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NUFC v sunderland – What Their Fans Had To Say

12 years ago
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Promise not to laugh but just to show that as well as the old cliche of a ‘game of two halves’ this shows it is a game of at least two opinions….and we get called deluded!

Here is how the mackem fans website ‘A Love Supreme’ reported on yesterday’s match….

SUNDERLAND AFC V NEWCASTLE…

MATCH REPORT

Shola Ameobi scored an undeserved last minute equaliser to salvage a point for the Mags at the Sports Direct Arena on Sunday afternoon. Despite Nicklas Bendtners first half penalty Sunderland had to settle for a draw after Ameboi notched against 10 man Sunderland right at the death.

The build up in the media from Sunderland standpoint has been a bit more subdued than recent derby clashes possibly as we weren’t favourites going into the game for the first time since they got promoted again. Or maybe Martin O’Neill, who did a nice interview recalling his recent quest to find Roker Park, has learned from Steve Bruce’s mistakes and has the players focussed on the game rather than what music will be playing at full time.

Meanwhile on Saturday morning, in what I think was an attempt at pre derby mind games, the Mags embarrassingly staged a press conference to announce that two of their players had signed new contracts. Wow, no the wonder their fans do things like stage funerals for the stadium and such like.

Skipper Lee Cattermole got off to a shocking start when he hacked down Tiote and conceded a yellow inside 30 seconds although we did defend well from the free kick. On the half hour James McClean and Danny Simpson were booked after a collision caused a flash point although we went in at half time deservedly in the lead after dominating the opening period. Nicklas Bendtner fired the lads into the lead from the penalty spot after Michael Turner had his shirt practically ripped off. It’s about time we got a decision in a derby and Bendtner made no mistake with the spot kick.

At half time Pardew made a change with Ben Arfa replacing Santon and although Ba hit the bar with a header the turning point of the game came with half an hour to go. Cheick Tiote, who rolled about embarrassingly when ever anyone went near him, dove to the floor when Sess raised his arm to him. Mike Dean decided this was a straight red and orderered Sess of the park as the lads looked to hold for the win on.

As if the officials couldn’t help the home side enough they awarded the Skunks a penalty when Ba tumbled under a challenge although from Campbell, to be fair it was blatant! Thankfully, Mignolet made a great save low to his left.

Despite our best efforts to hold on to the victory, which included some heroic defending, Ameobi, who came from the bench got onto the end of a hopeful cross to beat Mignolet on the far post. To rub salt into our wounds, Lee Cattermole got himself sent off after the final whistle for swearing at the ref and will now miss our next five games.

ALS Man of the Match: Simon Mignolet

As well as Newcastle being denied a clear penalty on Ba and countless other decisions not forthcoming from the referee, you had the small matter of the match statistics (apologies to the mackems  for letting the facts get in the way!) which saw Newcastle have:

24 shots to their 7

57% possession to their 43%

19 corners to their 4

The only thing they more than matched us on was the foul count!

If sunderland so deserved to win and outplayed us, exactly why then do they make their goalkeeper man of the match….

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