5string

Long on for Gabba. I keep thinking I'm at a cricket match...

ManU doing us a favour beating Watford today. Hope they do us a favour at Wembley, too. Ooh, JWP close from distance (if you see what I mean).

Januzaj complaining Cedric fouled him - no he didn't. He got the ball as much as Denayer did in your own penalty box. Then you jumped over him and threw yourself to the floor. Who do you think you are? Brian of Nazareth?

Stephens a lot better today - marshalling Defoe pretty well. When Sunderland have attacked, we've generally been pretty solid (though some dodgy moments early on). Must be talking better. Good defending from Cedric there.

Well, we seem to be trying some different things in attack. Nice to see. I still think time to bring Hoj on for JWP. Save the other subs til later - maybe Long for Redmond with 15 to go?

How was that not a penalty? Tackle from behind! Hmm, just got the ball. Just.

Indeed. And a couple more goals would give the attacking ranks some confidence, too.

Ooh nearly the 3rd for Gabba!

Would be fitting for Mani to take Mane's 'most recent hat-trick for us' record, then! Overall, first 20 we looked like our bad old (recent?) selves. But then Tadic & Gabbiadini stepped up and clicked. Looking good now. How's Merson's ticker?

Mané?!

Quiz question: Who was our last hat-trick scorer? Could Gabba get one today? [i like 'Gabba' - it's hard, gritty and... er... Australian! Haha)

Oh yes!! 2-0 Mano (is that ok?) great turn & finish. That will do VERY nicely.

Defoe doing his best to dive his way to a Sunderland goal.

Not really since the goal. It's all a bit hoof-ball, with both teams getting new the box, but nothing threatening.

How about MLG? ManoLo Gabbiadini.

Ok, thought it suited him cos he looks a bit like him as well. I feel weird calling him Gabi cos that's a girl's name. Any alternative suggestions?

YES!!! Barry!! 2 in 2. Near post [header?].

Oh Cedric! Sliced! Aim bottom left, slice will take it top right. Simple golf.

Spoiler!

"Counter-attack with Ward-Prowse" 3 guesses what happened next...

Well, it was good for his left, but that didn't work either. Scuffed.

Yes, but ball-watching. Not holding a midfield position when defending, nor taking up good positions in attack.

Good tackle, Stephens. Sunderland are packing the midfield - it's worked well against us in recent games: Swansea, WHam...

Sunderland camped around our box for 3 minutes. 2 corners & a free kick have come to nothing, but they're not passing it backwards all the time - gives them chances.

FFS! We were attacking around the edge of their area, then we went sideways, backwards, backwards, all the way to Forster. Quicker than Sunderland could have ever attacked on the breakaway. Not this. Not today. Come on! Attack, stay attacking, shoot!