Match date: Saturday 28 December 2013.
Final Score: Cardiff 2 – 2 Sunderland
Reflection…
Oh, the joys and roller coaster of emotions of being a Sunderland supporter…
Quite an incredible day in many ways.
In a game which I thought beforehand was a nailed-on comfortable win for the lads against a Cardiff side in turmoil behind the scenes, and hot on the heels of a brilliant result against Everton, we produced what for me was – on the whole – our most inept performance of the season by a country mile.
To say that we started badly is a massive understatement. For around 75 minutes we were simply shocking in my opinion; second to every ball, slow in reacting, and a bit like a rabbit caught in the headlights at times.
Simply put: Cardiff appeared to want it more which, at the time worried me.
I know that given the money that footballers earn, the excuse of fatigue should never rear its head, however I do think that we looked tired and off the pace early on. Could this be partly down to the exertions of extra-time against Chelsea, and the efforts in chasing the ball for most of the game against Everton?!
Hmm, maybe…
As late as we left it, we did in all fairness come back fighting particularly given that we left it until we were two-nil down: They do nowt easy do Sunderland!
When Jack Colback scored in the final minute of injury time, well I tell you, there was an almighty sigh of relief reverberating around Wearside! However, this begs the question: Why couldn’t we have shown the same intend early on as we did late on?!
Answer?! Who knows..!
If someone had said before Christmas that we could have four points from six from the Everton and Cardiff games, then I’m sure the lion’s share of Sunderland supporters would have absolutely snapped their hand off! We were more likely to get a draw at Everton, and a win at Cardiff – it turned out the other way round! The frustrating thing for me is that given the results of those around us today, we were in a great position to leap-frog the two above us and put us out of the relegation zone…
…Opportunity lost, sadly.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am forever the optimist. The biggest positive to come from today’s game is the comforting evidence that, as a club, we will fight to the bitter end of this relegation battle, and hopefully (fingers crossed!) survive it.
With another struggling club, Aston Villa, up next at home the fixture surely must be singled out as a must win for us. We go into the new year with the sides around us in our sights.
This along with (hopefully) a few new players coming to the club in January, we will start the year bigger, better, faster and stronger than we are currently.
Time will tell, however… BRING IT ON!
Remember: Always believe and never give in!
🙂
My Man Of The Match: Ki
Chris
https://www.facebook.com/chrischambersadi/posts/10202726041452629