Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Coventry City – Play-off Semi Final 2nd leg Tuesday 13th May 2025 - KO 20:00

Definitely, the likes of Jobe and Rigg are lifelong fans now like Amad, doesn’t matter where they go in later life they will always regard us.

 

It’s sheer mental exhaustion isn’t it …

… they’ll all need a proper rest before they start preparing for the final.

Just imagine if RLB had pushed them hard in the last six games as some wanted.

 

I've woke up and can't wipe the grin off my face

 

I wish the final was this Saturday and not a whole extra week of torture

 

That was comfortably the best moment at the SOL i've ever had, the atmosphere was ****ing great all game too which i'm proud of.

The club did the build up perfectly mind and it felt like everybody was up for it and proud of our club.

Obviously we had to wait until the last ****ing second to win it...

One more job to do at the big stage!

 

One other observation - the Hjelde for Cirkin sub was a strange one wasn't it? I can only assume Hjelde has been deadly at penalties in training?

 

This is always a class video we do but this is obviously better than normal. Skip to 7 mins 30 for the goal.

Its so great seeing the subs celebrate like this. Even Salis and Mepham are going mental and they're just loanees.

 

Honestly, I was screaming that much, I was on the verge of spewing like, EFL history that goal will make

 

Cirkin looked absolutely knackered just before he came off

 

As with Hume and Ballard, we don’t always know who’s carrying an injury

 

The way Cirkin celebrated the goal, we can rest assured he's not injured . Sprinted back onto the pitch

 

Wasnt at the game - not been able to afford tickets for a couple of years now but watch all the games at home - its been a tough few weeks at home - FIL had a heart attack and my boss at work who was a MLF passed away. Last night was nervy as **** but what a header - proper jealous of you all that were there.

Mark that was for you mate - hope you were watching this from wherever you are RIP mate.

 

This is definitely one of the most memorable nights at the Sol I’ve ever had.

Had nerves and excitement all day, when I finally finished work I stood dancing in the kitchen to my Sunderland playlist, I’m an overweight 47 year old for christs sake.

Our plans of not drinking and meeting at the stadium turned to meeting at 18:00 ant tatham street car park and going to the pub!

We walked over the bridge with folk chanting and in their masses (for it to be like this one and a half hours before the match is unheard of !)

My father in law was supremely calm and confident, my missus (designated driver) was nonplussed as well but my brother in law was an unearthly pale with nerves gawd knows how he got any work done yesterday.

We reached the stadium at loads of people milling around and the odd flare, great atmosphere. Sad to have missed the welcome the busses but we couldn’t get there any earlier.

Into the concourse and very much the same. Absolutely packed and a party atmosphere, An old feller stopped in his mobility scooter in front of us clad in Sunderland merch and said it reminded him of the old days. Very true.

My highlight of the concourse is blagging a pint of Roker Roar for 2.15 despite it showing around 4 quid
on the screen, result !

Into the stands and I’ve never seen it so full so early. Had no idea who the player who was being celebrated never mind naming the west stand after him, when I realised I nearly wept, Jimmy came and chatted to my group once when we took a late good friend in hospitality to cheat his spirits and the man is so down to earth you can’t help but be comfortable and relaxed around him.

Then that bloody giant cat came down, wow ! It was brilliant by anyone’s standards!

Roll on the match and being our last nerve ends and being in the last minutes of the match, they got a corner, oh Christ they are going to score aren’t they ? They didn’t.

Then we got a corner, thank Christ at least we can play this to the end and get to penalties, then Ballard contorted in a way only a cat can do, a black cat maybe ? Somehow the ball ricocheted off his contortion and buggered itself into the net. Thats the only way I can explain it.

The place went up, I was elbowed, kicked and leaned on as the entire stadium of fans exploded into celebration.

What a night !

 

Half of our team were booked for running back on

 

Lovely words mate,

 

Think I also need to technically convert to worshipping God now as that was the first time i've ever prayed to god to win a football match.

Right before the corner came in too I said "we never have that bit fo luck where it falls to us all season" then I just seen ballard rise up and the net bulge

 

Well that was something mind!

Not sure they were as " dominant" as some on the telly have said, though I thought we were a bit too passive in the second half. But most of the crosses, probably 90% were from fifteen or more yards out from the byline. Dan and Luke will win those all day, and Coventry couldn't get the numbers in the box most of the time.

Great effort by the younguns to take extra time on like that man. Coventry looked goosed, which might be why they couldn't pick the best header of a ball on the pitch up at a corner!

Bloody amazing.

 

I’d be lying if I said my hands didn’t form the prayer gesture at any time last night