Match date: Saturday 12 April 2014.
Final Score: Sunderland 0 – 1 Everton
Reflection…
A much improved performance from the lads in Red & White, however this observation is merely a side-note to yet another painful defeat.
What a desperately cruel way to lose a game.
Having played comfortably some of our better football since the Cup final, only to lose the game because of an own-goal just about sums up our whole sorry league season really…
Overall, it was heartening to see an obvious increase in commitment and passion in comparison to recent times. We matched the Toffees for most of the game, and actually had twenty-four shots at goal (granted, not all of them on target).
In the lead up to the game, it was reported that both Phil Bardsley and Jack Colback had turned down new contracts. This came as no surprise to me really. We have a total of eight players out of contract at the end of the season, along with five loan players who will be heading back to their parent clubs. Whatever league we find ourselves in come August, we will be fielding a vastly different side to what we currently have at our disposal that’s for sure.
I would like to think of this as a positive. A starting point if you will. Dismantle what we have and build a bigger, better, faster and stronger version. The current side, on their individual merits, are on paper, not a a bad side; many would argue that we have a far stronger squad than a number of those around us. While this may, in theory, be the case, it means not a jot if the passion and commitment is lacking.
For me, this is the over-riding factor in why we found ourselves heading for the Premier League trap door. Yes, many will point to the desperately shot-shy, ineffectual strikers at the club, but ultimately had we shown in the league the same level of passion and will to win we displayed in our cup runs, then we would not find ourselves in the mess we do.
At the moment, we are still a Premier League club. Fact.
With six left to play, eighteen points to play for, we still theoretically and mathematically have a chance to survive, but with our rivals around us picking up points while we don’t, relegation is looking sadly inevitable.
Given these facts, I will remain Mr Optimistic for the moment, however sooner or later Mr Optimistic will be replaced with Mr Realistic…
My Man Of The Match: Fabio Borini.
Next up – Manchester City at the Etihad.
Keep The Faith.
Chris
https://www.facebook.com/chrischambersadi/posts/10203468044362238?stream_ref=1
https://twitter.com/CChambersSoM/status/455358331729637376
Sunderland AFC • SAFC