Simon O’Rourke

It’s the nature of playoffs that this could mean everything or it could mean nothing. But #SAFC were so brave tonight. Not perfect, brave. Unless you’ve been recently you probably won’t know Coventry is one of the EFL’s loudest, most hostile home crowds. Sunderland silenced them

Here we are again then. Boro last Saturday and #SAFC tonight. Good old Car Park C. Hoping for better North East vibes this time.

So damned easy for #NUFC that it ceased to be very interesting. But the redemption of Jacob Murphy continues to be one of the nicer, and more surprising, subplots of the season.

1-1. Not a great game, but a couple of decent goals and Preston attempting to rip a hole in the space-time continuum with their time-wasting. #SAFC If it looks like the playoffs and it smells like the playoffs, it's the playoffs.

A first half almost beautiful in its blandness. Exceptional for being completely unexceptional.
Not many things happened.
0-0 HT
#SAFC

Weak sauce from both teams so far....
#SAFC

Under all the various circumstances and with all the potential distractions, that’s a damn fine win. #NUFC

#SAFC win 2-1. Hard work (it's always hard work. For a team that's had so many good days this season, it's odd how few easy days they've had). Those above have won. But this keeps the wolves below from the door.

Chris BLOODY Mepham scores his first for #SAFC afterr a quick free kick routine that might not have gone ENTIRELY to plan, but worked out just fine. 2-1

Cardiff equalise. Looked a foul on #SAFC keeper, but ref not having it. Davies scored. 1-1

Fast start. Cardiff muck about and find out from a goal kick. Roberts to Mayenda - who does the rest. 1-0 #SAFC

Infuriating. Hugely disappointing. Partly self-inflicted and a massive opportunity passes #NUFC by. Factor in the future cost of the red card and that’s a horrible day.

Maybe they get it overturned, I’m sure they’ll try. But I’m sorry. That was reckless and stupid from Anthony Gordon. #NUFC

Dan Neill to win the foul in the 97th though…

Great win for #SAFC There’s luck involved (handballs). But they find ways to win and for a young team that’s impressive. They proved tonight they aren’t going away. When you consider where it was at the end of last season, and after 2 pretty nasty defeats, it’s really good.

#SAFC currently existing on a diet of penalty escapes and bad corners. But there’s a way to go.

March 16th is another day. Tonight was not surprising and doesn’t really change the dynamic for the final. But, well, it wasn’t great and it suggested the final will be every bit as difficult as people think. March 16th is another day though. #NUFC

Really good game. Unusual. #NUFC won it by going nuclear for 11 minutes. But were genuinely hanging on for grim death at the end. 4-3.

First home league defeat of the season for #SAFC who deserve all the criticism they’ll get for this performance and the dreadful goal they conceded. They were flat and lifeless. But every team has duff games, so by all means react, but don’t overreact.

Hull City seem genuinely determined to play out the last 75 minutes of this game with dubious and/or completely fake injuries. #SAFC

Goalkeeper own goals are generally pretty undignified. That was no exception. Bad communication, bad hands, bad goal. #SAFC look quite a way off the pace so far. 0-1

As a reluctant connoisseur of many doomed North East Premier League/multiple manager campaigns, let me assure you that Leicester City are going to be relegated.

There is something darkly marvellous about the “former player scores against old club” moment. Tommy Conway clearly and unashamedly enjoyed that (and wasn’t offside either). #BORO

Isidor was so strong there. Old-fashioned centre forward’s goal. #SAFC

So what happened with #NUFC and what does it keep on happening? How can a team that, at its best, is relentless and very physical (and, you know, also good at the football stuff) periodically just not turn up? It’s infuriating and fascinating. But mostly infuriating.

2-0. Isidor takes full advantage of a lucky ricochet off a defender. #SAFC

Enzo Le Fée has his first goal for #SAFC
Think “the Jack Clarke goal” but with French flair. 1-0

A curious game that #SAFC should’ve won at the end but were actually quite fortunate to draw. Watford played well. Sunderland didn’t. Their unbeaten league home record endures, but they still look like the 4th horse in a 3 horse race. 2-2 FT

1-0 #SAFC O’Nien with a diving header from very close in after a corner routine that *might* have been straight off the training ground, or might’ve just worked out well. Either way…

That was so, so stupid from Raya by the way. #NUFC have pressed fiercely all night and that pass was never on. Serves him right.