Sunderland

Pic. Thierry in Wonderland. Courtesy of Daily Mail

There I was thinking that last week’s gloomy reminder that after a big win, we tend to have a shocker obviously tempted the fates. We’ve just conceded and Per looked to have put himself out for the season. Oh bloooody ‘ell. With a pitch like a ploughed field (I swear that O’Neil ordered the groundsman to rough it up for us) getting your studs caught is far too easy.

This really didn’t look as though it was even likely in the first half. As usual we had most of the ball….not that we did anything threatening with it, but it was good watching the defence with Chewbacca back, Kos being Kos and Per, Alex and TV as solid as they needed to be. Arguably Per may have been lucky to avoid a penalty being given for an accidental hand-ball. We’ve seen those given.

Meanwhile Mikel was more deserving of the “Little Mozart” nickname than was TR. Indeed Mikel was playing a symphony, unlike the forwards, who by comparison were playing a tea chest bass in a 1950s amateur skiffle group. Even Robin looked out of sorts.

But the thought that Sunderland had gone to extra time on Wednesday whilst we had the week off was heartening. We can only improve in the second half.

Famous last words. Ches has kept us alive with two really good saves. Both from shots outside the area, both through a crowd and both sneaking inside the post. Sunderland more lively by far in the opening minutes of this half.

Substitution time. The Ox and his fans, of which I am one, can have no complaints about him being replaced by Thierry. It’s just not been his day but at least he kept fighting.

For his last PL game Thierry arrives just in time to witness Per’s injury and Sunderland’s goal. Aaron replaces Per and just as I was bemoaning our anticipated fate, YEAH HOOBLOODYRAY!!, almost immediately scores our equaliser. And the luck’s on our side for a change…to hit both posts and stay out would be par for our course. This one goes in. Unbelievable.

But could “unbelievable” go further? I never thought of Sunderland as being Fairyland. Oh my. Not only does AA appear to replace the hugely disappointing Woolcott, (at least AA couldn’t play worse) but the first thing he does is lay on a cross for Robin whose header was disappointing. Best pass AA’s made since Swansea but he then improves on that by delivering the most perfect cross for Thierry to score.

The winner against Leeds…the last goal on probably his last appearance at the Grove…the winner on probably his last appearance in the PL to put us into 4th place. Hans Christian Andersen couldn’t have invented that. Pretty, pretty please…let the fairy tale continue with a winner in Milan.

And then back to Sunderland for the Cup. This time they’ll have had a week’s rest.