The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Win at Boro critical to keep fans onside
NOBODY wants to lose to local rivals twice in quick succession and Michael Beale will be keen to ensure it doesn’t happen.
The Sunderland boss came through a tough challenge as he saw his team through to victory against Stoke City last weekend, even though it might have been different had Stoke taken their early opportunities.
Now, after being beaten 3-0 by Premier League Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round, Middlesbrough present the next obstacle that he and his players must overcome, live in front of the Sky TV cameras on Sunday.
Losing to Eddie Howe’s indifferent Geordies provided one silverlining at least – that Sunderland were one of only two games in the Championship last weekend and that allowed them to close the gap on sixth-placed Coventry City and be separated by just goal difference.
Better still, City used their game in hand on Tuesday night and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City. So there’s just a point in it.
Watford drew 0-0 with Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night which also went in the Black Cats’ favour.
Now for Middlesbrough who have a one-game advantage on
Beales’ side with a slightly worse goal difference.
It’s another spicy clash and a game Beale must do well in to keep the fans, who roared their team to victory against Stoke, onside.
Interestingly Boro haven’t won at home in the Championship since December 23. They lost to Coventry on New Year’s Day and then drew with Rotherham United 1-1.
Of course, they beat Chelsea in a first leg League Cup semi-final tie at home but that was rendered worthless as the Londoners thumped them 6-1 in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Incidentally, that was Boro’s last game and they will have had to wait 12 days to play again, which is something Beale will be fully aware of.
Regardless of the team he picks, and that could be a different one given new faces including Romaine Mundle, Sunderland have to make Boro’s inactivity count.
They must take the initiative and not let the home crowd become too boisterous.
The other telling factor is the kick-off time. Midday is not the best time for a footballer generally used to playing at 3pm.
Routines are pushed forward three hours. The preparation must be spot-on.
And the Black Cats can show the watching TV public just what they’ve got under Beale.
Beale will be desperate to get some sort of result.
He was taken aback by the criticism of him and his brief tenure after the home defeat to Hull City.
He won’t want to be answering the same questions and addressing a similar issue after this weekend’s huge contest.
But here’s the thing. Sunderland have only beaten Boro twice in the last 10 meetings between the two. The only away win was in the FA Cup 12 years ago. The last time they won at the Riverside Stadium in the league was on September 25, 2005, in a Premier League clash. They drew there in 2007 and 2009 but have lost the other four since, although there was that FA Cup success.
The bragging rights are there for the taking and Sunderland fans will want to be the ones doing the crowing come Monday morning.