So the alarm sounded at 4.30am this morning (Saturday 13th February) and the reason was me and my step mum were off on our annual pilgrimage to the Stadium Of Light to see Sunderland hosts Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League lunchtime kick off.
Every year around my late fathers birthday (which is the 8th February) we make the trip to watch his beloved Black Cats although we often curse him up their saying 'why couldn't you have supported a team closer to us than Sunderland!!!' Anyway we enjoy our days out in the main despite often seeing them lose.
Today saw them take on the might that was Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United, although not the side they once were, would still prove a tough nut for Sunderland to crack. We of course went into the contest rather hoping that the hosts would at least show some fight and run the Red Devils close.
The game could not have began better though as after only two and a half minutes on the clock recent signing Wahbi Khazri swung in an less than average free kick which Jemaine Defoe dummied and saw an unsighted David De Gea fail to keep out the set piece and it went straight in off the post!!! What a start indeed although there was still a long long way to go.
As the half went on Sunderland sat deeper and deeper as the visitors dominated possession without really testing Vito Mannone in the hosts goal, in fact in took until the 31st minute before Mannone had a shot to save when Juan Mata struck one straight at him.
But then with about six minutes to the break the visitors grabbed a leveller when after Mannone had brilliantly saved Mata's effort down to his right, Anthony Martial clipped the ball over Mannone and into the far corner. It probably was a result of the hosts defensive nature towards the end of the half and at half time we all thought the the hosts needed to push up more and take the game to their opponents.
Well Sam Allardyce must of listened as the Black Cats pretty much dominated the second period and created two wonderful chances, both brilliantly saved by De Gea, to keep his side level. But with eight minutes to go the hosts struck the fatal blow when a corner from Khazri saw Lamine Kone power a header at goal which both De Gea and Martial failed to keep out and send all of us supporting the red n white mad!!!
Despite a few nervy moments towards the end the hosts managed to see the game out and the win takes Sunderland to within one point of rivals Newcastle and safety after a game inspired by manager Sam Allardyce's January signings. Tunisian forward Khazri was making his second appearance and was instumental in their victory scoring early on, and the winner was all thanks to the powerful header from Kone, a signing from Lorient.
It certainly made the early start all the more worthwhile and me and step mum returned home as happy as could be!!! I'm sure somewhere up their in the sky my Dad was looking down on us with a smile and also enjoying his side earn their first win over the Red Devils in the Premier League at the Stadium Of Light. Fantastic!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment