Two last looks at the vital game on Sunday start here. We can lose and stay up, of course. But, Colin Randall insists, it is not good enough to settle for second best against Chelsea and pray for comforting news from other grounds …

We all have memories. For Sunderland fans, there have been exhilarating moments to make all that passion and loyalty seem worthwhile.

There have been a good deal more gut-wrenching ones that will stick with you until long after the cows have come home.

Vital games are sometimes dotted around a season. This time, we’re concerned only with last games of seasons. And Sunderland v Chelsea matters a massive amount, as did the same encounter back in 1963 about which Pete Sixsmith is preparing a Soapbox piece as I write.

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Blue murder for us on Sunday, forced to pray for good news from Hull or Villa? Or an extraordinary win that makes it unnecessary for us to want for anything except defeat for the Mags? If only Jerry Evans, in the second part of the final Who are They? of the 2008/9 season, could be proved right; Blues fan though he’s been since childhood, he not only thinks we’ll somehow manage it, but hopes so too. He is also a true gent who wants “hate” taken out of footballing rivalries – and rather disapproves of our desire to see the Mags go down – and whose thoughts have been joy to deal with. See the first part of his contribution here and then enjoy his responses to our questions …

So how has the season been for you?

The overall results have been excellent. Third behind an outstanding Man Utd and a resurgent Liverpool is no disgrace. Perhaps the long term injury to the magnificent Essien made the difference. And to hold the stunning Barcelona to one goal in three hours was a great achievement. If Chelsea had set out to throw everything at the Catalans, I believe they might have leaked several goals. Iniesta, Xavi, Messi and co are at the pinnacle of this wonderful game.

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