Paullow

Bournemouth's defeats have obviously been well documented, especially one of them, but for all that, they are still on the same amount of points as us and have had a tougher start - we've shared 4 common opponents from our 6 games, but they've also had Arsenal as well. Still fully expect us to win (and hopefully well), as I would for most of our home matches, but they might not be the pushover many are expecting.

2-3 now. Probably win 4-3, and that'll shut a few folk up!

They've done pretty well generally. Won 4 of their 9 matches, +5 GD, and already played Sheff U, Norwich and Boro, losing to them all by the odd goal, and competing well. The teams they lost to, especially the first two, should be up their at the end of the season, but there's not too many after that, Burnley and Watford probably, but WBA (with Bruce) should be, but are MILES off the pace, and have only won one of their 10 matches (assuming they don't score 3 late goals tonight). There's no reason why Sunderland shouldn't be targeting a playoff spot this season IMO, unfortunately.

The cross was class as well.

Just watching BT's CL Goals Show, and the goals really are flying in at the moment.

West Brom behind again. Sunderland 3-0 Definitely bittersweet because WBA should be right up there, but they won't sack Bruce, and they're going to miss the boat in terms of promotion. Sunderland lost narrowly to Sheff U with 10 men, and to Norwich where they were the better side, and those two should be up there, probably Burnley and Watford as well, Boro if they can finally get something going, and you'd usually say WBA, but they're currently nowhere near, but after that there's no one that stands out, so the playoffs could be a real possibility for the Mackems.

They lost their only recognised striker in Simms on 37 minutes, and then scored 2 quick goals. Probably won't be too far off the playoffs, possibly even in them. They've been competitive in most matches I've seen of them this season.

Bacon losing at home to one of his many, many former clubs, Birmingham.

I'm still watching Rangers, but Sunderland seem to be dominating possession in their match. Odds were like 6/4 Reading vs 9/4 about 15 mins ago, but now 11/5 vs 15/8.

Fantastic effort from the Rangers fans. Very touching. Probably be some repercussions from singing GSTQ though.

Definitely a tough start on paper, and the only match where we have really 'dropped' points was against Palace, and we're probably on par or one less from an 'accumulation of points' perspective, so no need to panic, but still not ideal if the easiest match on paper of the 38 is rescheduled until the new year, we fail to beat Fulham away, well into October with one win from our opening 8 matches - there will definitely be some murmurs in that not too unrealistic scenario. With next week looking almost certain to be postponed, I'd probably prefer this one to be as well.

Obviously some things are more important, but just from a purely Newcastle United perspective, it'll not be ideal if the (tough away) West Ham match goes ahead on Sunday (with the current injuries), but the Bournemouth one is postponed. Good chance we'd head into what would then be an international break with no wins in 6, more than 2 months since the last win, and another away match when they return.

We don't need to hope that English teams do well in the CL this season, do we (in terms of the extra space in a few years)?

Wow, 7 mins injury time. Didn't expect that.

Sunderland have been a bit better this half. Wouldn't be too shocked if they snatched a late equaliser. That was awful from Clarke mind

Gabbidon, but sounds exactly like him.

Get in. Deserved as well. Boro have been well on top. Least there's no VAR here, so you can appreciate a goal...

It's not been a bad start to the game. Quite a good tempo to it. Boro definitely been the better side, but Sunderland have had the better chance. Pritchard should have taken a touch, had far more time than he probably thought. Bad miss really.

Quite intrigued by the match tonight. If Sunderland win then it will be a cracking start for them, they'll move into 5th (4th if they hammer Boro) and 14 points from their 8 games, and will also continue Boro's very slow start to the season. Already kind of looking like must-win for Boro, especially if they have any realistic hopes of automatic promotion, and they'll move to within 2 points of Sunderland if they do. Probably end up a draw, which I guess will favour the away side a lot more. Hoping for a home win.

Wa tough to beat!

FFS

They better not turn it around in these 8 mins, haha.

Interviewer: So Steve, how do you sum... Bruce: Well you know David, we had enough chances and possession to win 10 games out there, but it was just one of those nights, that's the Championship for ya. Interviewer: 1 win in 9 games, what... Bruce: Look. We've had a tough start OK, we've not got as many points as we deserve, but you know, there's 7 or 8 others struggling, so it's certainly not just worsels. Interviewer: And how do you go about... Bruce: I've said many, many times, we'll just have to dust worselves down, roll wor sleeves up, and go again. That's for sure.

Burnley ahead. Jay Rod pen.

I am always a bit conflicted when it comes to WBA. Naturally, I enjoy them losing, and hope they continue to do so, but at the same time, despite losing their manager, I can see Sunderland finishing in the top 6, and if they make the playoffs, and have a bit of momentum behind them, then who knows, and I'd ideally want them to have a few more years in that league while we continue to develop. If you look at the live table, then you'd probably expect the current early days top 4 to be in and around the top 6 come the end of the season, the 3 relegated sides and a fairly 'big' team in Sheff Utd who made the playoffs last year, but after that, there's not many other obvious candidates at all, you would have perhaps thought Boro and WBA could / would be up there, despite the latter's obvious handicap, but those sides have only won 2 of their 14 league games between them. I can't see WBA sacking Bruce anytime soon - that would be the ideal scenario, them getting rid and then massively pushing on, but it'll likely just be a win, draw, loss here and there until after the World Cup, in which case it'll probably be too late for a potential new manger to make a promotion push. It didn't help last year with Leeds pipping Burnley on the last day, and Forest beating Hudds in the playoff final because the latter were always more likely to struggle this season, similarly with Luton, but it's crazy how average that league looks despite being described as one of the most competitive leagues in the world with so many sides having marrachute payments, and there definitely is a chance for Sunderland to make a bit of a push. They've largely been decent in the many Sky matches they have been on - unlucky vs Norwich, probably should have won, did OK with 10 men vs Sheff U, and got 11 points from the other 5 games.