Happy Christmas and all that to you all. For SAFC, the festive season started well with four against West Brom, then really took off at Hull,
Where Steed produced a secret cross,
And Kenwyne scored to please the boss.
And all the Mackems shouted “Hallelujah”
Then Djibril scored to make it four
And cheered the gaffer smile some more
And all the Mackems shouted “Hallelujah”

I hope that, apart from those eight goals and six points, you all got what you wanted for Christmas. For the sixth year in a row, Allardyce got another chin for Christmas, and his new team headed for Wearside full of turkey and sprouts like the rest of us – oh, and not forgetting the pork, ham, parsnips, and other seasonal delights.

Much has been said by our players on the benefits of a settled team, and I think that most supporters would agree with Ricky’s mantra – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The stability brought by Teemu to the centre of midfield has provided a base for the rest of the team to anchor themselves to – although there have been times when the industry and constant movement of Whitehead has been missed. Whether this is down to lack of expected movement in the side, or more simply that Deano has played a lot of games for us and the rest of the Lads are used to what he does, doesn’t really matter. If it’s the latter, they’ll soon get used to Teemu, and if it’s the former, Teemu will soon get used to moving about a bit more. In short, we look a happier bunch than we did a month ago, and with Kenwyne and Djibril up front, enough to scare any defence.

After a breakfast/dinner (is that brunch?) of turkey, pork, sprouts, and other divers Christmassy-type stuff, washed down with a huge glass of Bucks Fizz – well, it would have gone flat otherwise – the bus was away at noon on the dot, which meant a decently early arrival in Sunderland’s fair city. Sure enough, it was the third unchanged team in a row.

The minute’s silence in memory of supporters and players gave us all a chance to think back to those amongst them that we have a personal connection with, whether they wore their colours on the field or the terraces. Well observed as usual, and with a touch of applause in the build up – which was nice.

Off we went (third unchanged team in a row meant.....

Fulop
Bardsley Ferdy Noz Collins
Steeeeeed Richardson Teemu Reid
Cisse Jones

After a few minutes of decent play from us, Blackburn showed the organisation that the fat one has brought to them by putting us under a bit of pressure, ending when Fulop took the ball well and set Cisse away down the right. Good play by their keeper kept him out, and we eventually won a throw, which got into the danger area at the third attempt, but was cleared. After Cisse was caught offside for the first of several times today, Noz and Steed did well to play the ball out of defence and allow Richo and Reid to get into the box before being crowded out. We repeated the trick almost immediately, then Steed won a throw on the right with his usual tenacity, but we could make nothing of it. After Bardsley crossed and Cisse touched on, Reid produced one of those turns that would make a lesser player dizzy, but there was no way through. Despite touches like this, Reid seemed to be playing too narrow, too far from the touchline....and this meant that we left gaps that Danny Collins didn’t like to see in front of him. Collins put in a decent cross which Jones headed to Steed, but the shot was hurried and over the top. Reid’s free-kick from the centre circle was well taken by their keeper, then Fulop did likewise at our end. After a spell of Rovers pressure, we broke, but Cisse was dumped as we approached their box, then Jones seemed to take an elbow which ended in only a yellow card for the offender. Another decent spell of play ended when another Reid free-kick was well taken by their keeper.

Ferdinand defended well, and Bardsley broke forward to shoot wide after Jones looked to have been fouled in the box, then there was a good shout for a penalty when several Blackburn players seemed to climb all over Jones, but there you go. There were several Cisse offsides and precious few actual shooting chances as the half wore away, but the game was growing in intensity. Not that intense, mind.

No changes for the second half, and they won a dodgy free on the left only a minute in. Into the net it went, but the flags and whistles were quickly into action as it was disallowed. An awful header by Teemu allowed Blackburn to break again, but he redeemed himself with a great tackle. Richardson tried a one-two, but ended up on the deck as the ref missed what we saw as an offence, and Collins gave away a free on the edge of the box on 52 (aye, only 52) but thankfully Fulop made an excellent save. The game was certainly more open and adventurous than the first half, and there were spells of Sunderland pressure followed by spells of Rovers thinking “ I know Sam’s told us to get a point at all cost, but mebbe we can get three.” Consequently it would have entertaining for any Boxing Day neutrals in the crowd.

With an hour gone, Teemu made way for Deano, and the Lad’s first contribution was to break down the right and see good cross cleared. Djibril’s cross from the left went off Kenwyne’s head to Steed , but the return was volleyed a foot over by Djib. A lot of pressure produced no clear-cut chances, then Murphy and Leadbitter replaced Cisse and Richardson when many of us had Jones and Reid down for an early lie-down. A frantic last fifteen minutes saw chances at both ends, with the pick falling to Roberts. Somehow, he managed to roll the ball wide when Father Jack Hackett, after a particularly drunken weekend had left him with two broken legs and blind in both eyes, would surely have scored. Leadbitter hit a decent shot from distance that was saved, and the game fizzled out.

All in all, an infuriating afternoon on the one hand – if Jones had actually tried to jump more than once we might have got some where – but a sort of satisfying third game unbeaten. Let’s not get too greedy, but we need to create more real chances if we want to win more games, and Jones needs to get his feet off the ground more often if he wants to really compete against big defenders like Samba.

Man of the Match? Steed again for me, as he looked like the fella most likely to make something out of the game.

Keep the Faith

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