Some say that Football is a funny old game, but after today's Toon result, I have to agree.
Off we trotted to St James Park today thinking that a win would be easy - the Toon have been very good in the last couple of games, especially at home and Sunderland have been poor, despite the managerial change, the performance at Chelsea wasn't great and the same old defensive frailties were there for all to see.
In the first half we made some decent chances and looked the better team and we forced Mignolet into some good saves, but then the unbelievable happened and Sunderland scored on the break. The impressive Sessegnon gave them the lead with a breakaway goal and then we looked poor at the back, with the situation not getting any better in the second half.
Having been to four Sunderland home games so far this season (all for nowt by the way), I've not heard their fans sing at all, but all of a sudden they were, and in our back yard too.
The situation just went from bad to worse as the game went on. We had the ball in the net, but the linesman gave an offside against Cisse, but the replays suggest that it was the wrong decision (but, I've not seen it myself yet). From then on in we imploded and totally lost the plot at the back and gifted Sunderland what turned out to be two screaming goals - the sort you can only dream about scoring at the home of your greatest rivals. We just kept backing off and backing off and giving them way too much space, so we deserved what we got.
On reflection, we should have seen it coming as Newcastle are experts on clinching hopelessness from the jaws of greatness. On Thursday we were so close to a European Semi-Final and crashed out in the last minute. So, we went into today full of hope that we'd put that behind us and get the points to make us safe in the Premier League and rub the Mackems noses in it. But, in typical Newcastle style, we came up well short on the day. It's an important lesson for the kids as they've never really tasted a Derby Day defeat before, so they now know how it feels and they'll have to take the stick at school tomorrow, as we'll all have too.
Supporting Newcastle really is a roller coaster as its incredible highs, followed by equally incredible lows - today being one of those incredible lows. We'll bounce back though, cos that's what we do, but you have to wonder why Newcastle didn't strengthen the team in the summer so that we could weather this European fixture storm. Buying in January has cost us dearly and the European run just seems to have been too much for us. Let's hope that its a lesson that we learn as we look forward to getting to that sort of level again.
This season really has been one of highs and lows, but sadly more lows than highs and today's result is the biggest low. Luckily, we don't have a cat to kick, but we'll bounce back, we're Newcastle fans and always will be. You've just got to dust yourself off and get on with it, with the understanding that we'll get our chance next year again to put the story straight. Anyway, Mince & Dumplings for tea and some roasties, nowt like a bit of comfort food to cheer you up after a bad result - bring on West Brom next week !
Off we trotted to St James Park today thinking that a win would be easy - the Toon have been very good in the last couple of games, especially at home and Sunderland have been poor, despite the managerial change, the performance at Chelsea wasn't great and the same old defensive frailties were there for all to see.
In the first half we made some decent chances and looked the better team and we forced Mignolet into some good saves, but then the unbelievable happened and Sunderland scored on the break. The impressive Sessegnon gave them the lead with a breakaway goal and then we looked poor at the back, with the situation not getting any better in the second half.
Having been to four Sunderland home games so far this season (all for nowt by the way), I've not heard their fans sing at all, but all of a sudden they were, and in our back yard too.
The situation just went from bad to worse as the game went on. We had the ball in the net, but the linesman gave an offside against Cisse, but the replays suggest that it was the wrong decision (but, I've not seen it myself yet). From then on in we imploded and totally lost the plot at the back and gifted Sunderland what turned out to be two screaming goals - the sort you can only dream about scoring at the home of your greatest rivals. We just kept backing off and backing off and giving them way too much space, so we deserved what we got.
On reflection, we should have seen it coming as Newcastle are experts on clinching hopelessness from the jaws of greatness. On Thursday we were so close to a European Semi-Final and crashed out in the last minute. So, we went into today full of hope that we'd put that behind us and get the points to make us safe in the Premier League and rub the Mackems noses in it. But, in typical Newcastle style, we came up well short on the day. It's an important lesson for the kids as they've never really tasted a Derby Day defeat before, so they now know how it feels and they'll have to take the stick at school tomorrow, as we'll all have too.
Supporting Newcastle really is a roller coaster as its incredible highs, followed by equally incredible lows - today being one of those incredible lows. We'll bounce back though, cos that's what we do, but you have to wonder why Newcastle didn't strengthen the team in the summer so that we could weather this European fixture storm. Buying in January has cost us dearly and the European run just seems to have been too much for us. Let's hope that its a lesson that we learn as we look forward to getting to that sort of level again.
This season really has been one of highs and lows, but sadly more lows than highs and today's result is the biggest low. Luckily, we don't have a cat to kick, but we'll bounce back, we're Newcastle fans and always will be. You've just got to dust yourself off and get on with it, with the understanding that we'll get our chance next year again to put the story straight. Anyway, Mince & Dumplings for tea and some roasties, nowt like a bit of comfort food to cheer you up after a bad result - bring on West Brom next week !
Comments
Post a Comment