Ipswich Town forward Freddie Sears has revealed what it’s like for opposition players at the Stadium of Light – admitting that it’s a ‘nice’ place to play, with no hostility. Sunderland have only won two home games this season, beating Fulham and Hull City, having gone almost an entire year without a home win. The Stadium of Light has proved to be a difficult place for Sunderland, deep in a Championship relegation fight, to pick up points, and Sears has provided some insight. The ex-West Ham striker said: “You could see that Sunderland’s heads dropped as soon as we scored the first goal. “Goals change games, because they started well and were on top, so we had to weather a bit of a storm. “We knew that if we could get the first goal it would change everything. After the second goal, it really did turn. “You see it all the time, teams at the bottom. “They have a spell, and as soon as they go behind it’s the same old story, as if ‘here we go again’. We’ve been in that position and we know what it feels like. “Especially at a stadium like this. It’s a Premier League stadium, so when they’re struggling in the Championship and getting beaten by a lot of teams, you know that their fans are going to turn, and that can only be a good thing for the opposition. “Coming to a ground like this can play into the hands of the opposition, you raise your game, the facilities are great. “Their team is struggling, so it’s a nice place to come to play your football. “There’s no hostility against you, nothing like that. As soon as we got the goals, it felt very comfortable.” It was Sears’ first start for Ipswich since Boxing Day – he hasn’t scored a goal since last April. He put Adam Matthews under pressure for the crucial second goal before half-time. Sears added: “I think that the lads wanted me to have it, the way they celebrated with me, but it’s going to go down as an own goal.”
That is it summed up SOL is toxic for us and welcoming for the opposition. See how we get on at Ashton Gate on Saturday
It's frustrating because a few back to back home wins could change it all around but it's not happening. I really don't think it would take much to get the fans back onside but the players can't manage it.
I think its the sign of the times. The support are probably sick of constantly watching under achieving highly paid players for far too long long. Add the fact that we were never gonna compete in the upper half of the premier league. I think, starting from the very top, the club has gone stale and that has spread throughout the club and spread amongst the fans. I dont blame them really apart from the fact that they turn up in the first place. Football is obscene nowadays and its only the love of it from when i was alot younger is that I still have an interest in it. The fact that most supporters know its obscene but still fill the pockets of the stupidly rich due to their addiction is just wrong. The fact that it is football and not some other walk of life means that they can continue to get away with it.
I think it's mainly some of our home supporters as the away support is up there with the best. But our home support has always been of a critical nature when things are going downhill. Still high numbers but not all forgiving and supportive.
More footballing professionals come out and saying it. Bet the denial is still strong though, after all the club isn't what we eat sleep and breath, it's a west end show and we simply most be entertained to gain a response out of us.
