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Sixer’s Sevens: short, sharp matchday verdicts
This is the full list of seven-word verdicts on each Sunderland game by Pete Sixsmith, Salut! Sunderland‘s peerless chronicler and sage. They appear as soon after each final whistle as we can manage (which sometimes may not be as soon as we’d like), and should be seen here and at a posting updated after the match. If an asterisk precedes the comment, the words that follow are the work of someone else …
Dec 4 2011 Wolverhampton Wanderers (0) 2 SAFC (0) 1 More points sacrificed through weak, sloppy defending
Nov 26 2011 SAFC (1) 1 Wigan Athletic (1) 2 *Bruce’s reign surely over after this debacle. That was M Salut’s verdict, followed by these from Mr Sixsmith: “Shambolic defending spells end for Bruce now”, “He must go after another clueless performance”, “Got what we deserved after brainless display”, “Pressed the self destruct button yet again”, “Second half shocker means Bruce’s time’s up” and finally “Print them all”.
Nov 19 2011 SAFC (0) 0 Fulham (0) 0 Truly appalling game lacking pace, creativity, threat
Nov 5 2011 Manchester United (1) 1 SAFC (0) 0 Decent performance but slipshod defending cost us
Oct 29 2011 SAFC 2 (1) Aston Villa 2 (1) … Determination and effort produced a fair result
Oct 22 2011 Bolton Wanderers (0) 0 SAFC (0) 2 … Team selection vindicated in impressive second half
Oct 16 2011 Arsenal (1) 2 SAFC (1) 1 Defended bravely but attacking options barely existed
Oct 1 2011 SAFC (2) 2 West Bromwich Albion (2) 2 Deserved point after a truly horrendous start
Sept 26 2011 Norwich City (1) 2 SAFC (0) 1 Absolutely no positives to take from this
Sept 18 2011 SAFC 4 (3) Stoke City (0) 0 What a difference the right selection makes
Sept 10 2011 SAFC (0) 1 Chelsea (1) 2 Comical defending hands Chelsea their regulation win
Aug 27 2011 Swansea City (0) 0 SAFC (0) 0 Uninspiring game. Both teams look like strugglers
Aug 23 2011 Carling Cup 2nd Round: Brighton & Hove Albion (0) 1 SAFC (0) 0 Abysmal team selection got what it deserved
Aug 20 2011 SAFC (0) 0 Newcastle United (0) 1 Totally outfought in dismal second half display
Aug 13 2011 Liverpool (1) 1 SAFC (0) 1 Came back well, better side second half
2010-2011 Season
May 22 2011 West Ham (0) 0 SAFC (1) 3 take your pick … Unbeaten in London and above the Mags OR Easy win and well done West Brom
May 14 2011 SAFC (1) 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) 3 … We ran out of steam; Wolves didn’t
May 7 2011 Bolton Wanderers (0) 1 SAFC (1) 2 Great result, strong performance and safety assured
April 30 2011 SAFC (0) 0 Fulham (1) 3 No forwards, creaky defence, hurry up summer
April 23 2011 SAFC (0) 4 Wigan Athletic (0) 2 Showed great character for well deserved win
April 16 2011 Birmingham City (1) 2 SAFC (0) 0 Soft goals mean our position is critical
April 9 2011 SAFC (2) 2 West Bromwich Albion (2) 3 All our weaknesses horribly exposed: totally inept
April 3 2011 Manchester City (2) 5 SAFC (0) 0 No shape, no fight, heading for oblivion
March 20 2011 SAFC (0) 0 Liverpool (1) 2 Liverpool better, but crucial decisions against us
March 5 2011 Arsenal (0) 0 SAFC (0) 0 Take your pick: A solid performance to be proud of or Better than Barca as we thwart Gunners
Feb 26 2011 Everton (2) 2 SAFC (0) 0 Were never in the game; easily beaten
Feb 12 2011 SAFC (1) 1 Tottenham Hotspur (1) 2 Beaten by side one step above us
Feb 5 2011 Stoke City (1) 3 SAFC (1) 2 Take your pick: Horrible result against a truly horrible team or A refereeing performance that defies reasonable analysis
Feb 1 2011 SAFC (2) 2 Chelsea (2) 4 Cracking game deservedly won by arrogant Blues
Jan 22 2011 Blackpool (0) 1 SAFC (2) 2 Excellent first half but tight at end
Jan 16 2010 SAFC (0) 1 Newcastle United (0) 1 Bacon saved by Gian, but scarcely deserved
Jan 5 2011 Aston Villa (0) 0 SAFC (0) 1 Take your pick between 1) Bob and Tim Chapman: * Aerial battle settled by Bardsley super strike or 2) Sobs: * Deserved battling win – but at what cost?
Jan 1 2011 SAFC (2) 3 Blackburn Rovers (0) 0 Comfortable rather than convincing against feeble opposition
Dec 28 SAFC (0) 0 Blackpool (0) 2 Miss chances, lose games. Simple as that
Dec 26 2010 Manchester United (1) 2 SAFC (0) 0 United simply miles better than we were
Dec 18 2010 SAFC (1) 1 Bolton Wanderers (0) 0 Marginally the better team. Merry Christmas all
Dec 11 2010 Fulham (0) 0 SAFC (0) 0 Unambitiously scrappy draw, but Mensah was immense
Dec 5 SAFC (1) 1 West Ham United (0) 0 Made hard work of beating relegation certainties
Nov 27 Wolves (0) 3 SAFC (0) 2 Points thrown away by totally inept defending
Nov 22 SAFC (1) 2 Everton (1) 2 Fair result but should have held on
Nov 14 Chelsea (0) 0 SAFC (1) 3 Best performance in years: a stunning show
Nov 9 2010 Tottenham Hotspur (0) 1 SAFC (0) 1 * Classy equaliser, gutsy defending bring just reward
Nov 6 2010 SAFC (1) 2 Stoke City (0) 0 New boys beat old boys – but wobbly
Oct 31 2010 Newcastle United (3) 5 SAFC (0) 1 A complete embarrassment from beginning to end
Oct 23 2010 SAFC (1) 1 Aston Villa (0) 0 Just enough to hang on, but shaky
Oct 18 2010 Blackburn Rovers (0) 0 SAFC (0) 0 A complete waste of a Monday night
Oct 2 2010 SAFC (0) 0 Manchester United (0) 0 Were superior throughout and completely outplayed United
Sat Sept 25 2010 Liverpool (1) 2 SAFC (1) 2 Showed real quality and deserved to win
Tues Sept 21 2010 Carling Cup: SAFC (1) 1 West Ham (1) 2 Disappointing: as flat as Saturday was sharp
Sat Sept 18 2010 SAFC (0) 1 Arsenal (1) 1Late, but point was least we deserved
Sat Sept 11 2010 Wigan Athletic (0) 1 SAFC (0) 1 Good result which shows we have character
Sun Aug 29 2010 SAFC 1 (0) v Manchester City (0) 0 Nothing wrong with this team. Great performance
Tues Aug 24 2010 Carling Cup: SAFC (2) 2 Colchester United (0) 0 * Bent double, simply no less than expected
Sat Aug 21 2010 West Bromwich Albion (0) 1 SAFC (0) 0 Lost concentration and lacked composure. Not impressive.
Sat Aug 14 2010 SAFC 2 (1) v Birmingham City 2 (0) Postive outweights negatives but Cattermole’s stupidity costs
May 9 2010 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 (1) Sunderland (1) 1 Deeply disappointing finale lacking quality and determination
May 2 2010 Sunderland (0) 0 v Manchester United (1) 1 Good performance bodes well for next season
Apr 24 2010 Hull City (0) 0 Sunderland (1) 1 Good to win away but a horrible game
Apr 17 2010 Sunderland (2) 2 Burnley (0) 1Comfortable win but edgy at the end
Apr 10 2010 West Ham 1 (0) Sunderland 0 (0) Yet another disappointing away performance. Deserved nothing
Apr 3 2010 Sunderland (2)3 Tottenham Hotspur (0) 1Absolutely tremendous game and a great win
Mar 28 2010 Liverpool (2) 3 Sunderland (0) 0 Well beaten by a far better side
Mar 24 2010 Aston Villa (1) 1 Sunderland (1) 1 Excellent performance from a well balanced side*
Mar 20 2010 Sunderland (2) 3 Birmingham City (0) 1 Magnificent Gordon’s heroics ensure three vital points
Mar 14 2010 Sunderland (1) 1 Man City (0) 1 Very frustrating: this performance deserved a win
Mar 9 2010 Sunderland 4 (1) Bolton 0 (0) Comfortable in the end – what a relief
Feb 28 2010 Sunderland (0) 0 Fulham (0) 0 Well, at least we got a point
Feb 20 2010 Arsenal (1) 2 Sunderland (0) 0 Seen worse, but the slide goes on
Feb 09 2010 Portsmouth (0) 1 Sunderland (1) 1 Self destructive challenges mean still no win*
Feb 06 2010 Sunderland (0) 1 Wigan Athletic (1) 1 More endeavour still fails to conjure win*
Feb 01 2010 Sunderland (0) 0 Stoke City (0) 0 A game that defines the word ‘turgid’
Jan 27 2010 Everton (2) 2 Sunderland (0) 0 Hard to find the good in Goodison
Jan 23 2010 FA Cup 4th round: Portsmouth (1) 2 Sunderland (1) 1 Defensive clangers set off the Pompey chimes
Jan 16 2010 Chelsea 7 (4) Sunderland (2 (0) Embarrassing? Not quite as good as that*
Jan 02 2010 Sunderland (1) 3 Barrow (0) 0 A competent performance but lacking clinical finishing
Dec 28 2009 Blackburn Rovers (0) 2 Sunderland (0) 2 Brilliant Bent should be furious with defenders
Dec 26 2009 Sunderland (1) 1 Everton (0) 1 Incapable – again – of closing a game down
Dec 19 2009 Man City (3) 4 Sunderland (2) 3 Third rate defending leads to dismal defeat
Dec 15 2009 Sunderland (0) 0 Aston Villa (1) 2 Competed, but well beaten by superior opponents
Dec 12 2009 Sunderland (1) 1 Portsmouth (0) 1 A horrible game that exposed our weaknesses
Dec 6 2009 Fulham 1 (0) Sunderland 0 (0) Blustering fightback insufficient after wretched first half
Nov 28 2009 Wigan 1 (0) Sunderland (0) 0 Complete failure to show last week’s qualities
Nov 21 2009 Sunderland 1 (0) Arsenal 0 (0) A compelling, absorbing and absolutely wonderful win
Nov 7 2009 Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland Ref’s inability to apply rules costs dear
Oct 31 2009 Sunderland (1) 2 West Ham (2) 2 Fabulous fightback foils Hammers and rotten ref
Oct 27 2009 Carling Cup: Penalty shootout: Sunderland (0) 1 Aston Villa (0) 3 Two glorious chances spurned equals penalty misery
Oct 24 2009 Birmingham (1) 2 Sunderland (0) 1 Not even beachballs would have helped today
Oct 17 2009 Sunderland v Liverpool :Fabulous team performance personified by superb Cana
Oct 3 2009 Manchester United (0) 2 v Sunderland (1) 2 Take your pick:Feels like a defeat but it shouldn’t or Jammy, jammy Manchester United in injury time
Sept 27 2009 Sunderland 5 (1) v Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 (0)Not as easy as the scoreline suggests
Sept 22 2009 Carling Cup: Sunderland (2) 2 Birmingham City (0) Ninety minutes for once free of stress
Sept 19 2009 Burnley (1) 3 v Sunderland (1) 1 Outfought and out-thought in dismal second half
Sept 12 2009 Sunderland (1) 4 Hull City (1) 1 Slick second half show as sun shines
Aug 29 2009 Stoke City 1 (1) Sunderland (0) 0 Squeezed out too easily by determined opponents
Aug 24 2009 Norwich City (0) 1 Sunderland (3) 4 Pleasant day out followed by comfortable win
Aug 22 2009 Sunderland (1) 2 Blackburn Rovers (1) 1 Hard game, deserved win: Jones, Cana outstanding
Aug 18 2009: Sunderland (1) 1 Chelsea (0) 3 Started well but outclassed by superior opponents
Aug 15 2009 : Bolton Wanderers (0) 0 Sunderland (1) 1 Deserved victory with many positives to take
How it looked in season 2008-2009
May 24 2009 Sunderland 2 (0) Chelsea 3 (0) Better performance but Villa are the heroes
May 18 2009 Portsmouth (0) 3 Sunderland (0) 1 Another defensive horror show threatens another relegation
May 9 2009 Bolton (0) O Sunderland (0) O Effort and commitment but still need point
May 3 2009 Sunderland (0) 0 Everton (0) 2 Another defensive shambles, another nail in coffin
April 25 2009 West Bromwich Albion (1) 3 Sunderland (0) 0 A performance so bad it defies description
April 18 2009 Sunderland (1) 1 v Hull City (0) 0 Vital win in a truly awful game
April 11 2009 Sunderland (0) 1 v Man United (1) 2 Better performance than result gives some hope
April 04 2009 West Ham United 2 (1) v Sunderland (0) 0 Dreadful result and performance enhances relegation credentials
March 22 2009 Man City 1 (0) v Sunderland (0) 0 Battled away bravely. Just not sharp enough
March 14 2009 Sunderland (1) 1 v Wigan Athletic (2) 2 Clueless, brainless, disorganised, pathetic, pitiful equals relegation
March 7 2009 Sunderland 1 (1) v Tottenham Hotspur 1 (0) Robbed of vital points by shocking referreeing
March 3 2009 Liverpool (0) 2 v Sunderland (0) 0 Predictable defeat. Makes a Saturday win essential
Feb 21 2009 Arsenal (0) 0 Sunderland (0) 0 Outstanding performances from Fulop through to Jones
Feb 7 2009 Sunderland (0) 2 Stoke City (0) 0 Stoke make us work for crucial win
Feb 4 2009 FA Cup 4th round replay: Blackburn Rovers 2 (1) Sunderland 1 (1) AET Good performance, but again we lack punch
Feb 1 2009 Newcastle Unitd 1 (0) Sunderland (1) 1 Another poor decision, but disappointing second half
Jan 27 2009 Sunderland(0) 1 1 Fulham (0) 0 Three vital points. Now for the Mags
Jan 24 2009 Sunderland (0) 0 Blackburn Rovers (0) 0 No cup magic in this dismal offering
Jan 17 2009 Sunderland (1) 1 Aston Villa (& Mike Dean) (0) 2 Total frustration as valuable points slip away
Jan 10 2009 Middlesbrough (1) 1 v Sunderland (0) 1 A game we clearly should have won
Jan 3 2009 FA Cup 3rd Round: Sunderland 2 (0) v Bolton Wanderers (0) 1 Decent showing puts us on Wembley trail
Dec 28 2008 Everton 3 (2) Sunderland (0) 0 Pathetic, against a team with no forwards
Dec 26 2008 Sunderland (0) 0 v Blackburn Rovers (0) 0 No Christmas cracker as Blackburn sit tight
Dec 20 2008 Hull City (1) 1 Sunderland (1) 4 Brilliant second half show to tame Tigers
Dec 13 2008 Sunderland (3) 4 West Bromwich Albion (0) 0 Comfortable win puts smiles on our faces
Dec 6 2008 Man Utd (0) 1 Sunderland (0) 0 Cruel defeat after disciplined if negative performance
Nov 29 2008 Sunderland (1) 1 v Bolton Wanderers (3) 4 Embarrassing and humiliating. Major changes needed now
Nov 23 2008 Sunderland (0) 0 v West Ham (1) 1 One-dimensional approach cannot break down opposition
Nov 15 2008 Blackburn (1) 1 v Sunderland (0) 2 Great second half brings end to slump
Nov 12 2008 Carling Cup: Sunderland (0) 1 Blackburn (0) 2 Shoddy defending has those bells really clanging
Nov 8 2008 Sunderland (1) 1 Portsmouth (0) 2 Alarm bells ringing after woeful second half
Nov 01 2008 Chelsea 5 (3) v SAFC 0 (0) Never has a bubble burst so quickly
Oct 29 2008 Stoke City 1 (0) v SAFC 0 (0) Not one chance created against limited opposition
Oct 25 2008 SAFC 2 (1) Newcastle 1 (1) Absolutely bloody marvellous. Mags beaten at last
Oct 18 2008 Fulham (0) 0 v SAFC (0) 0 Foiled by woodwork and bewildering referee’s decision
Oct 4 2008 SAFC (0) 1 v Arsenal (0) 1 Disciplined performance that deserved a famous win
Sept 27 2008 Aston Villa (2) 2 v SAFC (1) 1 Played well but couldn’t force deserved draw
Sept 23 2008 Carling Cup: SAFC (4-3 on penalties) (0) 2 Northampton (1) 2 Thoroughly undeserved, after a truly shocking display
Sept 20 2008 SAFC (0) 2 v Middlesbrough (0) 0 Old boys win well in second half
Sept 13 2008 Wigan (0) 1 SAFC (1) 1 Little pleasure in watching this scrappy showing
Aug 31 2008 SAFC 0 v Manchester City 3 Suicidal defending gives us harsh reality check
Aug 27 2008 Notts Forest 1 v SAFC 2 Embarrassment avoided, but not a great performance
Aug 23 2008 Tottenham Hotspur (0) 1 v SAFC (0) 2 Strength and determination laced with real quality
Aug 16 2008 SAFC 0 v Liverpool 1 Cruel, but couldn’t sustain great first half display
THIS GAP has appeared … working to fill it
May 6, 2007: - Sixer – Luton 0 Sunderland 5 What a way to leave the Championship!!!!
May 6, 2007: – Salut! Sunderland – Luton 0 Sunderland 5 HOW TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN STYLE!
April 27, 2007: SAFC 3 Burnley 2 Carlos fantastic as our frayed nerves hold
April 27, 2007: SAFC 3 Burnley 2 YES! Sixer awaited, but a golden moment
April 21, 2007: Colchester 3 SAFC 1 Really worrying. Shocking defending and little created
April 14, 2007: SAFC 2 QPR 1 Easy win made hard, but nearly there*
April 9, 2007: Southampton 1 SAFC 2 Hardest game for ages but class tells
April 7, 2007: SAFC 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Deserved win, other results great, perfect day
March 31, 2007: Cardiff 0 SAFC 1 Great win against tenacious but limited opposition
March 17, 2007: SAFC 2 Hull City 0 Thanks Evans for Jonny; three priceless points
March 13, 2007: SAFC 2 v Stoke City 2 Good point against tough, disciplined opponents
March 10, 2007: Barnsley 0 v SAFC 2 Comfortable win that shows strength in depth
March 3, 2007: West Bromwich Albion 1 SAFC 2 No bounce in the Baggies after this
Feb 24, 2007: SAFC 2 Derby County 1 Pulsating game, great result. Promotion now on
Feb 20, 2007: Birmingham City 1 SAFC 1 Many positives; disappointing to drop two points
Feb 17, 2007: SAFC 4 Southend 0 Silky Sunderland swamp second-best Shrimpers
Feb 10, 2007: Plymouth 0 SAFC 2 Massive result with great Irish one two
Feb 3, 2007: SAFC 2 Coventry City 0 Yorke outstanding in deserved, hard fought win
Jan 30, 2007: SAFC 0 Crystal Palace 0 Stifled by strong defence but lacked imagination
Jan 20, 2007: Sheff Wed 2 SAFC 4 Easy win; looked hard for 10 mins
Jan 13 2007: SAFC 1 Ipswich 0 Spoiled by wind. New boys all impressed
* Sometimes there is a delay at Pete’s end and an emergency substitute is pressed into service. Sometimes there are technical difficulties. Sometimes Salut! Sunderland is caught napping. Preview seven-worders are also usually mine, not Pete’s. Between us, we do our best………
Tags: Pete Sixsmith, SAFC, Sunderland
Good result for us and a great result for Blackpool. The Mags must really be feeling sore after that one.
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Feeling sore? why nar! weve just beat EVERTON AWAY and climbed up the table matey- but maybe you wont post this as its from a “MAG” and makes you eat humble pie- we will see later eh? “BLACK N WHITE ARMY!”
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Humble pie? Nowt o’ the sort, marra! That’s what you ramshackle lot were eating after Blackpool kicked your BLACK N WHITE ARSES. Beating Everton, home or away, is nowt to write home about. And we’ve climbed up the table as well, matey. But as you say, we’ll see later, eh?
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