Chez

I see. Obviously with KWP out we haven't had a lot of choice, but when he's back fit the manager will have to make a decision on his best CB pairing.

Did he explain why he wanted all three? Was it to add a little more height at set pieces?

Seeing as you watched it again, I'm surprised you didn't notice and subsequently mentioned Bednarek's woeful clearance-come-pass that was the first error that led to the first goal. His hesitation to close down for the second, though understandable, was also a factor in that goal too.

Is there no chance he stays if we go up?

spot on. Rewind the tape a few seconds further and you will see a pretty woeful clearance come pass from Bednarek that started the whole process. Zero blame for him though. All three players are attempting to get the ball down and play out of trouble, which is our footballing philosophy. On another day those attempts turn into a break and possibly a chance to score. Yesterday it didn't.

thought he played well. Not as well as at Brum.

Thanks. You have made my point for me. Conceding goals is not necessarily down to who is playing at CB. Protection in front matters, along with a host of other things. Anyho, KWP will be back soon, THB will move back to CB and everyone will be happy. In the meantime, I'm very happy to get the win.

again, you've got a point, although I'm pretty sure we've only conceded 9 in the last four games. And he didn't play against Hull. He did start in the WBA game though, five games ago (at left back) and we didn't concede in that one. We conceded three against Bristol before that and he didn't play that game. Maybe there have been other factors for us conceding goals in the last four games other than simply Stephens playing? We've not had KWP in the last two for example. Flynn Downes missed the two games before that.

he's a little more mobile...that's perhaps RMs thinking. We need KWP back ASAP and to tighten up forwhen we play the better sides. The break we have is timely.

Agree, I worry how we will fair against the four or five teams around us in the run in and play offs, but he/we ain't changing now.

It sure won't, and if teams press us, I worry whether we have it in us to win those games, but the goals today weren't terribly soft (compare them to our first) and I am not sure they were even down to our style of overplaying and passing in dangerous areas to keep possession at al costs. Manning and Sulemena possibly could have hoofed for the first, not sure who or what to blame for the second?

You have a point, but Stephens is really not good at right back.

Fuck me does a narrative grow legs in here. Bristol City took us to the cleaners a few weeks ago. Centre back pairing that night? Bednarek and THB.

I don't really worry what the `majority' think. I like him. I like watching him beat men for fun.

I can think of worse skills for a winger to have.

prefer it to a winger that is slow and never even tries to take his man on. Maybe you should cut him some slack. You are slating him on here after only having coming on for five minutes.

The way he beats a man all ends up is amazing. I could watch it all day.

if you say so.

He didn't gift them a goal.

we break a lot, sometimes with men over and just don't take advantage - its all just two slow and obvious.

Manning and Sulemena both trying to carry the ball out of danger, but both failed to clear the lines.

Straight away Sulemena makes something happen beating two men and getting a corner. Or, if you don't fancy him, Sulemana shows his pace but no end product.

what the hell has happened t Sunderland since they thumped us. They looked a very good side that day. Pressed us, didn't give us a second on the ball and Tore us apart. Their approach today is the polar opposite. Perfect for us.

AA should be burying that. He's looked sharp, but a striker should be scoring those. It's hard to criticise a guy with so many goals, but in the Prem that might be your best/only chance and he's just not clinical enough. Sunderland are literally handing us these chances on a plate.

my word, that is a terrible bit of defending by Sunderland. A gift. Lovely.