The Lads, with their collective teeth still aching from the metaphorical kicking they received at about 5:17 on Saturday, welcomed the Baggies to Wearside and guess what? We drew again. Lots of huffing and puffing but no real threat to the Baggies' goal.
As we'd drawn four in a row and they'd drawn seven of their last eight, a point apiece might have seemed an obvious outcome - but they had former Lad Maja, stupidly sold by us when he had a similar goal return as this campaign, and former Lads are always a potential danger. Mind, we had Hume, Bellingham, and Roberts available after suspension so that's positive. Despite all of this, West Bromwich didn't muster a shot on target and we only managed two, a scuffed effort from Issy early on and a loopy header in the second half. If WBA came for a win on the break but didn't manage to warm Patto's hands, even with Maja on the field, then they'd struggle to rob Mothercare.
Patterson
Hume Mepham Ballard O'Nien
Neil (c) Bellingham
Roberts Rigg Watson
Isidor
... and a bench of Moore, Alese, Hjelde, Aleksic, Rusyn, Connolly, Aouchiche, Mayenda, and Johnson.
Somehow, Bobby Madely had been awarded another Sunderland game, which, given his atrocious performances in past games when we were involved, was nothing short of amazing.
Let's just say he lived down to all expectations - but at least this one was on Sky Sports Main Event for all the world to see. Hopefully that means we won't be cursed by his wonky interpretation of the rules again. All of this despite us taking advantage of the absence of a small child (night game) and moving one seat to our right for good luck. Didn't work, obviously, but we'll try owt.
There were the inevitable comments about the absence of Connolly and Alese from the starting eleven, but after so long out (Alese) and that knock on Saturday (Connolly) it was probably a good idea. Mind, it remained to be seen which sides our fullbacks would be operating on. As it was, Luke was on the right and Hume the left as we defended the North end and the Baggies kicked off. From the off, the visiting fans booed Ballard's every touch, presumably because of his clattering of Maja last year, so we engaged in a bit of BOO RAY, like you do. Some clever and patient play by Jobe after a pass inside from Roberts laid one out wide and we won an early corner, but it set to tone for our evening's work from set pieces.
Poor, to be precise.
A couple of minutes later we got it in from the left via Neil, and Issy got his shot through at the second attempt but it was straight at the keeper. A handball by Maja, of all people, 20 yards out gave Roberts a chance to try his new boots out, but he hit the wall. After 13 or so the visitors had their first bit of possession in our half but Maja's shot was thankfully wide. It was about this time that Brian reminded me that Styles was also playing for WBA, although his time with us was largely forgettable due to us playing him in the wrong position during his time in Wearside. Not a memorable stay.
We needed a typical Mepham tackle to prevent another threat, but we generally gave them nowhere to go in our half and they responded by kicking Watson a couple of times. Needless to say, the frees came to nowt and even when we won a corner that was cleared, with Watson failing to shield the ball as it came towards our half but Hume got it away.
More corners, a Roberts curler a couple of feet over the angle, Roberts called offside when he touched the ball in our half, a single added minute, and a disappointing half ended with the Baggies moving towards Patto.
On possession and threat (grrrr!) we should have been at least one ahead, but if you don't shoot (on target) you don't score.
Once Mag slayer Kieron Richardson had done the draw, West Bromwich made three changes, altered their shape a bit, and we didn't. More Sunderland corners, none of which brought success, and a couple of what looked like naughty fouls that went unpunished. On us, obviously. I am biased, in case you wondered.
The corners might have brought nothing, but the clearances should have done, with Jobe and Rigg firing over from just outside the box, giving to their keeper ample opportunity to waste time. Which he did. It looked like we'd done it when a low cross came in from our right and Issy poked it over, but he was called offside and I'll grudgingly accept that he probably was by about a toe-end.
Bugger bugger bugger.
On 66, the unthinkable happened and Luke was swapped for Alese with Hume going right, and Watson made way for the more muscular and direct Mayenda. If have preferred him on the right, to be honest, as he'd looked the business at Millwall, but he stuck left and tried his darndest to form a partnership with Alese. A low cross from Hume found Roberts but his equally low shot across curled outside the far post. Or near post as I'm sitting.
More corners, none of which satisfied, three added minutes that did likewise, and it was the 12th draw in the last 13 games the two clubs have played. I think - I'm no statistician.
Learning points - we've tried every corner kick routine known to man in the last few games, and while that variety baffles the opposition, it's brought us nothing. Our free kicks were equally unproductive, which is baffling considering the magic that Roberts undoubtedly has in his boots.
Which brings me to Paddy. Wonderful to watch, could nutmeg a mermaid and dribble his way out of a phone box (remember them?) - but please, please round it off with a goal or an assist. If we're a goal or two ahead, he's the boy to hold things up in the opposition half, but we need him to start getting us a lead before we have to defend it. However, we We do defend very well, with O'Nien scampering about to clear things in whatever mischievous, and on one occasion tonight, last-gasp manner he either chooses or ends up with, and Mepham oozing composure. Add to that the muscle of Ballard and the tackling of Huuuuuume, and not many are getting towards Patto.
Having said that, a few looked dead on their feet towards the end. Alese did his defensive duties well enough but showed why he wasn't ready for a start, and we lacked the spark that Mumdle brings.
On the positive side, Bellingham and Rigg were a nightmare for the visitors - the beef and off the cuff inventiveness those two brought to the party should really have meant a win.
Anyway, Man of the Match time.... look, I like Mepham. The way he goes about his business in a style that is the complete opposite of O'Nien, who I absolutely love. Where Luke's all spontaneity and effective madness, Ballard is youthful (although he's positively middle-aged by SAFC standards) enthusiasm and muscle, Mepham is textbook centre-half. So it might seem strange to give it to a defender when we played a toothless opponent, and when Rigg and Bellingham sort of thrived on the unheralded industry of NeiI, Mepham gets my vote again.
