Just close your eyes and remember…
Big Sam’s first home game in 2015. Jermain Defoe’s volley past Tim Krul. Niall Quinn’s equaliser; Eric Gates’ through ball and Marco Gabbiadini’s finish, Fabio Borini’s perfect penalty and George Holley’s hat trick.
A last-minute winner in 2014. Gary Rowell and Kevin Arnott deciding to “just take the piss”. Harry Shaw and Bert Davis helping to send them on their way to relegation in 1934 — and should we mention they weren’t around when we won the title in 1936?
Gus
Poyet’s first home game. Kevin Phillips’ shot on the turn to the far corner so we could party like it was 1999. Kieran Richardson’s rocket and Stan Cummins from six yards in front of the Fulwell End to help us on the way to promotion — thank you kindly.
1-9.
Thomas Sorensen’s penalty save from Alan Shearer. Fabio Borini biting his hand. Jack Colback making it 3-0 in the eightieth minute, and a pathetic pitch invasion in an attempt to get a playoff semi-final abandoned.
Paolo Di Canio’s knee slide along the touchline in his smart Italian suit. Poyet vs Pardew…Poyet vs Pardew again and again, and Dick Advocaat vs John Carver.
DDWWWWWWDWW.
Don Hutchison at the far post in ‘Disco 2000’. Eric Gates poking in Gary Owers’ cross and Dijbril Cisse’s poke putting us ahead. David Vaughan’s worldy, Shearer and Ferguson benched, and Ruud Gullit sacked.
Gary Rowell’s hat trick.
Billy Jones (who knew he was capable of such a thing?), but yes, Billy Jones after sixty five minutes. “The 0-3 scoreline was flattering…to the home team” (2014), Bobby Kerr twice in another 3-0 in 1967; Jermain Defoe’s tears and Tim Krul’s admiration.
Six in a row.
Fabio Borini hitting a screamer to win it. Niall Quinn’s towering header into the far corner. Bewilderment at punching a horse in the city centre and 0-3 again at St James’ Park in 1966. George Holley (scorer of fifteen goals against them) with two goals on the way to another title in 1912 and 0-3 at St James’ Park on our way to a cup final in 1913.
For a whole new generation of Sunderland fans, you have £69 million Nick Woltemade’s perfectly placed header and Anthony Gordon’s “We’re a better team than them” making us smile. Chemsdine Talbi’s equaliser and a well stacked Brian Brobbey ripping his shirt off to celebrate with a full-on He-Man “I have the power!” pose.
“Welcome to your regional capital…it’s been so long”. Thank you very much for welcoming us to your capital — did you miss us beating you?
This is what it means to be a Sunderland fan after a weekend like that.
