Sixer’s Sevens: SAFC 2 West Bromwich Albion 2 – catastrophe averted

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This is where Pete Sixsmith captures the glory and shame, hope and despair, excitement and ennui of the Sunderland matchday experience. When, rarely, Pete is absent or delayed, a supersub does it for him and the seven-word verdict is preceded by an asterisk. Pete’s full analysis of the game will usually appear within a day or two.

Today, we needed a big performance. Five minutes into the game, we needed a miracle and Steve Bruce, watching his team slump to 0-2, must have been contemplating life after the Stadium of Light. Then Bendtner and, of all people, the much-criticised Elmohamady got us level and the skies seemed just a little brighter. If few of us would have settled for a draw before the game, disaster was at least averted. Two points were still dropped and it may not be enough.

The full Sixer’s Sevens archive – see link below – sums up what all Sunderland supporters feel, from darkest gloom to sublime elation, in the words one who is usually there …

Oct 1 2011 SAFC (2) 2 West Bromwich Albion (2) 2 Deserved point after a truly horrendous start

Sept 26 2011 Norwich City (1) 2 SAFC (0) 1 Absolutely no positives to take from this

Sept 18 2011 SAFC 4 (3) Stoke City (0) 0 What a difference the right selection makes

Sept 10 2011 SAFC (0) 1 Chelsea (1) 2 Comical defending hands Chelsea their regulation win

Aug 27 2011 Swansea City (0) 0 SAFC (0) 0 Uninspiring game. Both teams look like strugglers

Aug 23 2011 Carling Cup 2nd Round: Brighton & Hove Albion (0) 1 SAFC (0) 0 Abysmal team selection got what it deserved

Aug 20 2011 SAFC (0) 0 Newcastle United (0) 1 Totally outfought in dismal second half display

Aug 13 2011 Liverpool (1) 1 SAFC (0) 1 Came back well, better side second half


To see Sixer’s Sevens in full, click here. If an asterisk precedes the comment, the words that follow are the work of someone else because Pete is for once absent from the game or his verdict has been delayed …

** Want to write to the club about what you’ve seen, heard or read about the way things are going? Do it with the Salut! Sunderland engraved pen. Yours for just £2, post-free in the UK, by clicking here

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Colin Randall, aka Monsieur Salut, is a Sunderland supporter from boyhood, a freelance journalist and the owner of the Salut! group of websites covering subjects from SAFC to France, travel, the media and current affairs. Pete Sixsmith taught in Ferryhill before opting for early retirement, knows football inside out and gets to most Sunderland games. Joan Dawson, formerly co-ordinator of Wear Down South, the newsletter of the London & SE branch of SAFC Supporters' Association, frequently acts as stand-in editor. Her brother, Malcolm, former chairman and still information officer of the Heart of England SAFCSA branch, is now deputy editor.

5 Responses to “Sixer’s Sevens: SAFC 2 West Bromwich Albion 2 – catastrophe averted” Subscribe

  1. CSB October 1, 2011 at 6:06 pm #

    Desrved point (from a side we should be taking to the cleaners), however it just leaves all and sundry in limbo, which the catholic church has now stated doesn’t exist, bit like our prospects under Mr Bruce and his management team then.

    I didn’t even get angry or annoyed when we went two down, just silent resignation waiting for the inevitable to happen in the management area. When we scored two elation that we had achieved deserved parity. Cheered us on for the winner but took a point at least.

    Then the cold realisation thet the status quo has been preserved and we limp on for another two weeks…..and the band played on!

  2. Bill Taylor October 1, 2011 at 6:08 pm #

    The Mags, meanwhile, won again. Chalk and cheese.

  3. Derek Scott October 1, 2011 at 7:04 pm #

    Another performance to re-re-re-ignite the Steve Bruce for England campaign.

  4. Tony October 1, 2011 at 7:39 pm #

    I was lucky enough to have a Mag text me to let me know we were 2 down!

  5. Jeremy October 2, 2011 at 3:36 pm #

    CSB. Nail hammer and head. Great post. This article should have been called “Catastrophe prolonged” and not averted. If think that in the longer term we may have been better served by losing yesterday even from the 2-2 score line as the manager hangs on yet again.

    Had we lost he would have gone. No choice.

    In my view the fans need to stand up and make it abundantly clear at the game that this is not acceptable. I hope that the politically correct regime don’t jump on this and start talking about supporting the team etc. The fans have done this patiently and it has failed to make one iota of difference. We are garbage.

    Bruce out and Quinn to follow. Mr Short needs to grasp the nettle. After 40 years of supporting this club I have never felt so sure that we have a chairman so out of his depth as Quinn is. The stats, performances and points speak for themselve. H’way Ellis get a grip man!

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