The hammers are on the horizon, and will be travelling with confidence after they cruised past Manchester United on Tuesday evening. It is essential we get back to winning ways and getting behind the team can only help. It was this fixture last year, which produced one of the best atmospheres to grace the Stadium of Light. It can be of no doubt that the home support that day was what rallied the team to come back from two down, and should actually have won the game. Visiting ‘Ammers made comments such as ‘I wish we could get Upton rocking like the Stadium of Light was’ and ‘Did you hear the home crowd? It was a wall of noise the entire second half’. Some argue that crowds make no difference, but this not the case. Hence the term ‘home advantage’. You only have to look at how even an average side can get the better of a good side with the crowd behind them (5-1 is the clue).

Also, coming up is the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Now we know of recent years the competition (according to some) has lost some of its edge. Well, lets make a day of it, get all of us like minded lads to decide on a place in the ground to congregate and lets make a bit of noise. This will be the perfect opportunity to show what we are about and it will be a good platform to get some new songs on the go. People have mentioned being bored of singing the same old songs so lets get the singing culture back with a few new melodies. Lets face it, we pay enough money these days to enter a football stadium, so we might as well make the best of it!

Ewood park was the venue, with Sunderland looking to build on some impressive results of late.

The pre match atmosphere in the Fenhurst pub and under the stand was electric, with our lot in fine voice. It was good to hear the new song for Elmo on repeat at times and I think the next set of away fans to visit Ewood might might have trouble following the exit sign!

The match kicked off and in the opening minutes Sunderland looked to have continued where they left off before the international break, quick passing and on the grass. However first real chance fell to Morten Gamst Pedersen, whose whipped free kick was tipped over by Mignolet.

Not long after that the chance of the game arrived and it fell to Bent, who managed to go one on one, after a slip by Gael Givet. You would have put your house on Bent netting but his shot was saved by the impressive Paul Robinson.

Then towards the end of the first half came, what should have been, the turning point in the game, when Samba pulled down Danny Welbeck outside the area. Welbeck was in on goal, and the odds are he would have scored.

Referee Lee Probert, having consulted his linesman, correctly applied the letter of the law in dismissing Samba, and was proved to be just about right to award a free-kick on the edge of the area where the first contact was made. The resulting set piece was blocked by the wall and on the rebound Bent dragged an effort a yard wide.

In the second half Bent powered his header well wide of the target from an inviting cross from Ahmed Elmohamady. Time wore on with Sunderland looking comfortable but rarely threatening. When Titus ‘The Titan’ Bramble was called into action to clear a fumble from Mignolet, it looked like a draw would be inevitable.

Bent then reacted well to a loose ball in the box but Robinson was equal to it and timed his challenge well but it fell to Steed Malbranque whose lobbed shot just couldn`t quite find the net.

Gyan was then introduced to try add more attacking options for Sunderland half way through the second half and it wasnt long until the Ghanian forced Robinson to be at full stretch to keep out a fine 20-yard curling effort, while substitute Bolo Zenden fizzed a drive narrowly wide and Bent should have given the goalkeeper more of a test from only six yards out as Sunderland finished strongly.

In the end it finished all square. We should be satisfied with a point against a team who is hard to beat on their own patch. However, with the man advantage and the better of the chances it feels like the three were there for the taking.

on a lighter note: good to see many fellow fans showing the logo down Ewood.

Local lad Jordan Henderson continues to grab the headlines after recently smashing home a superb volley for England (he’s be threatening that for some time).

Initially I had doubts he could actually be as effective in the middle as he is on the right. (see his skill and vision to set up Gyans goal down Wigan) but Bruce obviously sees him as a middle of the park player, hence the loan signing of Elmo (Elmo, its down the wing he’ll go……). It will be interesting to see how he develops in this role.

Either way it’s great to see a Sunderland lad pulling on the red and white stripes and not only holding his own, but excelling against sides such as Manchester Utd. Being a Sunderland supporter it comes natural to fear that should he continue to shine that we could have a battle on our hands to keep hold of his services. I think he has a little way to go yet, but should he add goals to his game I think we will be tested at some stage.

Thoughts on the lad?

Is up and running.

New feature to the site which is there for all those Sunderland AFC supporters who have a keen interest in ensuring the Stadium of Light remains one of the best grounds in England for atmosphere. Here we can discuss ways of improving upon the match day experience (it costs enough so we might as well make the best of it) either through get togethers, discussing new chants or producing flags/banners. We also aim to get like the old attitude of solidarity between fellow fans back.

Do drop in and offer your thoughts.

Click Here to Enter the New Forum.

First away game of the season is always a good reason to get the juices flowing. When we say juices we do of course mean those of the amber nectar variety. The journey began at around 9am with three or four hours of drinking and driving ahead of us. I presume it wise to point out that those drinking were not driving.

Landing at destination West Bromwich at approximately 1330 hour we made the ten minute stroll to the Hawthorns and then enjoyed a first (of many) over priced, poor quality lager! There was a feeling of optimism in the air as the sell out away following (who were in fine voice) began filtering into the ground.

Soon the concourse was awash with the usual Sunderland and anti that lot up the road ditty’s, before a huge rendition of a new song for our latest Paraguayan went up. The chant has a real South American feel to it and is obviously keen to point out the wonders of magical exactness. (woooah-woooooah-wooooooooh)

As kick off approached it was time to take to the stands. It was refreshing to see that the vast majority of our followers possessed the ability to remain on their feet whilst watching a football match. I think it is no coincidence that a crowd who by and large stood throughout produced an atmosphere we were once accustomed to (it was loud and it was constant).

The first 45 sailed by without much incident, although the home side managed to miss a decent chance in front of goal. The debutant somehow pushing a ball well wide of Mignolets right hand post when well placed. Despite the lack of entertainment on the grass the away section was bursting with colour and passion, as the home fans (sat in silence) were privy to an array of chants from the ever growing Sunderland song book. Riveros’, Da-Silva’s and Frazier Campbell songs seemed to be on a loop at times and the ground was rocking to the sound of Gary Rowell’s anthem.

Half time was spent queuing for more essential fuel and singing. It is away crowds like the one at West Brom which makes following Sunderland worthwhile. Let’s face it, it certainly isn’t about results. Henderson’s banana splits tune was given its first airing (that I know of anyway) and is likely to be a terrace favourite. (who wouldn’t want to proudly declare a player of theirs to be just like them and hates the mags!?).

The second 45 was a little better in terms of goal mouth action for the away side. Bent headed a half chance wide, Bent failed to get a solid touch on a Campbell through ball which would have seen him in on goal and Onouha directed a tame header straight at the home keeper. Richardson also had a snap shot which was tipped away (apparently) for a corner.

The winning goal for the home side came with less than 9 remaining. We had been warned first half and we weren’t about to be let off for a second time. Da-Silva and Bramble left enough space for a bus to pass through (this time it wasn’t a bus, it was a slide rule pass from Morrison) to allow the new un to poke home on debut. In all honesty it wouldn’t be Sunderland if a lad on debut didn’t score! There was still enough time for Brunt to almost break the bar from distance before the referee brought things to a close.

1 from 6 but still, we have two home games in a week to look forward to. A cup tie against Colchester and a Sunday afternoon stroll against City.

Highlight: Sunderland’s travelling band
Lowlight: Our lack of ideas in the final third

Campbell continued his excellent pre-season form as Sunderland won a gritty game at the Walkers Stadium. Campbell, who notched all four goals against Hull last weekend, opened the scoring before Andy King equalised for Leicester. The hosts held their own until Jordan Henderson’s long-range strike somehow managed to slip through keeper Chris Weale’s grasp to give Steve Bruces men a hard fought victory. Good to hear Henderson banana splits themed chant starting up in the away section. Henderson tra la la la…… la.