After the Doncaster match when the boo's rang out around the ground after one of the worst performances I have ever seen from a Rovers side you can imagine my surprise when I read that over a 1000 tickets have been sold to our supporters for the match at the Stadium of Light. The gas supporters never cease to amaze me especially the travelling ones who no matter how bad things are going always seem to turn out in huge numbers. To all who are making the long trip to Sunderland for the match I hope for three points because I want us to win but whether we win draw or lose I hope for a performance that shows the team cares and I wish you all a safe journey.
I guess a lot were bought after the good performance Swansea and before the unimpressive, uninspiring and undeniable p**s poor performance vs Donny. I guess some may have bought a ticket as its another stadium to tick off on their list of stadiums visited.
A few players had shockers against Donny. Partington and Craig were badly exposed, and I think DC should give a few other players a proper run in the side. Jakubiak definitely deserves a run of games instead of a few minutes as sub. I have no hope of a result at Sunderland, but if a few hungry player come into the side and perform well that would be great.
Those tickets were bought purely because of the venue, nothing more, oh and the fact that it is a normally a pretty neat place to spend the night.
It will be very interesting to see if some players who have put in generally average performances suddenly improve today now that DC has been shown the exit door, and unlike some if Tom Nicholls scores a hattrick today I would not include him in that class as I firmly believe he gives 100% in every game
Tariq Holmes starting for the first time today. Trying to work out whether he is playing 5-4-1 or whether Rodman is playing as a striker Bonham J Clarke Lockyer Craig Kelly Holmes Dennis O Clarke Upson Sercombe Jakubiak Rodman Subs Smith Broadbent Leadbitter Russe Bennett Payne Nicholls
Rodman Rovers 1-0 up Matthews Sunderland 1 - 1 Maja Sunderland 2 - 1 Bennett on Sercombe off Nicholls on Holmes Dennis off 2 - 1 defeat but they do seem to have made an effort with Payne putting 1 wide and hitting the crossbar in the time added on
Unlucky lads. A great start to the game and you deservedly went a goal up. I think our class told in the end and 2-1 was probably just about the right result. If you put that effort in every week, I don't think you'll go down.
Let's see if we can put a run of results together over Christmas and New Year. If we can, I'm hopeful. If not, we're probably doomed.
