We need a lift after Emirates defeat
I GUESS it was almost inevitable that our sorry run of form would continue down at the Emirates.
I don't think anyone held out much hope that we were going to somehow turn things around against the Gunners.
And yet, maybe if we had taken our one gilt-edged chance, when Kenwyne Jones was through on goal, it may have been a different story.
Of course, had the Londoners taken a few of their early chances, they could have been out of sight before then.
At times during the first half you could have been forgiven for thinking our situation was something akin to the Alamo – but at the Alamo both sides were shooting.
Sunderland spent most of the opening 45 minutes on the back foot, as they struggled to wrest possession from their hosts.
There were one or two chances for the Wearsiders, the best coming when Jones was put through by Kieran Richardson.
However, with Manuel Almunia to beat, he fluffed his lines and fired wide.
And yet, with the game at 1-0 for so long, you hoped rather than believed that we might somehow sneak an equaliser.
That hope proved in vain as Cesc Fabregas stepped up to fire home from the penalty spot.
It was nothing less than the hosts deserved for a dominant display, but I suppose if you were clutching at straws, you could argue that maybe the Spanish playmaker shouldn't have still been on the field.
Having already been booked, the Arsenal skipper got away with at least one, if not two, dodgy challenges, and maybe by the letter of the law should have been given his marching orders.
Of course, he wasn't and with the full contingent of 11 men, the Gunners always looked too much for Steve Bruce's side to handle.
It means the Black Cats have not managed a league win since they beat Arsene Wenger's men on Wearside back in November.
Whichever way you look at it that makes sorry reading, and unless there is a change of fortunes in the near future, it won't be long before squeaky bum time is well and truly upon us.
This weekend sees us up against another form team in Fulham.
The Cottagers may not possess the silky skills or attacking flair of the Gunners, but nevertheless they are a threat, and given our current form we can take nothing for granted.
I suppose the one plus point is that key players are returning from injury, and Lee Cattermole will be back from suspension this weekend.
Maybe it's too much to expect a barn-storming display this weekend, but the lads need to pull out all the stops because we need a lift, and we need it soon.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
