Match date: Saturday 15 March 2014.
Final Score: Sunderland – Palace
Reflection…
*Deep exhale of breath…*
Hmm…
Well that fixture didn’t quite go as I had dreamt last night.
Billed as the typical ‘relegation six-pointer’, the phrase “opportunity knocks” was fitting for the day also; unfortunately and frustratingly we failed to answer.
The team certainly appeared to be ‘up for it’ as it were, and in the build up to the game, all I requested was that we forget other results around us, and go all out for the win as our future status rested wholly and solely with ourselves.
First-half was dominated by Sunderland. Palace obviously came to the SOL today with the sole directive of “just don’t lose, lads”, as they seemed quite happy to defend with eleven men behind the ball for the entire first-half; barely even crossing the half-way line really.
Yup! They came to frustrate the locals, and boy did they deliver on that!
The flow to the game was also badly interrupted by the incessant ‘toot-toot’ of the referee’s whistle, which was more often than not followed up by throwing yet another yellow card around – these factors combined essentially to make a predictably scrappy game even more so.
Matters weren’t helped either by the swirling wind and pockets of litter making their way around the pitch…
Essentially Sunderland dominated possession from start to finish, however the fact of the matter is that we still failed to capitalise on that, to be fair, meaningless statistic by hitting the back of the net; same old,same old, eh?!
For me, we must take full advantage of our home fixtures, and maybe even upset a few of the so-called ‘bigger’ sides away from home. Where goals are concerned (and when are they not I ask you!), we are desperately light-weight. I always feel that Borini has a goal in him, but Fletcher was simply not at the races today – and has not been so for a long time now in all honesty.
Our other attacking options?
Well, that would leave Altidore, a player who I continue to support as I would love to see quieten his critics, and Scocco who, even though he has not played a great deal of football for us, looks a million miles away from getting near the goal never mind putting the ball in the back of it…
Do we look at this as a point earned?! I suppose we have to.
We still have 2/3 games in-hand on the sides around us, but I would personally prefer to have the points in the bag…
When all is said and done, we didn’t lose the game and ultimately gained a little ground over Norwich, Cardiff and Swansea, who all lost, however the results of those around us could have been a little more kind regardless (are you listening Newcastle?!).
We need to hang on to the positives from the game as we have another HUGE fixture at the wrong end of the table again next weekend. Six points from Norwich and West Ham are imperative. If not, then who knows…
For me, I feel a minimum of four wins is needed, but let’s focus on the next game only… take them as they come as they say. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves – we can do this.
I genuinely feel that we’re up for the fight – we just need to stick together whatever the result is in the end.
Keep The Faith. Always.
My Man Of The Match: Borini – Looked his usual energetic self, and he was our only realistic hope of scoring. Unlucky when he hit the bar. We are a far better side with him in it.
Next up – Norwich away.
Chris
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