Sunderland supporters are used to failure after the last couple of years, but it is unclear exactly what will change that.
Last night, they lost to a Shrewsbury side who had been embroiled in a relegation battle. All over the field, they were outfought despite taking an early lead. The game was disrupted early on with a serious injury to Sunderland’s Jordan Willis which resulted in a lengthy stoppage in play. When football resumed, the Black Cats took the lead through Aiden O’Brien.
The home side then kicked up a gear, Curtis Main was twice denied by Sunderland keeper Remi Matthews, to keep the score 1-0 at half time. Main then had a hand in the home side’s leveller, beating Matthews to a cross, with Ethan Ebanks-Landell forcing the loose ball over the line.
Harry Chapman then found himself on the end of a Shaun Whalley delivery to fire home from a tight angle, with Matthews floundering. It could have been even worse for Lee Johnson’s side, with Salop having another goal chalked off for offside.
The result leaves Sunderland seventh in the table, eight points behind Hull City in the last automatic promotion place. Only three points separate them and Plymouth Argyle, who are 13th. It’s a tight division, but sadly Sunderland are caught right in the middle of it.
That has left their fans angry. They have blamed Jack Ross, then Phil Parkinson but now Lee Johnson is in, it appears there are other scapegoats, starting with the man entrusted to stop goals going in, as you’ll see below.
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I’ve been a Sunderland fan for 55 years, this is the worst period in that long time. What’s worrying is that the club seems to have settled into lower league mediocrity and no one apart from the fans seems bothered. No ambition, no fight!
This is an insult to the club’s history.— Robin H.🌸 (@hickling_robin) February 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/WVintageColours/status/1359238792109056009
What the actual fuck is that keeper man. Sack him now.
— Jonny Shurben (@Jonny_Shurben) February 9, 2021
Two really poor keepers on the books. The young lad watching is probably having second thoughts. I don’t blame him.
— DV (@DVTheCoach) February 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/guyharrissafc/status/1359238049205547012
both of our galkeepers are embarrassing
— Bruce Almighty (@Gcrightonyahoo2) February 9, 2021
Keepers left the oven on
— Mark Burke (@MSBurkey) February 9, 2021
Is it not the quality of players that we are able to aquire, and not the list of managers who we blame.
We are what we are, a Division one team attracting whats left of players available.