Black Cats Maul Canaries 0-3

Sunderland deserved that. However, the away victory against Norwich was the culmination of a tense match that saw both sides display nerves.

Even at two nil Big Sam’s men were quite capable of throwing it away, previous results have borne this out. Still, the Black Cats came out on top thankfully – with three priceless away goals and a clean sheet to boot.

Let’s start by reviewing the penalty decision on Sunderland’s Fabio Borini. Andre Wisdom got the faintest of touches on the top of the ball before sliding his foot over it and planting it fully on Borini’s shin/ankle area. It was a blatant foul in the box and the referee made the right call. Any other opinion is wrong and it’s as simple as that.

The fact that Borini was able to get up and subsequently take the penalty does not somehow prove he made a meal of it – a bizarre view I’ve seen on social media. And if ever there was a Sunderland player that can stay calm when taking spot kicks under pressure it is the Italian striker.

Sunderland managed to see out the first half despite their own shaky moments and those of the red and white persuasion breathed a deep breath after holding it for what seemed like the entire forty-five minutes.

Jan Kirchoff was excellent again in that deep lying midfield role. The big German is really proving himself somewhat of a bargain as he nullified the Norwich attack time and time again. He has a canny knack of setting away a teammate too given his keen eye for a pass and he was instrumental in setting up Sunderland’s second goal.

The former Bayern Munich man won the ball superbly in the middle of the park from Sebastien Bassong and suddenly Norwich became disorganised and exposed. Kirchoff found Borini who whipped in an early cross for Jermain Defoe to make it two.

Bassong had a poor game it has to be said and it was thanks to his poor defending that Sunderland managed to cause so many problems all afternoon. However, perhaps there may be some merit in claims that Kirchoff had fouled him in the lead up to the Black Cats’ second.

I say ‘perhaps’ because I’d assert that we would be clutching at some very small straws indeed. I’ve seen free kicks given in those circumstances sure, but mainly against Sunderland and it therefore seemed only right Lady Luck supported those in a red and white strip on this occasion.

The game was heading towards it’s conclusion which is usually the Black Cats’ preferred time to begin throwing away the points.

It didn’t help matters as I watched Big Sam’s men squander some huge opportunities to increase their lead. In the second half Jermain Defoe was guilty of shooting instead of passing in the box with Borini standing by himself and the goal gaping. Substitute Duncan Watmore also had two big moments where he was bearing down on goal and a pass to Defoe was the easier and correct option.

At two nil some may argue that Sunderland could afford to take those risks but anyone with that opinion can’t watch the Black Cats often.

With Norwich still trying to salvage something from the game the Canaries became even more exposed and Watmore found some space in the box. Considering he has just come back from a long lay off with injury he did well to create the opportunity flicking it over the advancing goalkeeper to make it three and kill the game off in the process.

Of course, Newcastle United also managed to get a win over Swansea City making the relegation battle hotter than ever. Despite every Sunderland supporter looking at results around them, Big Sam’s men have earned the right to concentrate on their own game. The Black Cats, with that important game in hand, have clawed the Canaries back into the scrap and just a solitary point now separates the two teams.

The rewards for the team that survives the relegation run in are huge but they will be redeemed by those who can best cope in the pressure cooker environment. Let’s just hope it’s us.