[email protected] 18:02Sunday 05 April 2015 6HAVE YOUR SAY SUNDERLAND reporter Chris Young gives his verdict after the Black Cats’ fifth successive derby victory over Newcastle United. Pantilimon 7 - Only one save to make, but did it comfortably to deny Cabella. Importantly came and claimed a last-second corner. Jones 8 - First start since January, but was excellent. Got forwards well and repeatedly nicked possession away. O’Shea 7 - Started the game nervily, but restricted Newcastle to just one clear-cut opportunity. Vergini 7 - Like O’Shea was a few nerves early on, but grew into the game as it went on. Van Aanholt 9 - Constant attacking threat during the second half. Took advantage of Newcastle’s non-existent offensive bite. Cattermole 8 - Utterly dominated the middle of the park. Sunderland won every 50-50 ball in there. Larsson 8 - Ditto to Cattermole. Represented the greater will to win, pressing and bite in Sunderland’s ranks. Gomez 8 - His best game in red and white. Won tackles, got up and down the pitch and passed the ball well. Wickham 8 - Never stopped working and exploited the vulnerability in both full-back slots. DEFOE 9 - One moment, one very special goal. Contender for the best derby strike in history. (Johnson 6 - Not involved enough to continue his stellar record against Newcastle). Fletcher 8 - Led the line brilliantly in the first half, but got sloppy after the break and spurned a couple of chances to seal it.
Gomez and Fletcher better than Vergini and O'Shea? Na. Agreed with the PVA rating, he was outstanding.
I think he watched in well biased rose tinted glasses. Fletcher and Wicks an 8? The same as Seb and Catts? We'd have won by 3 or 4 if they had done so. Apologies if that sounds like a downer but I just think we should be realistic. The mags really were that bad, so how do you judge our performances so highly based on that? If they've rated as highly at 5pm next Saturday, I'll be even happier!
