What a game. However, you could not make it up; we could not score against a side that is struggling at the bottom of the table, but we can put four past a team pushing for the playoffs. Nonetheless, I was very impressed with what I watched and why couldn’t we do that in our previous games? We looked bothered, for once, and we fought for a goal when we were trailing, which is something that we never do. Usually, we concede more goals. This was a team that wanted to play in the top division.
Unfortunately I was unable to attend this match, meaning I will not be able to say that I have been to every away game this year. Nonetheless, I was ambivalent about going; as much as I wanted to be there, I would have had a heart attack and it would have been too nerve wracking to watch. On the other hand, it would have been great to celebrate four goals and have the last hurrah. Apparently we were only allowed a certain allocation due to recent away fans causing trouble in the stadium, which is understandable but frustrating at the same time.
Watching it on TV was quite fun; I got to see the replays and I could enjoy it and focus on the game, instead of sitting in a stand that argues with the other sets of fans for the duration of the game. Also, I am starting to believe that we play better when my brother and I are not there as every away game we have watched at home, we have won or earned a deserved point. I really hope this is not true as I am going to the remainder of the fixtures.
The line-ups were announced at 4.30 pm and I was able to look at them properly as I had a strong signal, which is another advantage of being at home. According to LiveScore, we were in a 4-4-2 formation and Rosenior made two changes. Therefore, we had Karl Darlow in goal; Lewie Coyle, Jacob Greaves, Sean McLoughlin and Alfie Jones at the back; Jean Seri, Dimitrios Pelkas, Regan Slater and Allahyar Sayyadmanesh in the middle and Ozan Tufan was up front with Adama Traoré, who is getting a lot of game time at the moment. This was a very strong squad, however, we are still without Óscar Estupiñán and Aaron Connolly. But, fortunately, they should be back for the next game. Also, it was great to see Pelkas back as he made a huge impact today.
We started well in the first period; pinging the ball around effectively and holding it without being dispossessed. Every match this season we have been starting off well and it did not take us long to get the opener; in the 11th minute Seri received the ball at the halfway line, he passed it to Slater, who turned and made a defence-splitting pass to Tufan in the box and he smashed it into the roof of the net. This had to be the best goal we have scored coming from the run of the play and Rosenior has certainly helped make this area stronger. I remember when we were scoring goals from set pieces or tap-ins and now we are working as a team. And, if we can keep this up, it will allow us to score more goals in matches, which we are lacking at the moment.
After this, we were on the attack again and we should have made it two nil; Sayyadmanesh drove to the edge of the box and pulled the ball back to Pelkas, who put it over the bar. However, within a blink of an eye, Sunderland were on the attack and they equalised; Diallo drove into the box and all it took was three quick passes before Gelhardt put it in the back of the net. I was stunned. How could we score a goal, have a chance at increasing our advantage and then go on to concede? Our attack has been improved; however, I can not say the same about our defence or our ability to stay together when we are leading.
Then, it got worse for us and this is when I was happy that I did not go; one minute after they equalised, they scored another one. It was the same setup, but with one less pass and a different scorer. This time it was Diallo who turned my smile upside down and my hope of coming out of the game with anything was lost. However, I was able to regain my optimism as we equalised 90 seconds afterwards; the ball was played to Pelkas, whose shot was kept out by Patterson, however, it landed at Sayyadmanesh’s feet, who smashed it into an open goal. This was better to see; a team who can come back into the game after conceding two goals in a minute. Hopefully we can continue to do this in the upcoming fixtures as I want a strong finish so that we have confidence heading into the new season, which I am looking forward to.
For the remainder of the half, nothing much happened and I was happy to go into the break level, I am sure the players and Rosenior were too. The first half ended 2-2.
The second period mirrored the first half; the same amount of goals and more drama. We were the ones who took the lead; in the 65th minute, Slater kept the ball in–which looked very tight, but with the help of a replay It showed us that it was in–and ran to the edge of the 6-yard box, where he walloped the ball into the top right corner of the goal. This could challenge for goal of the month because the angle was tight and if you gave him a million chances, he would struggle to replicate what he did.
After this, we kept in control; however, our defence started to switch off and
Jones made a sloppy mistake, which resulted in a penalty to the hosts. For once, the referee was right with his decision and I do not know what Jones was thinking; any sort of contact would have been enough to convince the referee. Nonetheless, Diallo put it in the back of the net; however, Darlow should have kept it out. Unfortunately, it slipped through his gloves.
Then, things got worse. We could not get the ball and keep it for long, every attack was cut off, our defence was too open and weak and nothing was working. They had numerous chances and most of them could have resulted in a goal. Fortunately, Darlow redeemed himself by making some superb saves. However, he could not save them all and due to some poor defending, the hosts took the lead; in the 80th minute Jack Clarke, who was my man of the match despite being on the opposite team, received the ball on the left side of the box. He took a couple of steps, dummied our defenders and slotted it into the net. Again, I could not understand how we could be in front and then be trailing.
We had to do something special to come out of the game with at least a point, but I could not see how. You would have thought that we would be putting the ball into the box, making our defenders boot it up field and try and form an attack, however, we didn’t. We wasted most of the time passing at the back and thinking about what to do. Eventually the time hit 90 minutes and we still were not doing anything. In my last report I said ‘God, give us some luck’ and I have to say He did. In the last seconds of the game, Slater was taken down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. I could not believe it. My brother said to me before the game ‘if we score a last minute goal, I am going to be frustrated that we did not go’ and I felt bad for him.
Tufan was put up to the job and he has not missed a penalty for us. He kept that record as he smashed the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal and I could not have been happier.
So, In a game that I thought was over in added time, we were able to chalk up a hard-fought point in one of the best games of the season. Where did that come from? If we can perform like this in every game, we should be able to finish the season on a high. We have Millwall, at home, on Monday, Blackburn, away, next week and then Middlesbrough on the Wednesday after that. Three teams that are pushing for playoffs, but after watching this game I am confident we can beat them. All we need is more luck and to keep our composure. What a good Friday.