Last week might have seen the most draining run of days for Sunderland fans in a while (and there’s plenty of competition). We lurched from the excitement of the Europa League draw, to the frantic scramble to book flights and accommodation without being ripped off by Ryanair, to the more familiar sensations of the nervy but vital win over Fulham. And then, to cap it all off, we saw one of the most topsy-turvy transfer deadline days in memory, complete with twists, turns and a choice between two planes
that you’d expect to find in a cliché-ridden rom-com.
Down in London, the midweek respite was even shorter-lived, as our branch held its annual general meeting on Friday at the Old King’s Head in London Bridge. It was brilliant to see a strong turnout at the AGM, and it’s vital that these regional supporters’ branches remain strong as the club continues to grow into a more international, global business and away from its local, community-oriented roots.
This transition might be inevitable, but it isn’t a case of having to choose one or the other; the club can still progress while keeping that core connection to its supporters alive. I’d encourage anyone reading this to sign up to their local supporters’ group if you aren’t already, especially if you’re in London!
Back to matters on the pitch, few pundits gave us much of a prayer heading to the Gtech. Admittedly, our last trip in January was a rough night, with Le Fée’s missed penalty capping off an under-par display, though the team was in the midst of a brutal, AFCON-disrupted winter, so it wasn’t exactly inexcusable. This year’s Brentford team looks even stronger than last year’s vintage, with Sangaré in particular looking like a machine in the midfield for them, so it was always going to be a tough assignment. Even so, it’s easy to forget that – despite the media’s relentless adulation of Keith Andrews – we did actually finish above the Bees, so maybe it wasn’t the foregone conclusion everyone anticipated.
Among the many downsides to last season’s trip to Brentford was the timing; such a charming part of town deserves better than a miserable Wednesday in early January. This season’s edition allowed us to enjoy a glorious late summer’s afternoon by the Thames, taking in some excellent old pubs in Chiswick directly on the river, including The Bull’s Head and The Bell and Crown. You really are spoiled for choice in Brentford; it’s basically the diametric opposite to Wolves away, and there’s none of that Home Fans Only nonsense either.
Taking our seats after the usual vigorous security checks, the smaller allocation in the corner actually contributed to a vociferous atmosphere from the away faithful, as songs were traded easily between those in attendance. Sunderland took to the field in our smart blue and bronze third kit, attacking the goal just to our left. We in the stands were woefully unprepared for the glorious sunshine (leaving the ground with a few unexpected suntans), but thankfully the lads on the pitch were far better prepared for the challenge posed by the Bees, putting in one of the best 45 minutes of football that I can remember from us for a while now.
Brentford simply couldn’t live with our relentless aggression; the aforementioned Sangaré, who is a great player but had been built up by the media to be a hybrid of N’Golo Kanté and prime Yaya Touré, looked completely lost against the far-less nationally heralded Noah Sadiki. The midfield and defence sprayed diagonal balls to find Angulo in acres of space with ease, and he produced his best performance in Sunderland colours with direct running and outstanding close control; perhaps the signing of Fofana has lit a spark under him.
When we thought Ballard had given us what would have been a richly deserved lead, there was pure joy in the away end, only for it to be cut short by the sight of the referee going to the monitor. Instances of the referee sticking with their original decision at the monitor are about as rare as a pint under £6 in Chiswick, and we all basically accepted that this one would be chalked off. Our frustration continued as Le Fée hit the post and Sadiki saw a goalbound effort cleared off the line, and we were scratching our heads at how the scores remained goalless at half-time.
Brentford made three changes at the break, which was a reflection of just how dominant we were, and the game was far more of a contest. Their goal was a great finish but disappointing from our perspective, as we failed to track Janelt’s late run, and you felt we were heading for one of those inexplicable days where the performance deserves far more than the result. Thankfully, that disparity was reduced when Lewis-Potter hauled down Isidor for a penalty. The cries of injustice from the home team and fans were genuinely laughable, and thankfully, this time Le Fée drilled the spot-kick home to give us a point that we richly deserved.
As we applauded the players for an excellent performance, it felt like the ironclad connection between those in the stands and those on the pitch was as strong as ever. Despite the mostly external doommongering and predictions of a hammering, we’d stood up to an excellent side and more than matched them, and we have exciting options waiting in the wings to bolster the squad when needed (even if there’s slightly less waiting on the right wing)…
Another big week awaits, with a massive clash against Champions Arsenal sandwiched between two cup games against Hull and AZ Alkmaar (arguably one of which is more anticipated than the other). Bring it on.
