Christ thank god for that. That's the first time this season I genuinely doubted we could hold on. On our second half performance I don't think we deserved anything, and if Kilgallon had finished I don't think we would have done. On the plus side, we scored 2 goals, dominated the first half and it's 3 points.
And another home win to get us well clear of the relegation. Have to say Sunderland deserved a draw, for the first thirty minutes they were as bad a team I have seen all season and then they got a goal out of the blue and were the better side from then on, relieved we held on more than anything. Holt, Johnson, Garrido were all ok. Snodgrass was a threat from set-pieces but other than that was frustrating. Tettey and Pilkington were pretty good. Hoolahan and Ryan Bennett, Whittaker were excellent. Bassong was immense, again, my MoM for sure. Bunn looked shaky at times, none more so than the Sunderland goal but giving him the benefit of the doubt for that we owe him a debt of gratitude that we got three points. At the start there were two incidents. Firstly Kilgannon pulled back Holt when he would have been through otherwise, but I think there was enough cover especially Holt's lack of pace considered, so a yellow was fair. But then Holt was pushed in the box a few mins later - that should have been a penalty. Kilgannon missed an absolute sitter on the rebound from Gardner's absurdly well-struck free-kick. And also Sunderland had a goal disallowed for offside which was really an excellent spot from the lino, because without replays I certainly didn't see it was offside.
God, I think I have aged about 10 years (and I wasn't that young to begin with). Now a few hours sleep and off to work. The old cliche about goals changing games was really true here. Sunderland were awful until they got that goal out of nothing. Then we were awful for the whole of the second half. Very lucky to get the win, I felt, and on that performance I'm grateful to have 19 points in the bag. We looked tired and predictable. I think CH needs to ring the changes a bit for the Swansea game.
Well done lads on the win. You totally dominated the first half and well the least said about our performance in the first half the better. I thought we were the better side second half by hey ho. Good luck for the rest of the season.
In all honesty we weren't exactly dreadful as Sky seem to be making out. When we were under severe pressure in the first 15 minutes or so of the second half, it was impressive how are team suddenly got their shape back we were totally boxed in so much there was nobody you could actually pass too and even when we cleared the ball we got in the way of one another.
Sky were making it out like we were terrible. Sunderland pulled it together as a team making us play deep and put us under pressure. I don't think they'll be where they are around May.
Difficult to say. Looking at Sunderland's team it is a mystery how they are were they are, especially as I remember our visit to the SoL last season were the same personnel beat us so easily, and you'd of thought Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson (Whether of not you agree with the price paid for them) would only improve their team. On the basis of their first half it is easy to see why they are where they are, but they were a side transformed after the break and very unlucky to lose.
A bit of 'Deja Vu' - the same result as last season!!! My nerves are in pieces!!! Great win though and very happy!!!!
Phew, that was abit nervy!!!! Good to see us hold on for the three points. What a great goal by Pilkington....clinical. And that was the difference. The blaze over the bar from Sunderlands free kick sums it up. I think Holt would have put that away, and i thought some of his touches as he tried to hold the ball up were sublime. Became a case of holding on for the win at the end there, an although Sunderland will be called unlucky in the papers for all their pressure in the second half, they never did enough to win the game. What a run were on now, these extra points can be cruital for us when games like this dont go our way later on in the season!!
Fantastic run. Once I get that second half out of my system and stop tearing my hair out when I think of how many times Snodgrass and Johnson gave the ball away, I can grin to think we've picked up 16 points in 8 games. Nice. It's so tempting to want to throw in Elliot Bennett, or even think of bringing in Howson for a bit more of a match, but the reality is - Hughton is winning us some precious points, whether or not the occasional error of a poor pass or lack of cover etc.
I thought it was like a condensed re run of last year. Start well keep pressure they look bad as soon as we go 2 up they start playing resulting in a good goal and then us hanging on. Except more dragged out hanging on and their goal wasn't as good. Could be a huge 3 points come the end of the season!!
Good point, I'm getting so frustrated with them, I'm screaming for a sub, but you're right-however much they're giving it away, the team as a whole is doing brilliantly so you don't want to disrupt that. Sme players are in need of a good rest though!
Congrats canaries. Swan in peace. good luck to you for the rest of the season (obvious exceptions). Look forward to our match against you guys!
Yeah next week's going to be a cracker- I don't think many of us are expecting much, but we've got a decent record against you recently, so I think we could nick a point. Swans are definitely a team I wouldn't begrudge their beating us, as long as our performance is competitive
