Sunderland grinded out a 0-0 draw away at Wolves in a game where a stupid Lee Cattermole sending off nearly compromised our stellar game plan. Luckily, our younger lads covered themselves in glory by stepping up and compensating for the gap in midfield. A fantastic point away from home that we can be proud of.
While the initial feel-good factor of Coleman’s appointment and victory was extinguished after an all-too-familiar home defeat, there still remains an element of curiosity and intrigue around how the Welshman will shape his side. The starting XI against Wolves again paired Cattermole and Gibson in midfield, and appeared to showcase a 5-man defence.
Ruiter
Matthews, Browning, Wilson, O’Shea, Love
Cattermole, Gibson, Gooch, Honeyman
Grabban
While Sunderland fans were freezing in the away end at Molineux, we can at least be grateful that the game wasn’t called off. It wouldn’t be the first time that fans have travelled only to find that the game had failed a pitch inspection at the likes. Around 10am this morning, Wolves confirmed that the game would in fact be going ahead, which was great news for the droves of fans who had already began travelling.
Wolves wasted the first chance of the game after Cavaleiro picked up a slack pass from Tyias Browning. Fortunately, the Wolves man’s shot was wide of the target. Browning loves giving the ball away in dangerous areas.
Sunderland appeared happy to absorb the pressure of Wolves, who were seeing far more of the ball but did little with it. One could only assume that by Coleman naming McGeady and Asoro on the bench, SAFC were playing a second-half game, by which point Wolves and their fans alike would be be exhausted and frustrated. Not a bad plan, in theory.
Save for a few surges forward from Wolves, and a fluffed corner by Darron Gibson, neither team really threatened in the first period. If Coleman’s plan was to neutralise the home side in the first half, it worked to perfection, even if it was suitably boring.
Lynden Gooch is always full of energy, and an impressive solo run early in the first half was enough to life our fans after a long 15 minutes in the cold. Frustratingly, the move culminated in Gooch conceding a foul; a contentious decision that Gooch was not happy with. Lewis Grabban had a go from range not long after, which the keeper was equal to. Our first shot of the game.
It was all going swimmingly well until Lee Cattermole started doing Lee Cattermole things. After a harsh booking for a soft foul, Cattermole stupidly went steaming in not 60 seconds later, resulting in a certain, indisputable second yellow card. He was given his marching orders and Chris Coleman was left with his head in his hands, wondering how one of his more experienced players could be so fucking stupid. Whatever game plan we had, and however well we’d executed it, it had all gone to shit thanks to individual stupidity from the vice-captain.
It was incredibly disheartening, but Sunderland still had 30 minutes left in the match and were still in the game — by that point, a point away from home would have been a huge bonus. A number of players were really stepping up to fill the void of Cattermole. Gooch was working his arse off, with Love, Browning, and Honeyman also covering plenty of grass. Darron Gibson was perhaps more mobile than ever to compensate for the gap in midfield. It fills you with pride to see the Lads genuinely putting their heart and soul into it to compensate for a massive handicap.
James Vaughan came on for Lewis Grabban, with Vaughan much more suited to holding the ball and maintaining possession. Cavaleiro was the danger man for Wolves, but he was forced to start testing Ruiter from range after being unable to breach the Sunderland defence in the last ten minutes. Thankfully, Ruiter appeared confident when called upon; the energy of the players around him no doubt elevating his performance.
Embleton came on for Gooch, the American receiving a rapturous applause from the away fans in acknowledgement of his relentless effort. We grinded out the rest of the game to secure a point away from home, and what a point it is.
Coleman’s plan was to strangle Wolves and nick the game in the latter stages of the second half, but he had to change it after Catts had his moment. Being able to adapt the game plan after a spanner in the works is a sign of a good manager; one that isn’t restricted by his own stubbornness or ego, which is more than can be said of recent managers.
We can be really proud of that performance today. We go away with the draw, but it feels so much more positive.
Final Score: Wolves 0-0 Sunderland
ALS Man of the Match: Lynden Gooch
By Chris Thompson
ALS T Shirts click here
|
