Fifth Round 18 February 2012

SUNDERLAND V ARSENAL

A 5.15 kick off at the Stadium of Light to accommodate TV, which may also influence the crowd despite the attractively priced £20 entry and a £2 programme. It’s hard to estimate the attendance at 5 pm as many fans remain huddled in the concourses out of the cold wind whipping off the Wear. Arsenal’s mid week pasting by Milan has made this game crucial to their season. For their part Sunderland need to regain recent momentum and reverse last week’s result; despite Martin O’Neil’s protestations, the possibility of a trophy or at least a trip to Wembley, is openly discussed on the way to the match. So the stakes are high, as are expectations for a good cup tie.

Arsenal wearing unfamiliar light blue / dark blue diagonally halved shirts are quick out of the blocks and look as if they mean business. Sunderland, properly dressed in their red & white stripes, respond with great energy but give away an early free kick in range. Arteta strikes it well but just wide. Sunderland’s harrying and pressing continue to disrupt Arsenal’s natural passing game, and leads to several crumpled heaps of blue which get little sympathy from the home fans or the referee. But when O’Shea fells Van Persie in the box there is real concern and a collective intake of breath occurs while referee Webb decides no foul; the jeers that follow are more in relief than criticism at the Arsenal man.

Otherwise Arsenal’s possession leads to little direct threat, only a flashing drive from Gervinho requires Mignolet’s intervention to tip it over the bar. When Sunderland harry Arsenal out of possession they look to move the ball quickly wide to McClean or Larsson or over the top to the dangerous Sessegnon. In this they are aided by the blustery wind which plays tricks on the Arsenal back four.

With five minutes to half time one such raid leads to a Sunderland free kick on the right. The cross is headed clear but straight to Richardson on the left edge of the box; he instinctively lashes an arrow-like shot through the crowded penalty area into the opposite corner of the net. The half-time lead is deserved on balance of effort and commitment if nothing else.

The second half sees the Arsenal threat recede as their passing game deteriorates further. Ramsey, struggling since a first half tackle goes off; Walcott comes on; Van Persie drops back into midfield; only the elegant Song rises above the confusion to provide consistency. However the preponderance of Arsenal attackers means that the game is still in the balance as a flash of inspiration from one of these could yet foil Sunderland.

The home team are now playing safe with five across midfield leaving Sessegnon on his own up front. He chases down everything and when he gains possession he brings in the fast breaking McClean, Larsson and Gardner to provide sporadic danger. With ten minutes to go this tactic pays off. Sessegnon turns his man on the half way line and heads for goal, drawing in covering defenders. He slips the ball right to Larsson, whose shot from a narrow angle hits the near post and then Oxlade-Chamberlain before crossing the line.

Arsenal lack the belief to mount a come back and the final minutes are played out with both sides knowing that it will be Sunderland’s cup run that continues, into the sixth round draw and one win away from Wembley.

Fourth Round Replay 8 February 2012

MIDDLESBROUGH V SUNDERLAND

A replay, the first of the cup run, gives an opportunity to see a fourth round tie that was initially frustrated by Sunderland’s ticketing policy. It’s all worked out well though with a re-match under the lights at the Riverside, with a result guaranteed sometime before midnight. The prize on offer, in addition to local pride, is a home tie with Arsenal.

The night is clear and very cold with a full moon hanging over the east stand as the ground fills up. The away end is packed with 4,000 Maccams, and with the 20,000 odd home fans the steep upward curve of attendances on the cup run continues and promises a good big game atmosphere. Now at home, Boro get to wear their red and white and Sunderland have to settle for their powder blue with a Middlesbrough style white chest bar.

The line ups are both missing first choice players; whilst barely noticeable in the Sunderland eleven, the Boro team has players out of position and includes a teenage debutant in Curtis Main up front.

Sunderland look very composed from the start and quickly force Steele in the Boro goal into a couple of saves; in contrast it is nearly a quarter of an hour before Sunderland keeper Mignolet is similarly exercised. Both teams seem to settle for a long haul and play with caution, particularly Middlesbrough who keep so many behind the ball that when the forwards do receive a pass there is nowhere to go but back to their team mates in their own half, giving Sunderland time to funnel back effectively.

Sunderland play crisper and more purposefully, having the balance of play and threatening with shots from Larsson and Richardson that are off target, and most dangerously from a rampaging Turner, whose shot is on target but well blocked at full stretch by Bates. Boro’s sporadic threats come mainly from Jutkiewicz shooting wide and heading over, with Mignolet only called into action when a corner is flicked on to Hines whose stabbed volley is tipped over the bar.

As those seeking to beat the half time queues at the refreshment bars are making their way out of the seats, the Middlesbrough midfield similarly seem to have their minds on the break. Having been so diligent in tracking back they allow Colback to wander forward onto a long ball nodded back by Campbell. Colback has time on the edge of the box to chest the ball down, allow it to bounce and volley it into the top left hand corner of the net for a fine goal.

The Boro respond like a wounded lion; roared on by their fans they press forward and in the remaining couple of minutes have their most productive attacks. McMahon’s shot from 25 yards beats Mignolet but not Bardsley on the line, and Main’s closer range effort is well saved.

The Boro charge is not sustained into the second half as Sunderland take control, seemingly content with the one goal lead, which in truth looks to be sufficient. However ten minutes into the half a diagonal cross into the Sunderland box is won in the air by Main out-jumping O’Shea; this unexpected outcome catches Turner out of position, giving Jutkiewicz time and space to take careful aim and dispatch the volley confidently into the corner of the goal.

Sunderland are a bit rocked by the turn of events and take some time to regain their composure. When they do the pattern of the first half returns and shots from Gardner and Sessegnon have to be saved; and one from Bardsley that isn’t thumps against the foot of the post. A potentially dangerous free kick from Larsson is dealt with by a Middlesbrough wall that takes advantage of a distracted referee to move a couple of paces forward to block the shot.

Boro have weathered the storm and throw on the questionably fit Emnes for the last ten minutes, but he merely gives the ball away. Another pile driver from Bardsley forces Steele into action before the need for extra time is confirmed.

The first period is very cagey but more even, this could go either way now, and it’s Boro who have the shots – Main straight at the keeper and McMahon blazing over after good work from Hoyte and Emnes. The second period is more open with the spectre of penalties looming, and with just seven minutes left Sessegnon drives forward into the Boro box. He loses control but the ball finds his partner Wickam. Boro defenders dive in to block any shot and the ball squirts back to Sessegnon who seizes on the opportunity to rifle a shot through a crowd and past the unsighted Steele. Middlesbrough try to respond again and throw men forward; a last chance falls to substitute Adam Reach but he fires over the bar.

The game ends 2-1 to Sunderland who were always the more purposeful team with players showing premiership pace and quality. Boro fans are not too dismayed and applaud off their team, which by the end included nine or so local lads who came up through their academy. They have competed and played well and stood toe to toe with a good premiership team. Sunderland move into the fifth round and a home tie with Arsenal, for which hopefully tickets will be obtainable.