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DEEP IN MY HEART
Sunderland vs. Middlesbrough, 26th April 2008, Stadium of Light, Premier League
James Keen
Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! What are we? Typical.
The one thing that differentiated the Bolton game from the Cardiff game is that Cardiff are better than Bolton.
Bolton were poor. We were great for about ten minutes and then we decided to change our tactics from pass and move, rip opponents to pieces type football to long ball, bore your fans' pants off football.
And you know what? It didn't work.
Bolton fans sang the name of Gary Cahill long after the final whistle as he was their hero. But let's be fair, he spent the day heading away balls under the 'challenge' of two forwards with little interest in heading the ball.
He had it easy.
We seemed to run out of ideas and inspiration and the game ended in the same way as the Reading one - a damp squib and another three points taken off us by a relegation haunted side.
Southgate will have had to dig deep this week to re-inspire his side for another relegation escape.
The Mackems game is a must win one in order to help us push on and not finish as the bottom side in the North East.
What's more, we are heading for a record low points tally for a thirty-eight game Premiership season. This is a record I'm sure Mr Gareth will not want.
We can guarantee Premier League football for another year against Sunderland but we must go there with intent and play the type of football we saw in the opening exchanges last Saturday.
Without that kind of fluidity and pace, we will get bogged down in a kick and run game and lose.
Slumberland will be fired up. Roy Keane will have them motivated and ready but they are lacking in quality, no matter how hard they try.
Their star striker has less goals this season than Stewart Downing and their midfield have no real creative ability.
Perfect recipe for a Boro defeat? It is a derby so the form book goes out of the window. The 'Typical' factor doesn't have a bearing on this kind of game.
We were unlucky not to beat them earlier in the season when a last minute goal robbed us of a deserved victory.
The Great Julio of Arca had a good game that day and fired a top notch goal past his former employers. He will be looking to do the same against them at his old stomping ground.
Arca alongside George Boateng is a tough midfield and a good platform from which to get forward.
We now need to hope that when we get chances we take them.
We must also hope that Luke Young and Andy Taylor don't have off days again as without their support, our wide men will have a very hard day.
I have faith that the Boro can come away with a point but considering recent results, I can't see us getting all three. Yet we need all three to give us a bit of pride back.
It is a vital game and a chance to resurrect something from our season. But then it's the same for our Wearside compatriots.
I expect the game to be open, fast paced and tense. If we see an open game then I expect Boro to be able to expose their opponents.
Or do I just hope that we will?
I don't care, we should be winning games like this.
C'mon Boro!
The Outcome: It's going to be a tough one. My head is telling me another 2-2 draw but my heart is after a 3-2 win.
Last Time: Sunderland 0-3 Middlesbrough, Pogatetz 19, Parnaby 31, Hasselbaink 71 (31/1/06)
Boro Form (most recent result first): LDDLWD
Sunderland Form: LLWWWL
Probable Teams:
Boro: Turnbull, Young, Taylor, TPFKAMD, Wheater, Tuncay, Arca, Boateng, Downing, Aliadiere, Alves
Sunderland: Mackem 1, Mackem 2, Mackem 3, Mackem 4, Mackem 5, Mackem 6, Mackem 7, Mackem 8, Mackem 9, Mackem 10, Jones
Man to Watch: Kenwyne Jones
RETURN TO DEEP IN MY HEART INDEX HERE
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