'sorry? (...) yeah shut the **** up.'
That wasn’t really what I was expecting to be honest. Despite notable absences from the Sunderland side, and to a certain extent a lack of bite in our midfield today’s game was one that we won’t be forgetting for a while. It’s safe to say that it was somewhat of an aggressive affair with both sides putting boots where perhaps they shouldn’t have been and this incision found its way into the general scheme of play. Ultra-special mention belongs to our perennial shot stopper Gomes who today once again showed us why the majority of pundits are worryingly biased; despite managing pointing out obvious mistakes he has made. Fact is he is a top-top keeper and for every blooper he makes he makes several saves that would find their way past the majority of keepers in our league. The fact that he continued today after taking a Bent boot to his shoulder is testament to the fact that he gives 110% percent at any given time. If every player in the lilywhite showed that kind of focus we might have been in resurgence a few years before now.
On the note of Bent; he was really going for it today, (this further exasperated by Capello’s appearance in the stand and the obvious target of stating a claim on a starting berth in direct competition with the likes of Defoe and Crouch). His efforts however were in vain as Gomes along with Woodgate kept the lad quiet. The most notable of course would be the penalty taken charismatically by the Brazilian. In terms of our overall performance we were lucky that they did lack the finishing edge as for the most part they bossed the game in midfield with their mobility; with old favourite Malbranque looking especially lively. Goals from Keane, (another scramble but welcome nonetheless), and Huddlestone (always great to see his rocket shot rip into the net), put the game beyond doubt. Safe to say that this is proof that any player on the pitch can win a game almost single-handedly and today it was Gomes’ time to shine.
Ratings
Gomes – 9.6 – About as good as it gets from Gomes; sublime performance today turned a tie which could have been into a foregone conclusion.
Everyone Else – 6.5 – Everyone else did great, but in comparison to the big brazilian hardly comparable.
Next up: Wigan at home. Yep. Let’s keep engine rolling.
