After what had felt like a long and fairly comfortable spell of Sunderland AFC being competent and sparing their supporters prolonged misery – stretching back to the play-off first leg – it became vital to stop the current dip in form before it turned into something more worrying and familiar in a very “typical Sunderland” way.
There have been understandable reasons, of course. Earlier in the campaign, injuries were kind to us, but now important players seem to be falling by the wayside. What was once a solid back line looks thinner, the attack still lacks a reliable cutting edge, and the siege mentality that drove performances in the first half of the season appears to have faded recently.
Needing a positive result to lift spirits and restore belief, we were handed two daunting away fixtures against in-form opposition: Bournemouth and Leeds. The Cherries, in particular, seem to have flourished despite losing their talisman, with Andoni Iraola’s side riding a seven-match unbeaten streak.
TNT Sports moving this long journey to an early kick-off hardly made it more appealing, but this Sunderland team has shown before that it can rise to the occasion when expectations are low. So, despite everything, there was still a glimmer of optimism before kick-off.
Refusing to endure an early-morning trek – even from London (huge respect to those who travelled overnight from the North East) – we headed to the south coast on Friday to enjoy some local hospitality. Bournemouth away is best enjoyed in August or late spring, but even now there’s plenty to keep weary travellers entertained.
On a bright Saturday morning, after a long walk on the beach and breakfast on the pier, we joined fellow supporters at the George Taps, one of those Wetherspoons-style venues that’s a bit pricier and only slightly more refined. The good weather lifted moods, optimism crept into conversation, and Le Bris’s team selection met with full approval.
After a couple of quick games of pool, we caught a local bus straight to the stadium without trouble. My only previous visit to the Vitality Stadium (then still called Dean Court) had ended in a surprise 2-1 comeback win with ten men during the Moyes relegation season. A repeat might not have been as shocking this time, but it would have been just as welcome.
The Lads started brightly, with noticeably better tempo and balance, helped by Xhaka’s return. Our positive opening was rewarded with a deserved goal when Diarra’s effort was saved into the path of Mayenda, sparking wild celebrations in our sunny section of the stands.
The second half opened just as well, though our Senegalese midfielder failed to take advantage when clean through on goal. Bournemouth’s equaliser arrived via a superb cross, even if questions could be asked of our defence and goalkeeper, and the previously quiet home support finally found its voice.
What followed was a tense contest, with both sides threatening without fully committing. The long stretch of stoppage time seemed endless, and a few of us nervously checked train times in case of a late dash. Thankfully, the final whistle came at last, allowing us to applaud a hard-earned and respectable away point.
Much has already been said about Jarred Gillett’s almost comical display, but it would be impossible to recount the match without mentioning it. The early non-penalty decision was baffling enough, but the missed red card for Adams and the general inconsistency made it one of the poorest refereeing performances in recent memory. The small mercy was that it didn’t prevent us from at least taking something from the game.
The trip was capped off nicely when news reached us on the train that Jordan Pickford had kept our illustrious neighbours below us in the table. A tough visit to Leeds awaits, followed by an even trickier FA Cup tie (location still unknown), but this result at least halted the slide and reminded us that this Sunderland side can still compete at this level.
