Gyan Gyan, Super Gyan Gyan,
Scores from one chance, Asamoah,
One chance, Asamoah…

Get it sung ladies and gents! We welcome your comments.

Who would have thought it? After dropping two points at home to Birmingham and gifting West Bromich Albion a win at the Hawthorns I think even the most optimistic of Sunderland fans would not have bet on us beating Manchester City yesterday.

There’s no doubt that Man City had the better of the first half but they managed to spurn the few good chances they had. Most notably was the embarrassing miss from Carlos Tevez. Man City hit Sunderland on the break, as Yaya Toure decended on the Sunderland goal with three on one City looked a certainty to score only for Tevez to receive an intelligent pass from Toure and sky the ball straight over the bar. It was an open goal and really looked harder to miss but luck was obviously on Sunderland’s side.

In the second half Sunderland looked a different team. They battled for every ball, passed well and attacked with intent. However for all of Sunderland’s play it was Manchester City who again had the better of the chances. Adebayor’s clever flick from a Manchester City corner was superbly saved by Sunderland’s new keeper Simon Mignolet.

The fans were tremendous yet again, really getting behind the side and making it even more difficult for the Man City players to get a foothold on the game. In comparison the Manchester City fans were rather subdued with a small and rather out-dated array of chants to offer.

As time ran out, it was Sunderland who were firmly on top and continued to attack the flanks with pace. Ahmed “Elmo” Mohamady had the beating of Gareth Barry who was operating on the left hand side. As the clock ticked on and we entered injury time, Elmo got hold of the ball, flicked it past Barry (yet again…he really made him look average) causing him to slip over and crossed the ball in for Darren Bent who was clumsily grappled to the floor in the penalty area by Micah Richards. A penalty was the only outcome. At the time I couldn’t believe it, we had managed to keep ourselves in the game and were rewarded at the very death. It was quite an emotional moment as Darren Bent stepped up and smashed the ball underneath Hart, effectively marking an end to the game and winning all three points for Sunderland.

1-0 the Full-Time score.

I thought the players were great, Cattermole was back to the Cattermole of old, covering ground, constantly harrassing the City players and constantly regaining possession. Richardson was very good and is beginning to look like the left-back we all want him to be. I thought the stand out performance come from Titus Bramble who was dominant at the back and didn’t really put a food wrong all game.

Next up, a tough tie away to Wigan.

‘The Beginning of the Twist’ is a welcome change. Not only is it an uplifting tune but the band originally hail from Sunderland. If you were finishing your drink and happened to miss it, here’s the video below:

After such a great start to the game Sunderland were eventually undone by a conspicuous refereeing decision. The game changed as a contest as soon as Lee Cattermole was sent off but before that we absolutely dominated a very average looking Birmingham City side. I think Birmingham can count themselves very lucky today because had Sunderland played with eleven men it could well have been a cricket score. Before Cattermole was shown the red card Darren Bent dispatched a 24th minute penalty after Stephan Carr upended Frazier Campbell in the box.

However, for all the pressure Sunderland piled on Birmingham’s goal we failed to make our chances count. Sunderland passed the ball around well and attacked with tenacity, whilst defending the hoof ball which appeared to be Birmingham’s only outlet for attack. When Cattermole was sent off the writing really was on the cards but when Sunderland managed to go two nil up in the second half it looked like we were home clear. Stephan Carr embarrassingly headed the ball into the back of his own net 11 minutes after the break.

Birmingham battled on but you felt it was more to do with the fact Sunderland had been playing with a man short for an hour and when they finally pulled a goal back from Scott Dann they began to get hold of the game and the equaliser seemed certain to come.

Overall I think Sunderland can take a lot of positives from the game. We looked dangerous going forward and played well as a unit. Sure enough Birmingham City equalised a few minutes before half-time when Liam Ridgewell scuffed home an effort from a dangerous Larrsson free-kick.

Lots of positive to take from the game though. The new signings played well and as a team we looked very solid. Obviously the sending off had a major part in the result but I feel we have enough in us to really put on a show this season. If we can add to our current side with some quality signings I think we’ll be laughing.

Fingers crossed we don’t see that ref any time soon.

Kenwyne Jones our “Caribbean King” has said his farewells today and moved on to pastures new, reuniting himself with the Sunderland B team in the Potteries. Good luck at Stoke City big Ken.

I realise many fans are up in arms over the decision to sell Jones but the fact of the matter is; he is replaceable. I don’t necessarily mean like for like but in terms of quality, there are better players out there. Players who will come in and help add a new dimension to the side as opposed to the kick and punt option we were accustomed to when Jones was leading the line. In the three seasons he’s been at the club we’ve battled relegation twice and finished (for us) a rather respectable 13th place. He’s never really set the world alight and at the back end of last season I felt he was extremely frustrating to watch. He was finding it difficult to control the ball, half-attempting to win headers here and there and seemed more intent on ploughing up the football pitch with his JCB-like boots as opposed to putting his foot through the ball and hitting the target.

His goal return has been sufficient to keep us in the Premier League but I think our over-reliance on Jones at times has actually led to our downfall. When we went on our what seemed like a neverending winless run last season it took a Mr. Frazier Campbell to step up to the plate and really put in some classy displays to get us back to winning ways. I’m not saying Campbell is the answer but his attitude eventually saw him displace Kenwyne from the side and in doing so added a whole new state of play to the Sunderland team. I’d like to think we can develop a pacey, attack-minded formation, offering lots of movement in the final third.

I firmly believe Bruce will bring in some quality signings to put our minds at rest. Along with Quinny and Short he’s a very ambitious man and immature ‘mag’ references aside only wants what’s best for the club. I urge fans to sit back and see how the transfer window unfolds before making a hastey reaction which could be detremental to the teams performance this coming Saturday. It’s the first game of the season and I for one am itching to get into the ground and behind the lads. They need all the support they can get and it’s up to us as the fans to roar them on to Victory against Birmingham City.

Heads up…Haway the lads!!!

Cristian Riveros Chant

To the tune of ‘Another One Bites The Dust’

Cris, Cris, Cris, Cristian Riveros
Cris, Cris, Cris, Cristian Riveros
He’s a superstar, from Saldivar
Can pass it, shoot or cross
And, he’ll take the ball off you
Cristian Riveros

I was shocked when I first learned of Lorik Cana’s transfer to Galatasaray. He’s been quite an enigma throughout his short spell at Sunderland, starting the season extremely well and contributing with a stand-out performance at home to Liverpool. Unfortunately, like the rest of the Sunderland team Cana’s form began to suffer. He missed games through injury and suspension until ultimately he struggled to regain his place in the first team line-up.

It can be argued that Cana is not the perfect partner to play alongside Cattermole and as I side we could be a lot more dangerous with a more creative central midfield player. Cana like Cattermole is first and foremost a ball winner, he prides himself on giving his all, putting in battling displays but his attacking play was questionable. It would be rare to see a defence splitting ball or even a goal from Cana and since we relied heavily on Bent’s goal-scoring prowess it would make sense to replace him with a more attacking minded midfielder.

No doubt Cana will go down as a cult-figure on Wearside but I don’t think he’ll be greatly missed (His chant will most certainly be missed though!). I wish him all the best at Galatasaray, I’m sure the fans will quickly take to him when they see his battling displays and warrior like attitude on the field.

Alan Hutton Chant

To the tune of ‘Sing Hosanna’

On the right, on the right, Alan Hutton
On the right he will run past you
On the right, on the right, Alan Hutton
Alan Hutton is the white Cafu

Credit to Dangermows for creating the song…who else?

This video should give you a good idea of for the tune if you don’t know it…err…enjoy :-D

The Dance of the Knights is inspiring, it’s motivational and gets the fans going before the game but all ‘Elevation’ appears to do is dilute the atmosphere and drown out the applause for the players when they take to the field.

Why do we need two pre-match songs?

I’m unsure what the overall consensus is but after reading various forums and talking to people around me in the ground I think I’m yet to come across anyone who appreciates this song being played when the players run out.

I’d love to know your thoughts.

Perhaps you don’t care but I’m all for helping improve the match-day experience whatever way we can. Personally, I’d prefer it if we played Dance of the Knights and leave it at that. I know Z-Cars has been a popular choice over the years but it’s a song that’s been adopted by Everton.

Sunderland turned it on in style today, dominating an average looking Tottenham Hotspur side to earn a deserved 3-1 win. How Sunderland didn’t win by 6 or 7 I don’t know as Spurs were made to look like schoolboys after being taught a footballing lesson at the Stadium of Light.

I’m unsure what exactly happened, perhaps the atmosphere got the better of the Tottenham players, perhaps Bent’s will to win the game inspired Sunderland to give their absolute all but whatever it was to a man, Sunderland were fantastic. Bent scored Sunderland’s first goal of the game in less than a minute into the game and it didn’t really get any better for Tottenham from there on. With every Sunderland attack, they looked like they were going to score. It really was a top class performance; they battled, passed the ball well and really turned in a fine display of football.

After Bent’s opener, Sunderland continued to pile on the pressure and were finally rewarded with a penalty after Kyle Walker handled the ball in the area. Bent stepped up to score his 22nd goal of the season, smashing the ball past Gomes and all but ending Spurs’ hopes for a fight-back.

Sunderland harassed Tottenham throughout the game and were always the first to ball. They really did battle as if their lives depended on it. The atmosphere at the Stadium of Light was intimidating to say the least. The fans chanted non-stop, spurring the Sunderland players to attack at every opportunity. Sunderland were awarded another penalty after 40 minutes. Modric brought down the tricky Frazier Campbell in the box and Bent stepped up to the spot, attempting to score his hat-trick. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. Gomes made a great save to prevent Sunderland from going three-nil ahead.

In the second half, Sunderland were given a third penalty after Palacios brought down Meyler in the area. Darren Bent stepped up to take his third penalty of the game and yet again, Gomes pulled off a fantastic save to stop the ex-Spurs striker from scoring his third of the game. Ferdinand then went on to score what looked like a fine goal, only to be disallowed by the referee for what he judged to be a foul on Gomes.

With 20 minutes to go Crouch come on in place of the poor Pavlyuchenko and his first involvement was a casual header into the back of the Sunderland net. It was 2-1 and Tottenham must have felt everything was still to play for (amazing, considering they had been second best all game).

The atmosphere changed slightly and Spurs sensed they might be able to get something out of the game. However, their resurgence was short lived when Zenden volleyed home a Henderson cross, burying the ball into the Tottenham net with an absolute wonder-strike. Sunderland won the game 3-1 but it flattered Tottenham who had been dominated from start til finish.
Great performance. Haway the lads.