Pete Sixsmith originally said the Sunderland women’s team had lost the FA Cup final against Arsenal by 2-0, so it brought some consolation to check the itv.com website and find that unlike the Lads yesterday, the Lasses were able to pull one back right at the end.

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Part two of the inquest. For Pete Sixsmith, it has been a depressing May Day holiday. “It’s cold and overcast,” he reports. “The women’s team have lost 2-1 to Arsenal and I’m still in acute depression after Sunday.” Well, bravo from Salut! Sunderland to the lasses on their superb achievement in reaching the final. Those with strong stomachs may read on …

It’s not very often that I am lost for words, but this latest abject performance brought me very close to it.

Conversations after the game and today leave me of the same opinion as the vast majority of Sunderland fans

It promises to be a busy day at Salut! Sunderland. For many of us, I suppose, it was the mind-numbing meekness of our surrender against a competent Everton side that shocked the most. Not sure the old computer will be able to cope with the venom to be expected from the keyboard of Pete Sixsmith, but the recriminations have already begun to be felt elsewhere. These thoughts, from Gerry Naughton*, one of our Irish supporters (though his allegiance long pre-dates Drumaville/Quinn/Keane), appeared first at that excellent home of wit and wisdom known as the Blackcats list. They merit repetition here …

I’ve supported Sunderland since the late 60s. As a young lad I used to pester my mother to bring me to Dalymount Park in Dublin to watch the Republic of Ireland play “soccer”. My favourite player was Charlie Hurley. He was the difference between Ireland getting trounced or losing by just the one or two goals.

As you all well realise following Sunderland is a roller-coaster ride. We know that when we reach a high it is sure to be followed by the inevitable fall! We can’t seem to escape the yo-yo. The elation of promotion or even seventh place finishes in the Premier League never seems to last long enough to feel a sense of security. Maybe when we stayed up last season there was a sense that we had finally arrived to the promised land of premier league stability. But now, again, we can’t seem to stop the force of the fall!

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