Stakes are high in the battle at the bottom of the EPL, with 18th up against 19th in what looks one of the most intriguing fixtures of the weekend with Sunderland and Blackburn both needing points. Join us for a live blog from 12.30am AEDT.
One has a new manager on the touchline for the first time, the other has a manager under such pressure that he might be on the touchline for the last time. There will surely be drama.
Sunderland, 18th, hover just above the trap door. They’ve had a season of drama and chaos Steve Bruce must surely feel hard done by, and his team has played much of the season looking as if they had been patched together.
That problem does not evaporate with the arrival of Martin O’Neill. He can however address the apparent dearth of spirit and belief which showed against Wolves last week.
He’ll need to, because the home crowd are starting to get nervous about the ‘R’ word. Their last win was over Bolton, and it was back in October.
Blackburn Rovers’ drought went back that far, until Yakubu personally hauled them past Swansea last week.
He scored all of Rovers’ goals in 4-2 win, which must have lifted them from the emotional doldrums if not the relegation zone. Yakubu’s big day out must also have bought Steve Kean some time, but probably not much.
One can only sit between places 18 and 20 for so long before the chop comes, especially when you consider that Sam Allardyce was sacked for the apparently cardinal sin of having the team just outside the top half.
While Blackburn Rovers lifted a bit of the pressure, a loss here would undo all their good work.
These teams last met back on New Years Day, and what a difference a year makes. On that day Sunderland won 3-0, with Asamoah Gyan, Darren Bent and Danny Welbeck scoring the goals.
Sunderland, without none of those three still at the club, need all of Martin O’Neill’s motivational skills, while Blackburn Rovers need to harness the good feeling of last week’s win, and get some momentum up the table.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
Cheers for the comment Peter. In England they have four national Leagues: Premier League, Championship, League 1, League 2. My understanding is that it then feeds into a tier of regional conferences. That's where you hear of teams 'dropping out of the Football League,' suggesting that beyond League 2 is a bit of a wilderness. It does mean that all divisions are linked, so that in theory a team in the conferences could end up in the Premier League within a few years if they kept winning. As far as relegation promotion goes here in Australia, its interesting. I think relegation/promotion improves the standard and the interest in the competition for all teams in the later rounds, as more teams have something to play for. Even when the title has already been decided the final day is dramatic: at half time on the final day last year Wigan and Wolves were going to go down, and by full time it was Blackpool and Birmingham City. I think the limitations are that support might not endure for relegated clubs. Newcastle United has 40,000 people coming to watch them play in the second division a couple of years back, I think supporters in Australia are more fickle. Also I don't know if the level of class is close enough for regional teams to be competitive; I dont know if Sydney Olympic or South Melbourne could match it with Brisbane Roar. I think an FFA Cup might give us a better idea about the strength of our lower leagues and about whether a relegation/promotion system could work.
PeterK
Guest
Missed the live blog, I'm sorry -- just catching up now. Interested in hearing of the "twists and turns" and the apparent intensity of a match in the "relegation zone". Could the A-League introduce here what the Poms have at the bottom of their several "top" leagues? I'm not even sure now how many they have, but isn't there a P/R system at the bottom, linking with the various regional comps? How does that work, and could it be a way to go here -- where we clearly can't afford a full div 2 yet?
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
Time for me to go to bed but I'd love to hear from you. What'd you think of the game? What'd you think of the commentary? And who was your man of the match? Thanks for keeping an eye on the game with us, and be sure to join us for the next game of the week. Next Sunday throws up a couple of tasty fixtures as Aston Villa host Liverpool and Manchester City host Arsenal, so our Match of the Week will likely be one of those. We'll keep you posted, but I hope you've enjoyed tonight's call! Night all.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
Well what a game! I'm pleased to say that in our two Premier League live blogs in the last two weeks we've been blessed with twisting, eventful games. This was a belter. This was always going to be a great battle between teams who need the result. That was on display here. Blackburn got a goal and then defending for their lives, and I was beginning to think they'd hang on. But Sunderland had the temperament and the brilliant individuals to find a way through once,and then again. The fans loved it, the noise was superb, and Martin O'Neill has had a dream start. Man of the Match for me would have to be Chris Samba. I know his side lost the game, but were it not for him and, may I mention, Scott Dann, they would never had held on as long as they did. Highly commended to Seb Larsson, who just kept probing and finally produced the golden moment.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
FULL TIME: SUNDERLAND 2, BLACKBURN ROVERS 1.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
FULL TIME! Deafening roar around the ground, Martin O'Neill pumps his fist. Sunderland have refused to panic when a goal down, frustrated by dogged defending they have produced two fantastic goals in the last ten minutes to turn it around. Big moment in their season, big moment in the broader relegation battle.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
90+11' Lowe is finally leaving the pitch, stretchered off by four medical staff.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
90+9' Lowe still receiving treatment, he had a collision with Larsson in a contest for a header. Must be a bit nasty, Rovers used up their subs with forty minutes to go so they can't replace him. There appears to be a neck brace there for Lowe, as well as the oxygen tank.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
90+6' The delay here is for a Rovers player down injured, its Jason Lowe and he'll need the stretcher. Steve Kean looks utterly miffed on the touchline. He can arguably take some responsibility, Rovers have asked Sunderland to come on and beat them in the second half and that's exactly what they've done.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
90+5 Samba sees a YELLOW CARD. Time is ticking down and the crowd are singing so very loudly. The chairmen jumped from his chair, the new manager jigged like an infant. Santa Claus in the crowd is smiling, and Sunderland are seconds away from maybe the biggest result of their season.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
GOAL SUNDERLAND (Larsson 90+2') Sunderland 2, Blackburn Rovers 1.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
90+2 HE SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING STUFF FROM LARSSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Magnificent freekick, over the wall and in off the near post! I thought this would be a good game, but two goals in eight minutes have won it for Sunderland and I wouldn't have tipped that!
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
90+1' Formica sees a YELLOW CARD for handball, just a metre outside the box. What price Larsson from the left hand corner of the box?
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
90' A crowd of only 100 short of 40,000 at the Stadium of Light, and both they and their team need one more effort. A Rovers goal would the best greatest of sucker punches. There will be 3 MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
89' Bardsley, Sessegnon and finally Larsson play balls in, Larsson's gets a flcik from Samba with Ji lurking. From the corner it breaks to Larsson, whose ball into the middle is taken by Robinson amongst much noise and many bodies.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
87' Sunderland are throwing everything at it now, the crowd egging them on. Repeated balls into the box, Samba just keeps repelling them, he's got to be man of the match. Vaughan's goal looks better on replay, it lifted the net clear off the ground! He's been busy today and always looked a threat.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
GOAL SUNDERLAND (VAUGHAN 84') SUNDERLAND 1, BLACKBURN ROVERS 1.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
84' VAUGHANNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STUNNER!!!!! Ball in from Bardsley, into the box and out to Vaughan, who thumps it from 25 yards, flat and diagonal into the right hand corner. GOAL FOR SUNDERLAND! They could go on and win it now, the ground is rocking!
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
83' The corner is disappointing and the subsequent shot is blocked. But now Sunderland have a freekick, 25 yards out on the right hand side of the box. Larsson and Richardson over it again, Richardson takes and draws groans as he blasts it over the top.
M_Campbell23
Roar Guru
81' Ten minutes left and yet Sunderland still have no goal. There is only one team trying to score now, and Rovers are simply harrying and making tackles and blocks. All hands on deck for both sides, and Sunderland win a corner. McClean has made a huge impact.