Home form can make all the difference
HOPEFULLY, home is where the heart is as Sunderland look to distance themselves from the relegation dogfight.
Aston Villa's win over Crystal Palace, which booked their place in the next round of the FA Cup, means our tip to face Martin O'Neill's men has to be rearranged.
So our next four league fixtures will be on home turf – and we have to make them count.
First one up is the visit of Fulham to the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
The Cottagers are enjoying another good season under Roy Hodgson, and will no doubt be buoyed by their 1-1 draw with Shaktar Donetsk last night, which sees them progress to the next round of the Europa Cup.
Despite the game being on council telly (that's terrestial TV, not Sky, in case you were confused), I decided to give it a miss in case they played really well, and I got even more depressed before the weekend.
However, while out walking the dog I did find myself thinking about, and perhaps hoping for, a mini-injury crisis to hit the Cottagers.
Nothing too serious, just one or two injuries that would keep a number of their key players out of this weekend's encounter.
Bobby Zamora, of course, picked up a knock against the Ukranian side and could miss out this weekend.
And yet, I couldn't help but think, as I was wishing an injury blight on Fulham, that it was more likely one of our players would pull a hamstring or something while sat in front of the box watching the Londoners.
At the risk of being accused of making excuses, our injury record this season has been dreadful, and that has played a part in our bad form.
Of course, it isn't just down to that. We have played badly far too often with or without injuries, and our confidence seems shot at the moment.
But I honestly believe that a couple of good results at home could help to turn things around.
With that in mind, maybe we as fans should put our disappointment aside and get behind the lads for the full 90 minutes on Sunday.
I know everyone has a right to make their feelings heard, and if the team aren't playing well you can't blame them for being frustrated and angry.
But as the bloke who sells the scarfs and horns outside the Stadium of Light at every home game suggests – let's make some noise for the boys.
I know it isn't easy to stay upbeat given our current predicament – and if things don't go our way early on, it is likely to feel like a case of here we go again.
But even if you don't believe in all of the cliches about fans being the 12th man, surely you can see that being cheered on by your support rather than pilloried or booed, has got to help the players.
So let's sing our hearts out for the lads – at least then we will know we have done our bit. eep the faith.
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
