Keep 'em out!" was the drill we wanted as we saw more and more attacks on our goal and, more and more, we were equal to it. Get it down and play seemed the obvious way but, in these sorts of matches, it is not easy at all so defending that was effective was the new ‘tika-taka’.

Watches and clocks were checked every ten seconds and it still seemed to indicate five to go. We won a throw-in and cheered the chance to the rafters as Coleman took his time, it really was that sort of game now. We had an attack from McGeady but he lost the ball and Sunderland broke quickly and hearts in mouths as we give away a free-kick to break up the move but it was within range, yet we scrambled it away to again loud cheers from the faithful. Big Rom went on a run but a poor pass let that move down and they came again as 3 mins of added time went up. Distin fouled in making a tackle and gave away a free kick some 25 yards out. Johnson took; Howard saved, more cheers – nervous ones mind.

We attacked from the clearance but it breaks down and they get the ball forward in dangerous fashion but the roar from the away end was of relief as the linesman’s flag was raised for offside — phew! "Blow, ref, blow!" I yelled; he did... we had won. Not in the best manner but that’s often the game you get when two teams collide and both have vital but differing reasons for a win. Seven on the bounce – we are on our way, with just five more to navigate to wins. We can – Can’t we?

MotM. No-one really stood out but all battled really well. I would nominate Barry/Stones/McCarthy as the pick.

So, 1-0 win via an own-goal against the bottom team in the last-chance saloon does not sound great... but it will go down as a vital win when set against the importance of the game to both teams. Although Sunderland had us under the cosh for long periods of the second half, they failed to create or look like taking half chances; in the end, it was probably our quality on the pitch and from the bench that created enough to force an own-goal.

Palace on Wednesday and their win today that almost ensures their safety may help us; hope so. Time now for the players to recover – along with the fans' voices. Exciting times coming thick and fast; we have the momentum... now let’s get the points!
UP THE BLUES

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