Good shout. He was spot on today, when he came for a cross he claimed it, and when he stayed he made the saves. Very good decisions today.
Dennis Cirkin couldn't find the words to describe his first goal for Sunderland, after grabbing a well-deserved winner against Wigan earlier today. DESERVED THREE POINTS "I'm buzzing. I think at half time we switched mentalities a little bit. To go 1-0 down was frustrating because I thought we'd dominated the game. We had a little switch-around and I think the boys all just stuck together and deserved what we got today." FIRST GOAL "Of course, there's no feeling to describe it. I think it's about time as well because I've had a few close ones! The match winner as well, I can't describe the feeling. It's amazing." CIRKIN/PRITCHARD "I think moments before, Pritch put a similar ball in and I probably should have been there, if I was a bit more aware. So I just said to him 'do that again, and I'll be there'. So it happened again and as soon as it left his foot I knew I was going to go for it." FANS INFLUENCE "I think that's what we spoke about at half time (character), and the togetherness of the squad. The fans have played a massive part in that as well, I want to thank the fans because it's just crazy, honestly. When we're on the front foot attacking, there's so much support and you can feel it, it really does help us. So thank you to the fans." BLACKBURN AWAY "That'll be a good game to go to, off the back of a 2-1 win. So we'll be going there with confidence and hopefully it will be a good game."
I didn’t say Cirkin shouldn’t start. I said he shouldn’t be automatically selected if the defence are playing well. The two are not the same thing
We’ll really enjoyed that. But don’t think there is a game I haven’t enjoyed this season. Football won the day kept going kept trying to play the game how it should be played. They were a disgrace bunch of animals. The lad who came on for Wyke made no effort to play the ball just fouled constantly. Cirkin was class MOM. Roberts excellent and special mention to Embleton thought he was very good today Seems to take a bit of stick from some quarters but he’s a very good footballer
It was an Erling Haaland header ... ... he was prepared to go through his team mates, the opposition, the referee and a brick wall. Typical of the current team spirit ... great day and a fully deserved three points.
Been looking for all the Pritchard knockers who say he cant play 90 mins If anyone sees them let me know
I personally thought Robert’s was man of the match. Closely followed by Cirkin. A lot in the Morth stand said the same
The more I look back on it, the more they all put a decent shift in and kept trying to play football. Some of our passing play was an absolute delight to watch and even when it didn't quite come off you can't help but support and be impressed. It might not always come off, but these lads don't seem to know when they are beaten and it can be a joy to watch it
He was happily back to his best today and as I've been critical of him recently I'm happy to say he proved me wrong to doubt him today. Hope he keeps it up
To be fair, saying he hasn't been lasting 90 minutes doesnt equate to knocking him ... ... the evidence is that each manager has taken him off before the end.
A good LB is very hard to come by tbh, not many of them about. Plus, this kid is great in the air, and he is English and he is only 20 (or maybe 21). Looking forward to seeing how he progresses over the next few years tbh. I'd pick him over Luke Shaw for Quatar now if I was Southgate
Cracking 2nd half performance to come back and win . Showed great desire and attitude. Much better with Cirkin at left back and Alese in the middle alongside batth. Good performances from Cirkin Alese Batth Onien and I thought Robert’s was superb today never stopped working and gave their defence a torrid time. A good team effort against a team that tried to waste time all game anti football. Oh and the ref just don’t get me started. Well done lads.
Iirc Tony Mowbray had issues with this Ref when he reffed a Blackburn game when TM was their manager. Complaint was same as today, poor decision making, not getting a grip of time wasting etc. Perhaps the Ref was trying to prove a point today? Who knows.
When you think about it our left hand side is bloody good with Alese as left centre back, Cirkin left back and potentially Clarke left wing. That will give opponents nightmares
I was talking to a Gateshead mate, who never misses a game, and is desperate for us to progress ... ... but he said, this morning, that he doesn't expect us to go up for three years but is loving watching us play. That's how I feel although I can't get to as many games.
