Sunderland Post Match Thoughts

[flourbasher]

Comments from Tony Mowbray

We left disappointed. I think we've got to give them some credit for the intensity they played at

The intensity they play at is difficult to play against.

They're a team who play against the ball very well.

Rotherham can make a football match in every game because they work really hard against the ball.

Every time I've brought a Blackburn Rovers team here it's been a really tough game and tonight was



His last comment isn't really relevant because that was with completely different players and management teams

[Redshank]

What a great game of football under the lights - as somebody's already said, took me back to Millmoor days.

The possession football we played during the first half was a joy to watch and laid the foundations for the win.

So many positives on the night. Hjelde has a great touch. At half time I was wondering why the hell he isn't in Leeds first team! Rathbone gets better every game. He's absolutely brimming with confidence and the sky is the limit for that lad the way he is playing.

I just love Viktor. Last night showed why he was THE key (contract) signing this year and what great celebrations with N Stand at the end - he's well on his way to becoming another Millers legend.

Another positive... all the hysterical schoolgirls and wind up merchants will be back in their box... for another week at the very least

[rolymiller]

Mowbray should watch and learn from that and observe how to win a football match . A free lesson.
He’s spent most of week bemoaning tiredness, injuries and a hectic schedule. Well he’s come to the wrong place if he’s looking for sympathy with those excuses.

Not a good week for the geordies from Sunderland with their bigger and better neighbours at Wembley this Sunday in the LC final
Lost to little old Rotherham…..again

Mackems! they will be most offended flour. Its like calling us dee dahs

[Ericsladkilnhurst]

A good game to watch for a football fan.
First of all Sunderland Fc.
Pritchard was a constant threat down the left flank, then he moved inside, he is the
engine room of a very good side in the first half, he brought a brilliant save from
Victor.
Rotherham United were up for it last night, after Saturdays dour game from a Millers
point of view.
We played against a very strong team, but we showed we can match them, Bulldog
scored a well taken goal to give the Millers the lead, he was for ever chomping at the
bit against the Sunderland midfield & defence.
Ferguson showed his class with a well taken goal, if only he was 5 years younger.
Fosu, Ogbene had a good game, still not sure on Hugill, but he did take some bad
treatment from Sunderland's defenders, & the referee.
Good defending from the Millers, like the Alamo last 10 - 15 minutes .
Washington unlucky last off hitting the post, nice to see Lindsay back in the fold.

Referee Chris Kavanagh
A poor game from the official, Millers could have had 2 penalties, one a certainty,
he gave no protection to Hugill.
Linesman - Poor linesman on the family stand side, but a better one at the West
stand side.
Hope Howard Webb was there to see the officials lapse of professionalism.

Stats
Millers ................ Sunderland Fc
36% - Possession - 64%
07 ----- Shots ----- 13
03 ---- On target -- 05
04 ---- Corners ---- 06
07 ----- Fouls ------ 09

My MoTM Rathbone [ Bulldog ]

[ragingpup]

Delighted with the result and especially the first half performance.

Not much to add to what's been said but just a bit of a further thought on reality checking. The 2nd half was a backs to the wall and welll executed rear guard action but on other games could well have gone against and often does despite our best efforts. I thought our first 30 mins against Coventry and the first half against Reading were of similar quality to our first half yesterday but we happened to get in the lead and hold on despite injuries piling up. So what I am getting at is that maybe we shouldn't be quite so quick to catastrophise when results go against us, or when the team doesn't click. At the end of the day, they are a team consisting of budget buys and imports that other teams don't want, and I think MT has done as well as anyone could have expected to get what he has from us, and of course the players should be applauded for yesterday, but also, not so quickly subject to finger pointing and accusations of not trying/being cr*p when things aren't working for them.

For me, I am expecting several mmore disappointments but hopefully 4 or 5 more 90 mins of success that might be enough to get us over the line and that seems a more reaistic hope than sending in loads of damning negativity after each disappointment. Just a thought.

Hail the lads and staff for last night though and I think the crowd getting well behind them in a way that often isn't there was a huge factor in seeing out the win. Fosu was excellent in his midfield role - seemed to catch Sunderland out but obv if he continues there teams will be more adapted to counter him. Coventry showed what he can do as well, at least in the first hour and great shows as ever from Viking, Basil, Pelts, Hilda, Hump, Videostar and great to see Wes showing what he can do when he is switched on. Oggie also seems to be returning to form which is crucial as an outlet. Good cameos from the others off the bench also - well played all who were there, on and off the pitch.

[caytonmiller]

Delighted with the result and especially the first half performance.

Not much to add to what's been said but just a bit of a further thought on reality checking. The 2nd half was a backs to the wall and welll executed rear guard action but on other games could well have gone against and often does despite our best efforts. I thought our first 30 mins against Coventry and the first half against Reading were of similar quality to our first half yesterday but we happened to get in the lead and hold on despite injuries piling up. So what I am getting at is that maybe we shouldn't be quite so quick to catastrophise when results go against us, or when the team doesn't click. At the end of the day, they are a team consisting of budget buys and imports that other teams don't want, and I think MT has done as well as anyone could have expected to get what he has from us, and of course the players should be applauded for yesterday, but also, not so quickly subject to finger pointing and accusations of not trying/being cr*p when things aren't working for them.

For me, I am expecting several mmore disappointments but hopefully 4 or 5 more 90 mins of success that might be enough to get us over the line and that seems a more reaistic hope than sending in loads of damning negativity after each disappointment. Just a thought.

Hail the lads and staff for last night though and I think the crowd getting well behind them in a way that often isn't there was a huge factor in seeing out the win. Fosu was excellent in his midfield role - seemed to catch Sunderland out but obv if he continues there teams will be more adapted to counter him. Coventry showed what he can do as well, at least in the first hour and great shows as ever from Viking, Basil, Pelts, Hilda, Hump, Videostar and great to see Wes showing what he can do when he is switched on. Oggie also seems to be returning to form which is crucial as an outlet. Good cameos from the others off the bench also - well played all who were there, on and off the pitch.

Think there's only a couple of doom merchants on the forum m8 and they only appear when we loose and rejoice in stiring the pot.

Back to yesterday
Another thing last night shows is we can't afford any players to be carried. The better teams can get away with 1 or 2 underperforming. The millers can't. We need them all over 7/10

[mellowmiller]

An excellent all round team performance and I'm delighted that we managed to take the customary 3 points off Sunderland.......again 🙂.
I notice there are one or two "unsure" comments about Hugill but he battled manfully against some horrendous treatment from their central defenders and got zero protection from the referee. It's hard to see what more he can do if he's left isolated up front and doesn't get teammates playing off him.
When Jamie Lindsay came on he put Chieo in a few times with simple little passes but although our number 11 is improving he's still indecisive and his crossing is poor. If only he could get that side of his game sorted we would be much more of a threat in the box.
Cameron Humphreys was man of the match for me but in reality the whole team deserve the plaudits.

[frogmiller]

An excellent all round team performance and I'm delighted that we managed to take the customary 3 points off Sunderland.......again ��.
I notice there are one or two "unsure" comments about Hugill but he battled manfully against some horrendous treatment from their central defenders and got zero protection from the referee. It's hard to see what more he can do if he's left isolated up front and doesn't get teammates playing off him.
When Jamie Lindsay came on he put Chieo in a few times with simple little passes but although our number 11 is improving he's still indecisive and his crossing is poor. If only he could get that side of his game sorted we would be much more of a threat in the box.
Cameron Humphreys was man of the match for me but in reality the whole team deserve the plaudits.

I think that if the ref had use of VAR he would have been shown at least one of the attacks on him.

Maybe having refs dropping to the EFL from the Prem has a great disadvantage. They now leave the difficult decisions to their mates that are sat in an office miles away.
He wasn't even prepared to have his linesmen get involved with decisions nearer to them.

[mellowmiller]

I think that if the ref had use of VAR he would have been shown at least one of the attacks on him.

Maybe having refs dropping to the EFL from the Prem has a great disadvantage. They now leave the difficult decisions to their mates that are sat in an office miles away.
He wasn't even prepared to have his linesmen get involved with decisions nearer to them.

Funnily enough we said something similar before kick off about a PL referee without VAR and he missed so many obvious fouls that you have to wonder about the extent they now rely on technology.
Perhaps the next stage will be that all matches are refereed remotely without any officials on the pitch and that doesn't bear thinking about.

[ragingpup]

Think there's only a couple of doom merchants on the forum m8 and they only appear when we loose and rejoice in stiring the pot.

Not sure its just those couple though Cayton. It's the reason why we have so many posts when we lose as opposed to when we win.