PHIL Bardsley has warned Sunderlandâs derby debutants that facing Newcastle will be an eye-opener, however experienced they are. Bardsley faces his fourth outing in a red and white shirt against the Magpies on Saturday, but it will be a baptism of fire for Sunderlandâs glut of summer signings. The 26-year-old has been briefing ex-Manchester United team-mates Wes Brown and John OâShea on what to expect and says even the vastly-experienced Champions League winners will be stunned by the noise inside the Stadium of Light. Bardsley said: âThe atmosphere in these games is always incredible. The roof just blows off and you think âWoah!â I was telling Wes and Sheasy that it really is unbelievable. âYou canât describe it really, when youâre on the pitch you canât really concentrate and sometimes the game gets a bit scrappy. âEveryone is there on the pitch to give 100 per cent but not every pass will go to a red and white shirt. âThere will be times when you give the ball away but what we need is all the fans and everyone around the place to get behind us. We need to have a real good go on Saturday. âDerbies are similar, but if you go to Manchester, you donât necessarily see loads of people with shirts on. âBut if I drive from my house to the training ground, I can see 10 or 15 people with Sunderland shirts on, itâs incredible. âUp here is just a different kettle of fish, itâs just football crazy. To be part of it is a chance you just never forget.â Bardsley is yet to savour success against Newcastle after two draws sandwiched by last seasonâs 5-1 drubbing at St Jamesâs Park. But the full-back believes Sunderland are in pole position to record their first derby victory since 2008, with Newcastle short on attacking options following the departures of Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll. âItâs a good time to play them,â he said. âTheyâve lost some big players over the last nine months â Carroll, Nolan. They were seasoned pros, they were going to get them goals and look a threat. âItâs up to their new lads to go and get them the goals and provide the threat. âBut weâre not too fussed about them and what theyâre going to do - we just need to go there and give it our best shot. âIt was a tough one last season. We struggled twice against them but ended up finishing 10th and above them. But people look back and say âYou didnât beat Newcastleâ. âI agree with that in a way, it was something we should have done, but I wouldnât have given away finishing above them. I think we do want to repay the fans a bit for that.â Get right in there Bardo...
love bardsley he is like a modern day kevin ball can see him being here for quite a few seasons, great attitude and he know's what it means to us
Mad how before a ball was kicked last season we were almost unanimous in wanting Bardo out. His improvement, and the way he's turned us all around should be a real spur to others, who i won't name.. He was the only lad in the 5-1 that performed, he didn't deserve to be part of that pasting.
Mad how before a ball was kicked last season we were almost unanimous in wanting Bardo out. His improvement, and the way he's turned us all around should be a real spur to others, who i won't name.. He was the only lad in the 5-1 that performed, he didn't deserve to be part of that pasting.
