Black Cats forced to adapt to life without 30,000 fans in eerie SoL
The different environment we find ourselves in was immediately noticeable.
As Sunderland’ s players entered the Stadium of Light, the usual swarm of autograph hunter sands el fi e-getters were absent. In their place was one junior supporter, clutching an autograph book and sheepishly approaching Chris Maguire for a socially distant selfie.
This was football, but not as we know it.
Temperature checks, medical questionnaires and prohibited zones were all on the agenda as the Black Cats welcomed Hull City in what was their first competitive game under this new landscape.
There were some changes for players, who were asked to arrive wearing face masks and had to enter the field in a staggered manner.
So too were the red ifferences for the media. We were socially distanced in the press box and unable to conduct our usual postmatch interviews in the media room - given that space is being used as an overspill for the away team as they prepare for the game.
Yet perhaps the most profound difference was once the ball got rolling.
As Max Power saw a shot cleared off the line after just 19 seconds, there was no audible gasp. Nor was there the roar of encouragement that followed the next time the ball went out of play.
When Aiden O’Brien raced through on goal only to fire wide, there was no groan of frustration from the Roker End.
And when in the dying minutes of the first half, when Luke O’Nien was heavily brought down in front of the dugouts, there were only a handful of voices berating the referee rather than 30,000.
You could hear every shout from the pitch, and every expletive muttered in frustration. But make no mistake, this was an eerie atmosphere.
While season openers are usually joyful, anticipationfilled affairs, this one felt markedly less meaningful given the lack of supporters.
The Stadium of Lightwhich looked glorious in
the early September sunshine-felt as if it had been deprived of its soul. Where there should have been thousands of red and whiteclad fans were a handful of stewards, ready to fetch any stray balls.
And given how the game ended, you can only help but wonder whether a packed-out Stadium of Light would have helped Sunderland; whether it would have provided a spark to help the side push on in those final few minutes as they sought the elusive opener, or whether they would have proved a hindrance to Hull’s penalty takes.
It’s a question we cannot pond er on too long given that Sunderland know they will be playing at least their first three League One fixtures in front of an empty arena – and the prospect of the side taking to the field in front of a packed-out stadium looks some way off.
That in itself is as ad thought.
For while it’s refreshing to see football being played on Wearside once more, we know that football is nothing without fans. And in few places do that ring more true than Sunderland.