Match Day Thread Sunderland v Rochdale - Saturday 22nd September - KO 15:00

The SAFC site said the same as the BBC although I take what they say with a pinch of salt. I did check the stats at the time though and we were edging possession and had a couple more shots so I don't think it was the same old ****e start from us. More like Rochdale were doing their absolute best with no results.

 

Cheers Nacho!

 

Early highlights
https://www.skysports.com/football/sland-vs-rochdale/393202

 

Just been on Sky's report of the game.

Guess what? Sunderland "dominated from the outset"

Lazy buggers are all using the same guy's report.

I guess L1 just isn't worth sending reporters to the games for the mainstream media.

 

I only saw the first half today. I thought the team played very hard, right from the start; almost like they were on a mission not to concede the first goal.

 

Sorry to have caused any confusion here Hefty, I was following the game on the Radio only, and from the commentary, it sounded like it was Rochdale who were the ones most likely to score. It was so critical that we got the first goal yesterday, as it was a game we could not afford to lose imo , and my comments reflected what I was going through at the time and not a factual description of the game itself.

 

I wouldn't say Rochdale were the better team at all in the first half hour it was more a case of us being equally gash. We'd showed glimpses of good play and the first goal just settled us down and was pretty straight forward from there. Their goal had a foul in the build up for me.

 

Just shows the importance of the first goal for us then doesn't it, that we need that to kickstart our play.

Agree about that foul as well. Can't believe it wasn't given. Would've been in the PL.

 

Match highlights here

 

Weve got "The Power", again next game. Who will be sacrificed though?

 

Depends who we're playing but I wouldn't change a winning line-up just to put him straight back in.

Edit: Coventry away. Beaten at home by Rochdale 3 weeks ago, but 2 wins since.

 

I would to be fair. He gives us drive and energy and grabs a goal or 2. Before yesterday weve missed him massively

 

True. Tough call. Split the difference, bring him on half time

 

Haha he needs to start in my opinion and it would have to be Mcgeouch that loses his place i think.

 

Agree with this. McGeouch needs gametime though so I'd probably bring him on when we get our 4th or 5th

 

I wouldn't disagree with that either Tees.

 

Good win and got momentum back. Easier when we don’t give the other team a heads start. Like last week when we lost not getting carried away by yesterday’s result. Job done and move on.....

 

How did McGeouch play anyone?

 

Bit "meh" really - looked better once we had the comfortable lead but his touch and passing looked way behind first half. Going to take him a bit of time to get going I think. He'd be the one making way for Power next week for me - even Tees said that and a number of the people who previously didn't like catts are saying the same. Maybe half and half for him and Catts. But Catts was still going strong in injury time on Saturday!

 

Handy to have him on the bench with Oviedo and McGeady, gives us options and sends out the message that you have to earn a place in the starting eleven, and more importantly play well to keep it.