Sunderland left it late today at City Ground, having to rely on a late equalizer by Bardo and an extra time winner by new-guy David Healy to defeat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in their opening Carling Cup match. Robert Earnshaw had put Forest up 1-0 in the 60th minute on a free kick from 20 yards out.

Since I have been supporting the club (05/06 season), I think this is the second game they have won in any cup competition. Also, this makes two road wins in 5 days, for a team that won precisely one game on the road all of last season. Things they are a-changing on Wearside, it would seem.

One touch of gray for today’s win is the injury sustained by Steed Malbranque midway through the first half. I have no idea yet how serious the injury is, but he “had been hurt in a challenge, [and] limped off.” Steed has been a very bright spot on the right side of the midfield since joining Sunderland from Spurs last month, and it would be all kinds of suck to lose him just as the team is starting to come together and play well early in this season.

Image from Eurosport.

Attack

Both sides made significant additions in the off-season with Liverpool adding the other Keano to an already potent strike force featuring Euro 2008 hero Fernando Torres and the Black Cats picking up former Merseysider legend - although not for the right reasons - El-Hadji Diouf.
Kenwyne Jones will be out for the next two months and his presence alongside a playmaker like Diouf will be sorely missed.

Advantage: Liverpool

Midfield

Sunderland’s addition of Steed Malbranque provides a spark that was missing from last year’s attack. Steed will provide that missing link between the midfield and the strikers with new signing Teemu Taino taking care of the heavy lifting the middle of the park.

Andy Reid and Kieran Richardson should provide a good amount of width on the outside, but Sunderland won’t be able to match tenacity of Liverpool hardman Javier Mascherano and the skill of Steven Gerrard in the middle.

Advantage: Liverpool

Defense

Craig Gordon will be solid – as expected – between the sticks, but the four in front of him will struggle to handle the pace and power of Torres and Keane. After Jonny Evans returned to Manchester United from last year’s loan spell, the middle of the defense is looking porous.
Danny Collins – last year’s Supporter’s Association Player of the Year – is a shoe-in to start at left-back with new signee Pascal Chimbonda slotting in on the right. But this won’t help when Torres breaks through a center pairing the likes of Nosworthy and Higginbotham.

Liverpool added Andrea Dossena from Udinese to fill the spot vacated by John Arne Risse, who left for Liverpool, and have a solid pairing of Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher that will frustrate Sunderland attackers throughout the game.

Advantage: Liverpool

Final Call

Liverpool’s attack will be too much for a less-than-stingy Sunderland defense. Sunderland will make use of its strengths on the wings of the defense and midfield, but Liverpool’s solid pairings up the middle will eventually prove to be too much.

Liverpool 2 – 1 Sunderland

Image from DailyMail.co.uk

On Playing Liverpool in the Season’s First Fixture:

“We have a tough start to the season but it doesn’t really bother me when we play the bigger teams. We started with a tough one last season, against Tottenham, and we did all right. Liverpool is a good one for us and for our fans and we’ll be ready for it, hopefully we will give them a tough game.”

On Saturday’s Starting XI:

“Yorkie [Dwight Yorke] won’t be able to play on Saturday….I would expect all our new signings to start, in terms of the three ex-Tottenham lads and Dioufy.”

On the Expectations for this Season:

“The expectation from the supporters will be slightly higher. This time last year the word on people’s lips seemed to be survival. It wasn’t on mine at the time but as the season went on, I realized how tough it was. This year, with the players we have brought in and the extra year’s experience we’ve had in the Premier League, we go into it believing we can have a better season.”

Check out the rest of the interview here.

These kind of responses are why Keane has the club headed in the right direction. He grasps the magnitude of the situation at hand, but isn’t scared of it. Keane and Niall have a plan in place to keep the club in the top flight for years to come.

Just look at Keegan up at St. James Park - he’s bringing in players that share his preference for bushy afros.

If I may exclaim at this point: Fuck Yes!

The game started frantically, and without Johnny Evans and Phil Bardsley Sunderland looked very shaky in the back. Nyron Nosworthy had a horrible first half, practically handing Boro their first goal after just 4 minutes with a weak clearance that eventually ended up with Tuncay Sanli slotting past Craig Gordon. But Middlesbrough’s keeper Brad Jones was shit, and it only took a minute for Danny Higginbotham to head in the equalizer.

Michael Chopra, who had his nose bloodied by Boro’s Ivan Drago lookalike defender David Wheater, made it 2-1 just before the break with a great run and shot off the bottom of the crossbar.

The second half saw Sunderland looking much more stable in the back. Chopra, Kenwyne Jones and Andy Reid were giving the Middlesbrough backline fits, and Chopra probably should have made it 3-1 off a beautiful cross from Dean Whitehead (credit due to Brad Jones for a nice save). Kenwyne then got his own head injury from a frightening clash of noggins with Emanuel Pogatetz. But no quit from our Trini Hero as he continued to win balls in the air, even looking like a walking M.A.S.H. unit.

The linesmen were complete turds in this game, at one point flagging Chopra for offside when he was at least a yard on. Then on a much closer play later in the second half, when Afonso Alves looked to be a hair offside, no flag was raised and the overpriced Brazilian sent a Julio Arca pass bouncing into the side netting. Higginbotham looked like he maybe could have gotten to the ball to clear it, but didn’t dive for the ball, and I was about to throw my coffee mug through the television.

No matter, as the lads in Red and White continued to press, and in stoppage time Murphy sent the Stadium of Light into ecstatic raptures with his glancing header to beat the hapless Jones. Sunderland is safe, Smoggies go home, bring on Bolton (I have an added interest in seeing Bolton lose next week: obviously I want Sunderland to win, but as an American, I want to see Fulham a.k.a. Team America stay up; they kept their slim survival hopes alive with an unlikely win at Man City today).

HA’WAY THE LADS!!

[A post-scriptum to you, dear reader(s): I know this blog has been very bereft of activity lately. For the past couple months I've been doing only match reports, and even those dried up in the past two weeks. For that I apologize. But I have an excuse: my home team, my beloved Portland Timbers (yes, they are my #1 football love), started their season last week, and I haven't been able to save much footy focus for anything else. I vow to do my best to keep this space active, at least until the end of the EPL season; after which, who knows? I may start up a separate blog, devoted to all my teams: Timbers, SAFC, Portland Trail Blazers (that's basketball), Miami Dolphins (the 'other' football, and my first sports love), and my alma mater Florida State University. It remains to be seen, but I don't know if I can really do justice to a Black Cats blog from 6000 miles away. Stay tuned, and thank you for reading.

oh, and a post-post-scriptum - if you're interested the Timbers play host to the evil horrid scum seattle sounders tonight at 7:00 pm Pacific time. Timbers vs sounders is always a heated and feisty affair - you can listen for free at portlandtimbers.com]

Sitting now 10 points clear of danger with 5 games left, the Mackems can breathe a little easier today. Looks like the Tyne-Wear Derby in a couple of weeks won’t have the big “R” word hanging over it as the mags also won their third straight today over a hapless Reading side.

Andy Reid opened his Wearside account today at the Stadium of Light, with a goal at the death to give Sunderland a 2-1 win over West Ham United. Kenwyne Jones leveled the game after half an hour, following Freddie Ljungberg’s 19th minute goal for the Hammers.

The win is Sunderland’s second consecutive, and pushes the Black Cats up to the heady heights of 13th place in the table, 2 more than the circus up the road. Dare I say it but Sunderland’s prospects for survival are looking very good (7 points from danger with 6 games remaining). Derby were officially relegated today, and teams like Fulham, Bolton and Wigan just don’t look much like they want to stick around the Premiership.

It’s a good day to be a Mackem: the sight of Kenwyne once again flying through the air like a levitating guru and new boy Andy Reid - whose physique is an inspiration for all of us who enjoy a pint or three - contemplating his navel and coming through with a mega clutch cargo game-winner.

(I’m also excited because the Timbers pre-season started last night and our new Japanese striker looks like he’ll be a great one to watch this year.)

Ha’Way the Lads!

Highlights here.

********

Second half substitute Michael Chopra secured a MASSIVE 1-0 win for Sunderland with a goal in the 83rd minute today at Villa Park. Kieran Richardson played a nice long ball from his own half, and Chopra split through two Villa defenders, beat a torpid Zat Knight to the ball and dinked it over a helpless Scott Carson. Huge.

The goal was against the run of play, as Villa were doing most of the attacking in the second half. Sunderland deserve the win though, because they had lots of good possession and attack (particularly in the first half); they just couldn’t put the deadly finish on it until Chopra saved the day. Carlos Edwards started his second straight match since breaking his leg in December, and looked good until he tired in the second half and came off for Leadbitter (who then maddeningly blew a chance late on).

The back four were solid (despite a couple injury scares for Nosworthy and Collins - both appear fine), the midfield looked more cohesive than I have seen in forever (I very much like the look of Reid-Richardson-Edwards), and with Kenwyne out sick it was Murphy and O’Donovan up top.

This marks our first road win of the season, our first goal away from the Stadium of Light for three months exactly, and our first goal overall since February 9 vs Wigan. The win, possibly the biggest of the season, moves us 4 points clear of the drop zone.

Ha’Way the Lads!

Carlos Edwards is back in the squad for Sunderland today and starting against big bad Chelsea. Also making a reappearance after some time is Irishman Roy O’Donovan. No Kieran Richardson in the squad though (and I just put him back in my fantasy team, HA HA HA HA HAAAAfuck).

For Chelsea their Peruvian prick Pizarro is absent, so no chance for him to show the Mackems in person just how classy he is.

Something has got to change if Sunderland are going to start scoring goals (which they need to do to, you know, win games and stay up). Can’t have Kenwyne all by his lonesome up top, where his talents are pretty much wasted. This is obviously a huge test and an improbable task, but even a draw today would be good.

(I have a bachelor party to attend today, so it’s unlikely that I’ll catch the replay of the match at 1:00pm; but I’ll have more to write later in this space, and that’s a promise I intend to keep unless I forget.)

• Pete Sixsmith: “How many times did we threaten? How many saves did Tim Howard have to make?… Jones needs a regular partner, be it Chopra or Prica – but not Stokes. Yet again, he failed to contribute anything to a game and it would be surprising if he featured again this season.” [Salut! Sunderland]
• “Not for the first time in recent weeks, Sunderland rarely posed an attacking threat and now that Jonny Evans and Phil Bardsley have helped tighten the Wearsiders’ defence, Roy Keane must turn his attention to what he can do to spark them into life in attack.” [Sunderland Echo]
• Roy Keane: “There was only Kenwyne up front but we had Murphy on the left and Stokes and Chopra on the right and the likes of Grant and Kieran in the middle - very attack-minded players. It was far from a defensive shape. …we thought today was a chance for us to get something out of the game. I felt we deserved something, football can be cruel.” [SAFC.com]
• Sobs on Soccer: “A disappointing performance from a duff formation, and a ref who gave a lot of things simply because he had a whistle and wanted to use it. However, the main reason for our defeat was quite simple and easy to spot – one up front is no use.” [A Love Supreme]

Next up: Chelsea comes to the Stadium of Light. If we can’t punish the goal in this game, can we at least punish Claudio Pizarro’s face?

Here’s how I see the rest of the campaign playing out, beginning today, when the Black Cats welcome Everton to the Stadium of Light:

Everton (H): In a season which has featured plenty of ass kickings for the Mackems, it was the Toffees who gave us our worst: 7-1 at Goodison in November. Everton is playing some very good football right now, though they did just lose a UEFA Cup[1] game in midweek. Sunderland’s home form is good (only the boxing day loss to Man Utd since September), but it will be a big challenge to get a result against Everton. Prediction: SAFC 1:2 Everton

Chelsea (H): Despite their improbable and hilarious exit from the FA Cup yesterday, Chelsea is an elite team with world class stars. I suppose anything can happen, and a team fighting for survival often puts out a better performance than one with nothing to play for (winning the league is a very slim possibility for the Blues right now). Sunderland were beaten at Stamford Bridge in December 2-0, in a game wherein Liam Miller saw red for shoving Claudio Pizarro in the face (not hard enough). Prediction: SAFC 0:0 Chelsea

Aston Villa (A): Sunderland were robbed of 3 points the last time the Villains visited the SOL back in December, when Danny Collins had a goal disallowed very late on. Martin O’Neill’s side are still alive in the hunt for Europe next season, and they will see this as a must win match. I see it as a very tall order for Sunderland to get out of Villa Park with any points. Prediction: Aston Villa 2:0 SAFC

West Ham (H): Sunderland lost 3-1 at Upton Park in October, in a game that was closer than the scoreline. Kenwyne Jones’ 2nd half equalizer had the visiting Mackems keyed up and looking for more, then Craig Gordon’s unlucky own goal precipitated a late sealer by Craig Bellamy the fuck. The Hammers are right now smack in the middle of the table, free of relegation fears and European hopes alike. I doubt their position will have changed much in three weeks, meaning they won’t have much to play for. Prediction: SAFC 2:1 West Ham

Fulham (A): “Team America” are struggling for their lives and scrapping for every point they can. They’ve just had Jimmy Bullard and Brian McBride return from long injuries, and seem to have a little of the momentum they need to get them to safety. Kenwyne’s late equalizer salvaged a point when Fulham came to Sunderland in October; against teams close to us in the standings, though, you’ve got to think that a home draw is two points dropped rather than one saved. A winnable road game, Sunderland must get at least another draw here. Prediction: Fulham 0:0 SAFC

Man City (H): Sven’s Men have slipped in form recently, with only 1 point from 9 since their derby day victory at Old Trafford. Sunderland lost 0-1 at Eastlands in November, in a workmanlike (read: uninspired) performance. Prediction: SAFC 2:2 City

mags (A): Probably our most winnable and most important road game left. Newcastle stole a point at SOL in November with a sloppy Milner goal, in a game in which Sunderland were easily the better side. A Wear-Tyne win here would be huge on so many levels. Prediction: mags 0:2 SAFC

Middlesbrough (H): Sunderland earned an entertaining 2-2 draw away to Boro in September with Liam Miller delivering the equalizer late on (Liam Miller was recently cut from the team for tardiness issues (!), but could return for today’s match vs Everton). The Teesiders are one of a huge clump of teams trying to stay out of danger and this could be a very intense derby day affair. Prediction: SAFC 2:1 Boro

Bolton (A): Bolton have been awful this season, and were thrashed 3-1 in their visit to SOL during the Christmas period. Another team fighting relegation, this game could be a classic battle, or it could be another 0-0 yawnfest between two shit teams. Prediction: Bolton 1:1 SAFC

Arsenal (H): The season finale sees the mighty and arrogant Gunners come to the Stadium of Light, possibly needing a result to sew up their league title. Let’s just hope Sunderland don’t need a result to stay up. Prediction: SAFC 1:3 Arse

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If those predictions pan out it will mean a lucky 13 points, bringing our season total right to the magical 40 point plateau. I might be getting a little optimistic with some of those games (cut me some slack, it’s early, I just got my first sips of coffee in me and am currently watching Lazio vs Livorno, dear god), but I do think Sunderland are better than the 27 points where they currently sit.

There have been late joy and late heartbreak this season aplenty, and no reason to think that won’t continue. I hate to quote a daffy SAF phrase, but starting in about 5 minutes when the game kicks off vs Everton, the season will have entered “squeaky bum time.”

[1] This is I believe the only time I have written the words “UEFA” and “Cup” together in this blog.