From My Seat: Sunderland (A)

Ken reports from the Stadium of Light, another draw and more injuries

Motorway breakfast as we have a Sunday away day to Sunderland to that Stadium of Light that is anything but. We awaited the team news and when it came most were satisfied. Little were we to know that within minutes Barry would be on a stretcher and replaced by Gibson and within minutes of the final whistle our other mid-field dynamo would succumb to injury. When will it all end?

The game started at a pace and the Blues were first to show when Eto’o and Lukaku sashayed through the home defence in one-two mode that had Eto’o in on goal, alas his shot was more Walton Park than San-Siro. Sunderland had next chance but a good cross from wide was headed over our bar.

In a midfield battle Barry went down after a sliding tackle and didn’t get up. The ball went dead and Physio was called who in turn called the stretcher. A truly sad sight for Blue fans as he was carried away with the big yellow support in place. Gomez was booked so looks like he meant it.

After the Barry incident the game became scrappy for a while then on 20mins Lukaku set himself up for a shot but alas it was high wide and not so handsome and then he was involved in a comedy moment when he collected a McCarthy pass turned and fell over himself and ball . We were getting plenty of the ball but finding a way through a retreating defence was proving difficult. I know it’s not our way but I thought a few balls over the top for runners would at least turn their defence as they were merely letting us play in front of them.

Sunderland attacked and had a big shout for a penalty but referee Mason waved appeals away as we went up the other end with a Barkley surge but his cross was slightly behind Lukaku who was unable to get any power in his header. After the half hour mark Distin cleared one from within the area after a melee and Gibson was spotted laying on the turf, not another I thought but he recovered. Barkley then surfaced again and had another surge fed McGeady who returned the favour but Barkley’s powerful shot was blocked away.

Gibson then sent Blues fans into panic mode as he dallied on the ball in the box and was caught in possession, a right old ding dong took place and we gave away a corner to relieve the pressure which we cleared. I started to wonder if Thursday night was still in our legs as we did not seem to have the drive to unlock a nervy looking defence also both our full backs were not doing their usual bombing forward bits. This was highlighted with a move of many, many passes lasting about two minutes. Ball retention yes, end product no. We could not find the right key to unlock the door.

As half time approached we had a bit of end to end stuff. Sunderland won a corner which was headed clear to the edge of the box right to a Sunderland player who hit it over the bar. We went down their end with another Ross surge as 4mins added for the Barry injury and Ross got to the edge and fired but oh dear high and wide again and just as the whistle was blowing Eto’o was shooting. (Didn’t go in)

H/T chat centred on the Barry injury – another one out for weeks was the guess. On the upside Gibson had looked good after such a long layoff apart from one moment of brain freeze that could have cost a goal, he also survived a knock so that was encouraging. Jags had a good half and did as much as anyone to encourage quicker forward movement as we had plenty of possession but little in the box action which made me wonder if we would see Naismith sooner rather than later. First half summed up: midfield stalemate.

Blues out first for second half and no changes. We were the first to attack and Barkley fired wide, not much changed I thought. Mid field sparring taking place until a Sunderland player messed up and put Lukaku in one on one, he raced toward the big imposing keeper, seemed to change his mind three times and finally tried to round him but the long arm of the keeper thwarted that and a gilt edged one got away. The travelling faithful did manage a few chants and songs but it was all as nearly there but not quite as was the fare on the pitch. The next moment of note was when Eto’o combined with Lukaku and got him in on our left he progressed toward goal and from a tight angle let a rocket go that the keeper got away for a corner via a post. That came to nought. The ref was antagonising both sets of fans and in our case he got dogs abuse when he waved play on when Coleman seemed to have been pushed to the ground in the box after beating his man.

Just after the hour mark a Baines cross was headed directly to the keeper by Lukaku. Baines and Coleman were getting up and down much more this half and did cause danger from time to time. We then had a moment from a kids cartoon when the all action McCarthy set off at pace to help defend a Sunderland attack ran into the back of the ref flattening him to the turf seeming to run over him and continued as if nothing had happened, the ref was quick to rise and he carried on as though nothing had happened so all square and on we go.

65 min mark and a Sunderland attack was halted when Baines mistimed one near the edge of the box. Their specialist dead ball man Larsson shaped up to take it, Howard set his wall and on the whistle Larsson struck the ball, Sunderland men in the wall moved and so did the Everton markers behind them allowing the ball to give Howard nothing more to do than recover it from the net. Inquest at Finch Farm Monday morning sharp.

A response was needed so Naismith for McGeady and Jags was doing his best to lead by voice and deed. Eto’o took up the cause and threaded a delightfully weighted ball to the marauding Coleman who got to the byline but his pull back was blocked for a corner. Baines took it high to the back post but the keeper who was at least 6’18’’ tall gathered easily. Those gathered were getting edgy as 75mins came up when Eto’o again fed a great ball to Coleman who got past his marker and into the box only to be felled ‘PENALTY’ was the yell and hell the Ref agreed. Much protesting by Sunderland only delayed the inevitable cos Baines never misses, well not often then, He shot, and the keeper sprawled but to no avail as ball entered net. The celebration of relief took place and the noise and songs got that much louder.

From that kick off the game got a bit meatier and a bit of a cup tie feel was noted as both teams went that bit more direct. Rodwell once of this parish came on for the Barry destroyer Gomez. I hardly noticed him after that. Eto’o and Naismith were looking the likeliest to create something but each time they looked up not much in the box to aim for as often Lukaku was in the left side channel unable to get near anything breaking in the box. Five mins to go and Osman replaced Barkley who the Sunderland fans roundly booed, he must have done something right!

We had a right let off when Sunderland got down our right and the lad squared the ball right across our six yard box that was an Everton free zone but mighty luckily no Sunderland player had made up the yards to tap home. Into time added and I note McCarthy down as Jags and Howard get in a two and eight the upshot being Howard lays on the ball at the edge of the box a Sunderland lad goes over him as he gets up and kicks clear, god knows what went on but much protesting and waving of arms took place. I must watch that on M.O.T.D. if they show it and I have recorded the right channel.

McCarthy was attended to and had a bandage wound around his thigh, he soldiered on as all subs used but he didn’t look that pain free. Maybe the international break has come at a good time.

Time running out and we attack with a Baines dash a good ball to Naismith who fed in to Lukaku but his control and movement was best described as ‘surely must get better’ and the chance was gone. Sunderland attacked again down our right and amongst a bevy of bodies falling and scrambling the ball was belted off the line by someone in a blue shirt. Rip roaring stuff as Coleman raced down the line but his cross was blocked for a corner. Every big man up, Baines takes, ball cleared, whistle goes and the Toffee Lady with the drawing pin will be included in the Echo report.

M.o.t.M. -- Jags with Eto’o close.

Overall a bit disappointing after the Lille match Thursday night or maybe that was the cause. In the Lille match I thought Lukaku was looking sharper and more dynamic yet today you have to say he had a poor game. I wondered if his head is so full of instructions and suggestions that there is no room left for Instinct and spontaneity. But hey that’s just a fans thought. I hope he fulfils his dreams and does become world class and still with us. I also thought both Barkley and McGeady summed up the game with their performances, one of fits and starts, as they both struggled to make a mark.

Since I started writing this I have heard Barry may not be as bad as first thought so that would be good news. Hope all the lads away on international duty come back injury free as we will need them. I doubt if McCarthy will now be going. Get well soon, Laa.

West Ham next and let’s hope it’s the rattle not the drawing pin adorning hand of the Toffee lady in the Echo report. See you there.

UP THE BLUES.

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