Let’s pack the stadium this evening… and really get on the Millers’ nerves!
Isaid last week that playing Cambridge United at home might represent a dangerous fixture in this promotion run-in due to the position in League One the U’s found themselves in going into the game.
Thankfully, that thought disappeared out of my mind early doors on Saturday, when Cambridge defender Lloyd Jones collided with Ross Stewart in the 12th minute at the Stadium of Light.
That resulted in a penalty for Sunderland and a ‘very harsh’ red card for Jones.
Sunderland, and Stewart in particular, were not complaining, and the big forward slotted home the spot-kick, relieving whatever nerves the 32,000-plus crowd were feeling before the game.
I know Cambridge were a man down but the resulting 70odd minutes were the best we have seen since Alex Neil – who replaced Lee Johnson in February – has come into the building at Sunderland.
The football was free-flowing and it was like the shackles were off.
Lynden Gooch, a player who has looked shot of confidence for long periods of this season, put in a performance that reminded everybody that he still has a lot to offer when he is bang at it.
I thought the winger was outstanding, and nearly everything good that Sunderland did came down Gooch’s side.
His final delivery was the most pleasing thing for me.
Some of his crosses were crying out to be put away.
I think the fact he has been given a run in the team in the same position has helped him.
I know it’s nice to be versatile but sometimes it can work against you.
The manager must be given credit for this also.
If Gooch can continue putting ‘buffet balls’ into the box over the next couple of games – and then, fingers crossed, in the play-off games too – then both Stewart and Nathan Broadhead will be licking their lips in anticipation.
For a while on Saturday, while Rotherham United were trailing to Oxford United, automatic promotion was looking like it may have been achievable.
But that didn’t last long with Rotherham turning things round.
Mathematically, automatic promotion may still be on but it would need a lot of permutations plus a huge goal swing, starting tonight against the Millers at the Stadium of Light.
I doubt the Sunderland players will be thinking of that, as first and foremost the play-off spot needs to be cemented in League One.
Tonight, I hope we get a big crowd as the supporters will be needed.
Rotherham know if they win then they will be more or less promoted, bar something obscene happening on the final day.
With that in mind, I would suspect the away team may be a bit nervy, so a hostile crowd would add pressure to their players.
It’s looking like Sunderland will need to win both games left to stay in the play-offs positions, so it will have a cup final feel to it.
I’m looking forward to it and, fingers crossed, we are travelling to Morecambe next Saturday knowing a win will cement a top-six spot.