Black Cats have hit brick Wal as fixture list gets unwanted game

Walsall 1 Sunderland 1

AFTER a promising first 45 minutes, Sunderland’s FA Cup second-round tie at Walsall turned into a bit of a disappointment, but the good news is that they are at least in the draw for round three.

It was a disappointing afternoon for the Black Cats, with the talking points more negative than positive as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

SUNDERLAND FAIL TO SWITCH BACK ON

The first half was played almost entirely in Walsall’s half and although the visitors did not create as many chances as they would have wanted, there was no question they were the better side.

With only a 1-0 lead, though, the job was not done and Sunderland’s sluggish start to the second period allowed the much sharper Saddlers into the game.

They equalised through Newcastle United fan Andy Cook, who also hit the bar with a header from the far post and Bryan Oviedo was in right-back slot by the time the Black Cats shifted up a gear – they never found the top one – the pattern of the game had changed decisively.

AN UNWANTED EXTRA GAME

Maybe the memory is playing tricks, but the FA Cup used to be special.

Seven days on from the last meeting between the teams here, there were fewer supporters in the entire ground than there had been in the away sections for the League One match.

An extra game was not what the Black Cats wanted from the afternoon – at least not until third-round weekend. As it is, a 1-1 draw means the sides must meet for a third game a week on Tuesday.

It means Sunderland will now have a sequence of seven games in the runup to the busy Christmas period – and just as importantly the top-of-thetable clash with Portsmouth.

CAPTAIN MCGEADY IN COMMAND

Aiden McGeady was a surprise choice as captain in the absence of George Honeyman, who picked up a minor knock in training on Friday, and Lee Cattermole, but the winger is in great form at the moment.

All through the first half Sunderland’s first thought seemed to be to try to play the ball out to their left-winger, but when they went right late in the opening period, he popped up with his sixth goal in seven games.

When Bryan Oviedo played the ball in, Josh Maja was unable to bury the cross but McGeady did, fitting reward for his performance up to that point. Sunderland players celebrate with

Given his pedigree, McGeady really should be a class apart at this level, and in his current form that is proving to be the case.

Sadly, with his team seeing far less of the ball in the second period, his influence was more fleeting but the quality was still evident in flashes.

A LACK OF OPTIONS FROM THE BENCH

With such a big squad, Sunderland can hardly complain about a lack of depth, but with plenty of injuries to contend with, when Jack Ross needed