Days like Sunday don’t come along very often, but when they do, you are reminded of why you love your team and you love football.
Sunderland were absolutely outstanding against Newcastle in the first Premier
League meeting in a decade, and whilst it wasn’t a startling game of football, there can be no doubt that the Lads in red and white were deserved winners and looked more than good enough value for the three points. The fact that there doesn’t seem to be a Newcastle pundit doing anything other than admit they were rightful losers says it all.
It was one of the most determined and spirited defensive displays that I’ve seen from any Sunderland side, and every single person watching could see that this is a special team that is determined to fight every single second for the supporters and the badge. When you think about the derby games and how you want your team to play, I think what we got from our lads is exactly what you’d want — they were mean, aggressive, understood the importance of the occasion, and they delivered the type of performance that makes you proud.
It feels poetic to me that in the last decade Sunderland have been relegated twice, spent four seasons in League One, have almost gone bust, had to completely rebuild ourselves, and still we’re superior to our neighbours up the road who sold their souls to the devil – the ultimate price for “success”.
And for what? Nobody likes them.
No neutral watching that game wanted to see Newcastle United emerge victorious. Their arrogance and delusion has annoyed everyone the length and bredth for the country — no matter what the mags might believe in their own heads, they are no one’s second favourite team. They’re a laughing stock, and to lose in the manner that they did has led to widespread piss-taking for good reason… people want to see them with egg on their faces, and I’m not just talking about those of a red and white persuasion.
Sunderland have gone about their business in a fashion that has rightly earned us praise and acclaim. You watch players like Robin Roefs, Noah Sadiki, Omar Alderete, Dan Ballard, Reinildo Mandava, and Granit Xhaka and you can’t help but love them. Every fan of every team wants players who “get it”, and Sunderland’s players certainly do – it’s just such an amazing time to support this unbelievable football club, and the way they keep on delivering results and creating great moments for us supporters really is a sight to behold.
Sunday’s game was my favourite derby victory of all time — though, the 3-0 at St James’ Park under Gus Poyet does run it close. There is no sweeter feeling, after taking unrelenting and deserved stick for the last god knows how long from fans of “the Visitors”, than to be able to sit here knowing we are better than they are, that we beat them, and that we are above them in the table. I am going to be smiling ear to ear for the rest of this week!
By the way… Does anyone know if the phone networks have gone down over Newcastle? I can’t seem to get in touch with any of my black-and-white-supporting mates. I hope they’re okay.
