If anything we bullied them. That's the first time I've sunderland play this Stoke team and stand strong and fight from defence to attack. Mig - brave, strong and calm, exactly what's needed. Ricco - done a job, suspect but couldn't complain. Brown - do I need to say anything on his behalf? Bramble - good partnered with brown, played well, but diving in is an area he's got to improve? Oshea - hard as nails like brown, refused to be beaten, class act. Larson - deliveries are second to none, outstanding. Gardner - fantastic performance, fort like a dog in the middle. Vaughan - good technique and vision, good debut, no bottle job. Elmo - didn't back down or go missing, good game for him. Sess - quite one for him really, not his type of game, but stood his ground and was sharp. Bentner - wouldn't think he was from arsenal, looked rock solid against the thuggish Stoke defenders, didn't hide, good performance, good player. I loved the way we conducted ourselfs, and were fearless. Stoke looked scared of us at times. Gardners pre match interview said it all "they won't fancy the staduim of light" Love the guys passion, proper footballer who loves the game, take note Mr Asamoah.
Something about Stoke is very odd. They just seem to buckle under the pressure of away games and away crowds. I suppose it's a bit like actual bullies. They act all tough, but put them in an uncomfortable situation and you can see that they are really the weak ones.
