Surprisingly impressive!

[axholme_miller]

Went to the game Saturday despite trying to resist all week. I don't like these pre season friendlies as they usually end up becoming farcical with lots of changes throughout the game.

Great travelling support from Sunderland, a jovial friendly lot who can come again in my opinion. They made for a good atmosphere as the home support was pretty sparse and quiet. I suppose a number of factors would account for the poor ticket sales. Holiday period with schools just having broke up, unattractive opposition, ticket prices, which were a bit on the high side, and our lack of activity in the transfer market to date. Maybe they all contributed in some way to the lack of home support? Who knows?

Sunderland started with a strong line up, which must have pleased their fans. This was my first look at the new manager and his likely playing style. Our much talked about lack of players was evident as we only named five substitutes and included pretty much everyone who was fit, including our more promising kids.

Early on and for much of the first half, we battled to keep a lively Sunderland attack at bay. Defoe was a class above most and proved a real handful in those early minutes.

Ward missed our best chance heading over when he should have done better. Having said that, he and Yates looked quite a potent threat going forward and Frecklington was doing well in midfield.

On a hot day the pace of the game was unsurprisingly pedestrian at times with few clear cut chances. Then Borini put the visitors ahead with a shot from long range that Camp would have saved nine times out of ten, the ball squirming agonisingly out of his grasp.

Mattock limped off before half time with Thorpe replacing him, moving to right back with Kelly switching to the left. Halford, who'd been impressive carrying on his form of last season, also was withdrawn presumably injured, with new man Forster Caskey replacing him.

Second half and Yates immediately equalised with a fine turn and shot which flew past their keeper. We improved massively after that and enjoyed the lion's share of possession without creating too many clear cut chances. Yates look like a confidence player and got so much better after his goal!

It looked like ending in a creditable draw until a few minutes from time, when our defence backed off too much to allow their trialist N'Zogbia, ex Villa to score with a powerful shot from outside the box. Shame that as we deserved a draw for our efforts.

All in all a good workout for our wafer thin squad. Impressions?

Stubbs style appears to favour a passing game, difficult to assess though with so few players so far.

Yates got better as the game wore on, offering a new contract to Kelly looked like a very good decision as he had a fine game. Broadfoot, minus the beard gave his usual assured performance. Ward worked his socks off and will get better as the weeks go on. Tom Thorpe, another forgotten man did well coming on and playing out of position.

New men Forster Caskey did okay and showed a few decent touches but after a fine start Forde faded, as did Frecklington who looked short on fitness.

A mention for young Chris Dawson, forgotten man of last season, his short cameo appearance offered us real pace, impressive!

Of course we all know that we need reinforcements and soon. Up front we need at least two strikers and at the back some pace would't go amiss. Up to six players are supposedly on their way? Sooner rather than later for me!

On to Scunny Tuesday, just down the road for me. Looking forward to it already.

[vespabri]

Don't forget wev'e got Belaid & Newell waiting in the wings til they regain fitness.

[gwru]

Was encouraging. Showed we need a Right & Left back. Centre back & 2 forwards required. Hope its true about Grant Ward returning.

Midfield selection is going to be interesting. Halford looked slow even before he went off injured. Frecks was good before he tired. Foster-Caskey impressed. hardly put a bad pass in. Vaulks to come in.

Need some height & presence up front. D Ward & Yates showed they can do a job when needed. D Ward can play on the left.

[PerigordMiller]

Thanks for the report axy