BFTMFG - Sunderland (H)

[cmonurz]

Great win. Best part for me was seeing the team after the final whistle blew - they're psyched and hyped - they really believe now...

Pearce went absolutely bananas at the final whistle. His heart is clearly here, I really hope his contract gets sorted soon.

[AthleticoSpizz]

either that, or he's signing for N'cassel

[RoyalBlue]

Feds spotted in A&E, hopefully not serious

I hope he was accompanying someone else, otherwise it is serious!

[RoyalBlue]

Decent all round battling performance.

McAnuff much better, Feds getting back to his best although was lucky to get away with heading the rebound away after a first half fumble.

I would argue he made that luck by getting up and out towards the player so quickly.

[cmonurz]

Spotted a very tanned Chris Tarrant strolling around the ground after the game.

[Ian Royal]

Some stats that might surprise a few people.

Pass completion
ALF - 60%
McAnuff - 61%
Kebe - 67%
Akpan - 68%
Pog - 71%
McCleary - 73%
Leigertwood - 80%
Blackman - 86%
http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/615176/Live

Legs certainly gave the ball away stupidly about half a dozen times or so... but he also used the ball simply and well the rest of the time. More touches than any of the other midfielders.

[cmonurz]

Certainly surprises me!

Thought Leigertwood had a very dodgy middle of the game, 20 mins each side of half-time, where he could barely find a pass, so his stat surprises me.

And I barely saw Akpan put a foot wrong in that same period, although his 68% might be skewed by his obvious tiring and going a bit wonky in the last 20 minutes.

[Ian Royal]

I've no idea how reliable the site is. But it's useful to have a look at occasionally and put up a counter-view.

[AthleticoSpizz]

There are a few ommissions there Ian

But 80% for Legs?...But I bet somebody was slagging him off in the chatroom for his "ahem" lack of completions

See previous posts

[Ian Royal]

There are a few ommissions there Ian

But 80% for Legs?...But I bet somebody was slagging him off in the chatroom for his "ahem" lack of completions

See previous posts

He definitely gave the ball away stupidly and unnecessarily a few times. I'd say at least 6 probably about 8 that I noticed. It's certainly frustrating when he does it. But when he wasn't doing it, he was playing well.

[RoyalBlue]

Certainly surprises me!

Thought Leigertwood had a very dodgy middle of the game, 20 mins each side of half-time, where he could barely find a pass, so his stat surprises me.

And I barely saw Akpan put a foot wrong in that same period, although his 68% might be skewed by his obvious tiring and going a bit wonky in the last 20 minutes.

It surprises me too. I think Legs' pass completion rate may have appeared worse than it actually was because when he did misplace passes it quite often led to potentially dangerous situations, which made the misplaced passes more noticeable.

He also gets caught in possession too often, which again quite often leads to danger. The main reason for this appears to be that he either holds onto the ball too long or tries to be too clever. Needs to look more often to do the simple thing & quickly. That would also increase his pass completion rate.

[loyalroyal4life]

Feds spotted in A&E, hopefully not serious

I hope he was accompanying someone else, otherwise it is serious!

Was with physio and club doctor!!!

[AthleticoSpizz]

No.

his missus had cut her finger slicing the onions

[cmonurz]

Never wanted to leave, Mr McDermott sir, not for a second.

[John Peel]

Really proud of the lads today. Best performance I've seen since Chelsea away and a thoroughly deserved victory. That gutsiness and tenaciousness will help match the more skilled teams we play.

No one player had a bad game. Special mentions to Feds to did what he had to when it mattered, Akpan for constantly being in the game chasing every single lost cause and being bloody everywhere, McCleary for an energetic performance who played as a winger should, Kebe for scoring a peach of a first goal and the winner, Kelly for two blinding tackles.

And as for Ledge, I have been a critic of him this season, but how people can still slag him off after today is beyond me. Made a couple of duff passes but was a tower in the middle and read the game well. Definitely getting back to his best.

[maffff]

Spotted a very tanned Chris Tarrant strolling around the ground after the game.

Spotted at half time....

[Royal Ginger]

First half was the first time this season we were fully in command of a game. Feds, Akpan & Kebe were top class, but I thought Kelly was majestic. He's exactly what we needed at RB. Such a cool head under pressure, gets the job done.

I thought that bringing Alf on was a mistake. We were fully on top with the 4-5-1, and Sunderland only started looking dangerous when we went 4-4-2. But hey, we won, so what do i know?

[bobby1413]

Spotted a very tanned Chris Tarrant strolling around the ground after the game.

I wonder if he went to the game?

[joeroyal]

First half was the first time this season we were fully in command of a game. Feds, Akpan & Kebe were top class, but I thought Kelly was majestic. He's exactly what we needed at RB. Such a cool head under pressure, gets the job done.

I thought that bringing Alf on was a mistake. We were fully on top with the 4-5-1, and Sunderland only started looking dangerous when we went 4-4-2. But hey, we won, so what do i know?

Cocaine is a mind altering Substance

[windermere_royal]

Thoroughly enjoyed the game, Sunderland certainly contributed to an cometative encounter, my men of the match, Feds and Pog who have both had their critics this season, I hope this goes some way to shutting them up for good.

Feds : 9. Back to his best , several fine saves and interceptions

Kelly: 7 cya Gunter
Pearce: 7 . solid but a couple of heart in mouth passes out
Mariappa:8 . best game in a Reading shirt, unlucky to hit the bar.
Harte: 7: heart on sleeve performance,

Kebe: 8. 2 fine goals and good defensively, not much going forward
Apkan: 8 seasoned PL pro surely?
Ledge: 7 recovered from a shakey start to give an assured midfield performance.
Jobi: 7. involved from the start. all action
McCleary:8 I like this guy, always ready to take on his man

Pog:9. it would be a 10 if it wasn`t for the pen, led the line superbly, taking some fearsome challenges, holding it up and bring the wide players into the game.