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I actually cannot believe this. Absolutely madness. Not at all deserved, but happily taken. It's an accomplishment getting out the group stages for two years, running and to do it in this way is spectacular. The season is finally recovered.

After a compelling performance, Sunderland ultimately came away empty-handed from Wolverhampton, who are becoming a bogey team. The Lads featured their all ex-Manchester Utd back four, and used Lee Cattermole as the holding midfielder, with Ji Dong-Won given a rare start alongside Niklas Bendtner. Larsson was making his 200th top-level English appearance. For Wolves, Jody Craddock returned against his old club, with the ex-Cambridge Peter Reid signing displacing £7 million man Roger Johnson. Both these teams started the game on bad runs, we know how Sunderland capitulated against the Latics last week, and how the current poor run that led to Steve Bruce’s departure. A promising start has quickly morphed into a worrying slide; five points from 11 games is nowhere near good enough. Mick McCarthy was Sunderland manager between 2003-06, and he has his detractors at Molyneux, with critics wondering if he is the man to take the club further forward – the home side have been perpetual strugglers since they were promoted five years ago. He has done well to keep them up. The line-ups were for Sunderland: 20 Westwood, 02 Bardsley, 05 Brown, 11 Richardson, 16 O'Shea, 06 Cattermole, 07 Larsson, 14 Colback, 28 Sessegnon, 17 Ji Dong-Won, 52 Bendtner, Subs: 24 Carson, 19 Bramble, 08 Gardner, 15 Vaughan, 23 McClean, 27 Elmohamady, 31 Noble. For Wolves 01 Hennessey, 06 Craddock, 11 Ward, 16 Berra, 23 Zubar, 04 Edwards, 12 Hunt, 17 Jarvis 24 O'Hara, 10 Fletcher, 29 Doyle, Subs: 31 De Vries, 03 Elokobi, 05 Stearman, 14 Johnson, 19 Hammill, 20 Milijas, 09 Ebanks-Blake First strike was to Sunderland through Sessegnon, who volleyed directly at Hennessey from the right side of the box after four minutes. On eight min, Wolves came close, after a quickly taken corner and a goalmouth scramble ended with Westwood saving from Fletcher. The first half continued with Sunderland probing intelligently, and having some good chances, but when the home team came forward, Westwood was equal to their efforts on goal in what was certainly not a dull game. Former Cats target Stephen Hunt came really close, though, when on 39 min. Jarvis’ cross came through to the left of the box, but Westwood came up with an amazing reaction save. After a great run from Ji, Sessegnon poked the squared ball towards goal only for Ward to clear. The BBC text commentary suggested that “Martin O'Neill is almost on his feet. Almost.” A total of 19 goal attempts illustrated the positive attacking nature of what was an enterprising first half, but would Eric Black and O’Neill, albeit from the stands, manage to get the team to provide the hordes of optimistic away fans with the goal they wanted? I had a memorable trip to Molineux around 2000 when a late Kevin Phillips strike won it for the Cats – great memories of his finishing, and it is truly amazing that the guy is still playing, and scoring. On 52 min. we saw a really terrific Sunderland goal. A beautiful piece of class from the Lads as they broke from a Wolves corner with great effect, and inevitably our main playmaker Sessegnon was involved. Lee Cattermole played the ball forward, Bendtner provided an impudent back-heel flick and Sessegnon drove forward to feed Kieran Richardson in a left wing position. He fired the ball mercilessly past Hennessey into the top corner, a real screamer which showed the new manager what the current players are capable of. This is what happens when captain Catts plays the ball forward. I love his competitive attitude, and he takes no prisoners as a midfield enforcer, as his record of five red cards and 48 yellows in five-and-a-half years of Premier League football. Will we have a celebration once he hits 50? Richardson was booked just after his strike for whipping his shirt off to reveal an "I belong to Jesus" t-shirt. Has he truly converted to Christ or into a true left winger? Sunderland looked to add to their lead, in what looked like an uncertain Wolves defence, with a Ji Dong-Won header on 68 min and an Elmohamady shot after 69 min. Then Sunderland managed to somehow push the self-destruct button in 25 seconds of incident-packed craziness, which totally changed the game! On 71 min. Seb Larsson was bursting through, and was brought down in the box, and the Black Cats were awarded their first penalty of the season. The Swede brushed himself down, stepped up but hit the ball without his usual conviction and Hennessey saved tamely to his left. The keeper then drop-kicked the ball upfield and a few seconds later the ball was in the Sunderland net after a Jarvis Fletcher header. This time Westwood's left hand could not keep it out. This passage of play was sadly game-changing, and I bet Larsson wished the ground would just open up and swallow him. And inevitably Wolves had the wind in their sails, with Fletcher somehow contriving a late winner. A cross hit O'Hara on the “upper arm” and Fletcher picked up the rebound in the area, and shot low past Westwood. Referee Dowd must have mistaken his whistle for a mince pie, it was certainly not in his mouth when the ball hit O’Hara. Sunderland came forward in vain from then on but the game was lost. We had 18 shots on goal and the strikers should have put the game beyond doubt. Bendtner looked slow and often could have taken up better positions in the box, he stayed too deep. It is great to go away from home and entertain, but coming away with nothing is a bad habit. This defeat leaves The Lads struggling just above the bottom three; in many ways this was a typical performance, playing well and keeping the crowd on their toes, but coming away with nothing from the game. This is what they did at the Emirates and at Old Trafford, and it cannot be allowed to go on. Hopefully O’Neill can organise the team so that the undoubted talent in the squad can come to the fore, and we start winning games again...and Blackburn at home would be a great start.

It really shouldn't be, Taylor's out until next season. We can flog Williamson in the summer or sign one of them on loan or on a short term deal. Personally, I'd keep Williamson. He's shown himself to be a competent enough PL defender. Plus his partnership with Colo last season was solid enough. Great back up really. Unfortunately, he will have ample opportunity to prove himself throughout the remainder of this season.

Yeah, he's scored a combined 6 goals in their two victories. I hate the guy, but he is their most essential player right now, imo. I saw the guy run on MOTD. Actually sprint for the first goal. Did you watch the World Cup? He literally stood in place most of the time. I haven't seen him like this for years. Even more so when Moyes came out almost immediately and said he didn't think much of Stracquagol plus the literally no players since Nobby who've come into the PL and done well straight away from the Primera. Dafties. Aguero, Mata, and Silva are definitely struggling.

Oh, right, cool. Obviously I meant in balancing it out in Liverpool terms. Unfortunately it wont make it up for you, so, sorry about that. On a side note, got any thoughts about Yakubu's current form? What form? He's always liable to have a game like he did on Saturday. Once he's in the box he's still a very useful player. He's scored 9 in 9. You've got no strikers. You make it sound like I endorsed us getting rid of him? Nah, just wondered what you thought of the fatty's form since leaving tbh. Seems a bit cheap at £1.5 million. Didn't know he had 9 in 9. Can't say I'm surprised - he attracts plenty of criticism but his goalscoring record speaks for itself. Got a very bad injury for us after he'd got 21 goals the previous season; was a fraction of the player when he came back. As for the price, it just reflects what I've said a few times about Moyes having his favourites. Post-injury Yakubu was not one of his favourites, hence he was out the door. I thought he still had something to give us even if he wasn't as good as the 07/08 season. Yakubu will probably keep scoring until Blackburn give him a lucrative contract, and he starts eating moi moi and stops trying. Fat Aiyegbeni will return and everyone will return to hating him. Exquisitely talented player, but he has wasted his career, and is seemingly willing to do so as long as he gains from it financially. He wanted out of Everton, btw. Moyes froze him out (presumably because he doesn't run around and close down all match) and he had little future at the club.

Didn't watch the match, but Bendter could stand in place the entire match and contribute more than Heskey at this point in his career.

UK is always 5 hours ahead except for small period when clocks change in October.

12pm for us, and I graduate in May so will be off. Sweet. US is brilliant for watching football. As a young man, it is somewhat difficult for to devote 3-5 on Saturday evenings to watching other men make money. 8-12 is much better for me. If I was back in the US, watching the game tomorrow morning would be as simple as ensuring I awake on time, 12:45 will be difficult.

I think Urkaine playing in their country at a major tournament will be a difficult proposition, imo. I see them accumulating 5-7 points from their endeavours.

We play again in 2013. I struggle to give a f***. Find someone else to insult, idiot. edit: If you realised how many times I've had that photo posted at me, SEMTEX, you would remove it.

Group A: Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic. Group B: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal. Group C: Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Croatia. Group D: Ukraine, Sweden, France, England.

You really think we couldn't afford a player who bought for 35 million pounds three months ago? Your observations fascinate me.

In all truthfulness, we have signed some marquee players in the last few windows. Even someone with only a basic knowledge of the Italian and French leagues will have heard of Cabaye, Marveaux, and Santon. They were hardly unknown quantities. Even the likes of Ba and Obertan were well-known and Ba was a high-quality performer in the world's most televised league. Only Elliot was a shining diamond hidden against dull, beaten stones.

Exactly, it should work in the same manner as the FA Cup. League position should only come into play when the cup winner is above 4th in the league or comes from another nation. Anyway, I have an idea for a less lucrative, but more interesting Champions League. Use the inital qualification sequences to produce 64 clubs in the tournament (all champions or just fairly successful). Have two rounds of two-legged knockout aggregate football (only the top eight sides will be seeded) to leave us with 16 teams in the tournament. At this point, create 4 groups of 4 (Only the top four remaining seeded teams are seeded in these groups). These groups will only be three matches long and it will be decided at the draw which teams get the benefit of an extra home match. The winners of these groups advance to the semifinals, at which point the tournamet reverts to ints current form.

That description is really just "the stereotype", tbh. He is a great goal scorer who uses his physical attributes very effectively, but hardly someone who dominates simply on his strength and pace.

I pciekd out fit centrebacks who can currently come in and cover (as you had mentioned). Our third choice is James Perch (currently). Theirs is one of those three. They have much better depth than us at all positions. Every single position. However, their side is in disarray and chaos, and results reflect that. I am not initimating that they are playing well as a team ( or that NUFC aren't), I was just refuting the idea that our depth is comparable to the teams around us in the table. They have internationals to cover for very position, ffs.

Comparing David Luiz/Alex/Ivanovic (whichever isn't playing) to James Perch is genuinely insulting, imo.

I just want to know why? That is what affects me the most. What possibly could have brought this about? It is difficult to believe or understand right now.

Best keeper in the league. In his first season as the number 1. We have a few genuine stars in this team and he is undoubtedly one of them.

The penalty is obviously fortunate, but he is the type of player (quick feet, slight build, great acceleration) that will get that decision very often. It is simply one of the benefits of having him in the side.

What a mental match! Simpson's save is one of the best I have ever seen.

I wonder how long it will take to even attain 14 points, the difference between the two sides in the table? Some big six pointers coming up in the next month. Good luck to your forces. Bad times if they can't take something off Wigan.

Honestly, stop throwing all of this s*** out of your mouth. Either this joke has gone miles too far, or there is a problem in your head. Go back home.

Basel away in the last match will not be easy at all, especially considering how poor they have been recently. I think it may be a long night.