Roker roar is back
The Stadium of Light has been the scene of nightmares for Sunderland in recent years.
But not for Santa Cruz-born Gooch, who crossed the Atlantic to join the Black Cats’ Academy as a 16-year-old.
His last-gasp winner against a Charlton side who had bossed the opening 40 minutes suggests that under Jack Ross’ shrewd management a new dawn is breaking.
It was Sunderland’s first opening-day win since 2009.
“There’s been a lot of changes and you could feel the optimism with all the fans coming back,” said Gooch, whose injury-time header was celebrated wildly by Sunderland’s biggest crowd in 16 months – 31,079 to bring back memories of the old glory days at Roker Park.
“You could hear the roar around the place, it was unbelievable. Thirty thousand is amazing but we all know they’re Premier League fans in a Premier League stadium.”
In recent seasons Sunderland’s opponents have known exactly what to do – ride an early storm, nick a goal and then watch their opponents fold.
And for much of the opening period Lee Bowyer’s injury-hit Charlton were on course to do just that. Only this time the Black Cats did not wilt when Lyle Taylor fired the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.
Sunderland gained a foothold, equalised on 65 minutes through Josh Maja and turned the screw before Gooch’s winner. “I don’t remember the last time we had a comeback win,” said Gooch.
“Everyone gave everything. I was the lucky one but to a man all of us put in a shift.”
Defeat ended a bad week for Charlton, who had lost Jake Forster-Caskey for the season in a freak training accident two days earlier.
SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Goals: (4-4-2): Booked: SPORT IN BRIEF Booked:
YOU could have excused Joey Barton for believing he had cracked this management lark after Fleetwood’s seven wins out of seven in pre-season.
But AFC Wimbledon, under Neal Ardley whose six years in charge makes him English football’s third longest-serving boss, provided a reality check in a convincing 1-0 win.
Barton is just glad the hype surrounding his appointment that carried into the game has now gone. He said: “I’ve no doubts we’ll bounce back.