Match date: Saturday 16 August 2014
Final Score: West Bromwich Albion 2 – 2 Sunderland AFC
Reflection…
Welcome back Premier League Football!
After a summer of highly interesting and entertaining World Cup football, the hugely anticipated 2014-15 Premier League season kicked-off for the greatest club in the land away at The Hawthorns and West Bromwich Albion.
Sunderland lined up in a 4-3-3 formation and fielded the following side:
Starting eleven-
• Mannone
• Roberge
• Brown
• O’Shea
• van Aanholt
• Larsson
• Cattermole
• Rodwell
• Johnson
• Fletcher
• Wickham
Subs-
• Pantilimon (GK)
• Mavrias
• Bridcutt
• Gomez
• Buckley
• Altidore
• Graham
Sunderland looked well drilled and comfortable for the first 5-10 minutes, helped along with a sweet 25-yard effort from Lee Cattermole which nestled in the top corner. However, after this, we look well off the pace for long periods of what remained in the first-half, and for me, I sensed that the game had score-draw written all over it.
This now moves me on to the ‘penalty’ decision which cost us our early lead…
Let’s just say that it was a ‘soft one’ to say the least. Not a penalty in my opinion, with Roberge doing very little wrong to justify being penalized for the challenge.
Never mind…
The second-half saw us go 2-1 down following a moment of poor defending from van Aanholt, with the impressive Berahino taking full advantage of the situation.
Sunderland weren’t done however…
With only five minutes to go, van Aanholt raced down the left and played the ball into Larsson who smashed home, quite deftly I may add, from close range to level the game, and indeed finish the game 2-2.
Regarding the starting line-up, I am not as yet convinced that Fletcher and Wickham can play in the same side given that, aside from Wickham being slightly the more mobile of the two, they are very similar in the manner in which they play the game. It goes without saying that we need far more from Fletcher and Wickham, in addition to Johnson who was, in my opinion, well off the pace.
It is very early days of course.
Far from being the most exciting opening day performance, let us not forget that the coming season will be a long one. Ultimately, to secure a point away on the opening day of the season, while doing so away from home against a side not too dissimilar to ourselves, should not be sniffed at!
What with Gus publicly stressing that he wishes for three new faces to join the club before the transfer window closes, we could have a very different looking Sunderland side take to the hallowed Stadium of Light turn next weekend against Manchester United.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am forever the optimist, and, naturally I have high hopes for a positive season ahead. I truly believe that we have the right man at the helm, and his footballing philosophy is the correct one for Sunderland AFC and its long suffering supporters.
Bring it on!
My Man Of The Match: Wes Brown – Playing out of his natural position, but always looked composed on the ball. Some decent performances, particularly from Larsson and Cattermole, but Wesley Brown takes it.
Next up – Manchester United at the SOL.
Keep The Faith. Always Believe.
Chris.
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