View from the opposition

Considering the tickets were evenly split,there seemed to be a ridiculous amount of mackems around London and the pre match beers in The Globe outside Baker St were quashed as a sea of red & white spilled out onto the pavement but a walk a bit further afield was fruitful in a pub equally split and happily socializing together.

Exiting Wembley station and strolling down the steps to Wembley Way was a sea of red & white and the involuntary gulp gave a sense of foreboding.
Sunderland were up for it from the off and City were struggling to get any foothold into the game as Poyets tactics of playing narrow and packing tightly in front of the back 4 was working a treat as City's flair players were continually pushed down blind alleys and dispossessed with Sunderland looking very dangerous breaking quickly.

An uncharacteristic mistake by Kompany allowed him to be muscled off the ball by Borini and Sunderland were in front after a fine finish past Pantilimon gave the wearsiders a deserved lead,one which but for a last minute tackle from Kompany could well have been doubled before the break which City were grateful for,like a boxer searching for the bell.

2nd half City started with a bit more purpose and started asking questions of the Sunderland back line which Ki and Cattermole had protected so well in the first half.
I thought at the break that the next goal was likely to be for the winners and it came from City's go to man in big games as yaya curled a beauty into the top corner.
Sunderland needed to regroup but were undone almost immediately as Nasri pounced on a loose ball to fire City in front and leave Sunderland in disbelief.
Many teams would buckle at this point but great credit must go to Sunderland as they came at us in search of the equaliser and City were hanging on.
Tense games like these have pivotal moments and when Fletcher fluffed his chance to take the game to extra time you knew the game was up.
City pushed salt into the wounds with a breakaway 3rd goal at the death to give City a flattering score line in a very even game.

Unusually the mackem support stayed behind to applaud the winners and losers,sporting to the end.
The occasion will be remembered for a great final but also for the tremendous friendly rivalry between both sets of fans on a day when football was the winner.

Finally on the packed train back from Euston
Happy but knackered

Regards PPLF

 

Great post mate

 

I honestly think we are the best supported club in EPL, and we could have sold out our allocation twice. You lads a credit to the Premier League, simply because you have the best. You have been through the **** and done league 1 like we did, but if anyone deserves but us then you do. Relish the moment, our lads enjoyed our day but it's back to basics now and making sure we are around to stuff you ****s in the league again next season..

My view, that's all..

 

Hopefully Poyet can get some momentum from today's performance and kick on away from the drop zone
Certainly plenty of worse sides in the PL

Wouldn't be at all surprised to see you at Wembley again in April

 

Great report Paul you got it spot on we were beating by 2 world class goals, my money is on city to win the PL good luck on that.

 

I fancy Chelsea to win it I think, just because of their amazing strength in depth

 

Great post, it was an excellent atmosphere, lots of good banter between the 2 sets of fans, all very friendly.

City are a great side, we gave them a game and ran them close.

 

Nice post PPLF.

Great that the fans had a bit craic with each other, the way it should be.

See ya's back there come May

 

So we have a date then, make sure you wear that candy tuff top and black leggings, you really burst my ben sherman boxers when you walk up wembley way swinging that leopard thingy..

 

Sums it up perfectlt

 

I took your advice and took the tube to Baker St and went into the Wetherspoons right outside the station. It was about 95% Sunderland fans in there, but I did have some great crack with a group of Man City fans that were there..Top lads all of them..

 

Hmmmmm, if it's strength in depth then surely that's Man City?? Chelsea have a strong squad of midfielders, not so much in defence and their forwards are quite weak....

 

Trips to old Trafford Emirates Goodison and Anfield still to come are the issue rather than squad depth

MrRAWhite
Baker St was swarming with Sunderland fans when we got there
My sister was waiting for me at the entrance for 20 mins and didn't see another City fan
Had a good laugh in a mixed pub bit further on