Going with my heart for Burnley trip
I'VE spent the past week thinking about tomorrow's clash with Burnley (maybe my wife's right and I have too much spare time on my hands).
In the end, despite lengthy deliberation, I've ended up just taking a leap of faith.
My problem was that I couldn't decide whether I should be approaching the game with a positive outlook or not.
OK, so it's hardly on a par with discovering the meaning of life, but as someone who writes a column about football, it usually comes in handy to know what perspective you're looking at things from.
If we have any real hope of taking that next fabled step up (and I think we do), then newly-promoted teams like Burnley are among those we should be beating.
But Owen Coyle's side are no mugs. The Lancashire side claimed the prize scalps of Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal in the League Cup last season.
This term they have already managed home wins against Everton and Manchester United in the league.
On their home turf (no pun intended), Burnley could well cause us problems, and yet at the same time I can't help but feel that by not expecting a victory, I'm failing to give the lads my full backing.
So I've decided to forget about using my head and have, instead, gone with my heart to predict an away win.
Those who know me will be happy to be informed that I won't be putting any cold, hard cash on this prediction (as on many, many previous occasions this has been a surefire way of screwing things up).
I'm certainly no Derren Brown when it comes to picking the right ball or plucking a prediction out of the bag.
But despite being more sceptic peg than Mystic Meg, I'm backing the lads to come out on top tomorrow.
Hopefully, as well as getting three points from tomorrow's encounter, we can also emerge from the game without skipper Lorik Cana having picked up a booking.
The yellow peril could soon catch up with the Albania international as he has been carded three times in as many league games.
It's strange, and almost a contradiction in terms for someone who seems to be booked for persistent fouling, but he doesn't strike me as a dirty player.
Committed yes, all too eager to rush in where others fear to tread certainly, but malicious or vindictive – not at all.
Still, whatever the reason for him collecting cards like they are going out of fashion, it could be a problem in the very near future if we don't get to grips with it.
Last but by no means least, I'd like to pass on my best wishes to youth player Jordan Cook, who suffered a dreadful injury during the week.
I'm sure all Sunderland fans wish him a fast and full recovery. Best of luck, Jordan.
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Heavy sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
