Sunderland v Blackpool Official Matchnight Thread 27.04.21

That was a bit of a different watch than the last two totally turgid games.
First half was dour and we certainly rode our luck second half.
A bit of bravery makes such a difference. Ward exceptional and Maxwell 4 or 5 top drawer reflex saves.
Bet Charlton, Pompey and of the course the mighty Scunnerlands boards have spontaneously combusted... I know our's probably would have done as well 😁
Fine margins eh, fine margins
 
I’ve taken this season with a pinch of salt, not to overjoyed when we have won or bothered when we have lost as it’s not really football.

HOWEVER.....that last 10 minutes was as nervous as I’ve felt over a game since 2012 at Wembley. Was out my chair at the final whistle. Get in lads.
That’s exactly what I thought, cheered every time we cleared it or it went out for a throw to us. Phew 😥 I need a beer 🍺
 
That was a midfield performance we've been crying out for in recent matches, but that was a very nervy finish. Some outstanding performances tonight across the whole team but Ward, Ballard and Maxwell gave huge performances. Shout out for Husband who had a very steady return for his first game in a while.
 
thought we had the better of the first half, very cagey.

second half they came out with some intent but weathered it and hit em where it really hurts. two / three? great saves from maxwell. and i absolutely loved how ballard just took their guy out. they had done that at least four times in the game, Ballard just does not take any shisser at all.

at the end husband made his prescence felt as well.

superb performance
 
Great performance, good that NC was brave enough to make the change. Kaikai was excellent, Ward was outstanding, Kenny and Robson very good. Jerry ran his socks off. Maxwell, some great saves.

Good to have Husband back, played well.

I think we showed the quality, pace and fluidity we have tonight. Formation works and gives us lots of options, Gabriel and Mitchell in the wingback role, Simms for Jerry, Stewart in the middle, Marv at the back.

All of a sudden we have options.
 
Great effort all round especially Maxwell and Ward. Didn’t panic at the death. Can’t help feel that we need 2/3 players to come back in and take the pressure off. Playing same team Sat/Tue every week the players must be knackered
 
olayed well second half but they still proved how dangerous they could be and Maxwell made some great saves. As it stands we could well play Sunderland in play off semis. Lincoln have hit form again after coming from two down against us.
 
You could hear the players going mad at the end singing some song or other. I love this squad, loads of character 👍
Shame there's no real rapport with them in person. We should be stood outside Bloomfield road chanting for the last game, safely spaced of course...
 
I wasn't expecting much forward play from that formation but a damn sight better than the last two games Maxwell and Ward, excellent as were the rest of the team.
 
Could do with the Peterborough result staying the same and then needing something out of Lincoln on Saturday now and we can still get as high as 3rd.
 
Could someone please confirm the date? I ask because I suspect several days passed in the last ten minutes of that game and I've lost track.

I've never known a season like this. Aside from non-attendance of course, I just can't make my mind up about this team. Just when you think we're unbeatable we lose to bottom of the league, and just when I think our resistance and belief has been broken they come back with an immense performance. This was by far the biggest result we've had since returning to league one.

Alongside the team, some of our players are total enigmas. Grant Ward. Absolutely terrible imo on Tuesday, and tonight he was just phenomenal, one of the best individual displays i've seen by any league one player this season. I can't work it out. Similar to Kaikai who I thought was having a great game until the injury and he made the difference. He often makes the difference and that's why he's in the team. Him being fit for the run-in is crucial.

Finally, Maxwell. Just unbelievable in the last ten. Some world class saves and a real captain leading by example right there.

We did ride our luck, but also it has to be said we had a couple of opportunities to put the game to bed too.

I said the players had let themselves down in the last two games, and you never know whether heads will drop or if you'll get a reaction. The best teams give a reaction and that's what we did tonight. It was also great to see we have been able to rest Simms and Embleton (even though it was forced), and don't forget Robson and Husband just slotted in amazingly well considering neither has played for week. Great to see Stewart back too. The two late goals against Portsmouth and Charlton were the icing on the cake.

Still plenty of work to do, but it was a huge night both for the league table and also for our confidence and belief, which was just starting to drain. Another performance like that on Saturday and we'll be pretty much there. UTMP!!
 
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