afar

Would have been a terrible choice here. We needed a manager who was in charge, who demanded things were done his way and that Ashley got out of his way. Hughton was not and is not that kind of manager. He's in a great situation where he is, smallish club with a good playing staff and sound infrastructure that have high but realistic aims, he probably would have left if we came knocking but it would have been a mistake for both parties. If Rafa had of said no, I've no doubt the current incumbent down the road would be wearing a black and white tie now, that could have been a close shave.

Imagine being a bloke working in that factory and reading that You'd be p*ssed. Supercilious, smeagol resembling c***. such a pig headed stupid thing to say. He's a very stupid person. Biggest employer in the region is a factory. Great way to belittle thousands of people. You can't say something like that, ffs do they not have any PR folks coaching him ? The guy is just fucking weird. In this beeb interview he says they got a bit of luck today in a deserved victory,does he not see the contradiction, let alone the 22 shots to 7 stat line ? http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37885870

Brighton are shit hot at the moment, think we played them at a good time. To have 34 from 16 games would probably put you on top of the table in most years, this year barring a big swing in GD we will still be ahead of them even if they win next time out and we lose. Hughton is doing a fine job down there, bet Norwich are wishing they had stuck with him right about now.

Norwich look poor and are being found out a little now. I think the pick of teams outside ourselves and Brighton (who look like a class above right now) are Reading, Leeds and Fulham.

I don't even bother looking at 3rd tbh. While we are ahead that;s the only spot I look at, I don't give a rat's arse if we win some old trophy for best of the lower league teams, just want to get back up.

I'm not so sure, that's wishful thinking. Gotta to hold your hands up here, it' a massive win for them and gives them hope.

It is huge for them, gives them a real shot in the arm and with probably the easiest fixture of the season fir them up next. It's a real chance for them to start getting out of trouble.

That is an incredible stat, still some things for Rafa to work on though and in a strange way I think he'll like that, keep their minds focused, last minute winner for Leeds too and we are pulling away further from 3rd and 4th

Stats tell a familiar story,but today I guess they've gotten a bit of luck that they haven't before this season. They could very well win back to back now with Hull up next. Home TeamBournemouthAway TeamSunderland Possession Home70%Away30% Shots Home20Away8 Shots on Target Home7Away4 Corners Home11Away2 Fouls Home14Away16

Needs to clean up this slopiness that's let the last two opponents back into the game.

Leeds have picked up considerably since the start of the season, one of the form teams right, kind of wished we had gotten that game over with earlier. Norwich on the other hand are in free fall right now, I think it's just leveling off, think they were in a false position early on, won a lot of games very narrowly and the game against us, the score extremely flattered them, shouldn't have even been close that one, let alone an injury time equaliser and winner.

Huddersfield 1 up

bastards, the revival starts now I guess.

A third kills the game completely, after the Preston game, a little nervous still a 2-0 but at home would be a huge surprise if threw this away now.

I don't understand this on the beeb, unlucky that the goalscorer was a long way offisde !!! "So, so unlucky. A brilliant Sunderland move ends with Paddy McNair crossing the ball into the area for Duncan Watmore, who pokes in from four yards. Assistant flags. Watmore looks sad. Replays suggest he was two yards offside. Which he was." http://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/37588394

He's worn the shirt well this season, worthy member of the squad. We can't afford him to be a starter next season, but he's done a great job this, if and probably when he leaves the club in the summer he'll go with warm thoughts from most I feel, not his fault Pardew messed him up.

Fucking love this team

Need to be careful here. They are in the game more than the last couple of opponents at SJP.

Did the clocks in the UK go back last week ? 8:35am here and it's usually close to half time. Ours don't go back until tonight.

Warnock has turned their form around, would have been better to play them before they made the change, having said that, it would be a huge surprise if we didn't beat them, but I don't think it will be as easy as the last two games.

I love me some stats. We are 8 games away from the halfway point in the season. If we just win half of those games and lose the other 4 then we'll be on 46 points, which would be on course for 90 plus which surely will be enough for auto promotion.

Damn have to wait a full week between games, wtf is going on ?

Obviously Carragher is a mag http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jamie-carraghers-scathing-attack-sunderland-12109470

I keep forgetting he's still officially a NUFC player,, wonder how watertight the loan to buy thing is and how much that adds to our kitty. Could have a serious chunk of change next off season, if we are promoted.

I think it's been quoted that Short wants his money back, add that price to the debt the new owners would have to take on and it's not a cheap option. Geographically it's a problem too, as we've found out in the past, a lot of foreign investment won't touch clubs in the North East for some reason !