Fighting Talk by Mark Metcalf

Sunday, 2 October 2011

Video on TUC spending cuts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uedLTQGJZI

During

After

Sunderland 2 West Bromwich Albion 2

Sunderland 2

Bendtner, Elmohamady

West Bromwich Albion 2

Morrison, Long

A point apiece for two teams struggling to find form. And whilst Sunderland will be pleased to have come from two down the result leaves manager Steve Bruce under pressure, especially as three of the Wearsiders next four matches are away, including trips to Arsenal and Manchester United.

It took only four minutes for the Baggies to grab the lead when James Morrison rose in front of Wes Brown to flick Chris Brunt’s free-kick beyond Simon Mignolet. Ninety seconds later it was 2-0 when Craig Gardner’s pass rocketed off Youssouf Mulumbu to drop beyond Michael Turner and leave Shane Long to scamper through and confidently beat Mignolet. The keeper then did well to deny Morrison when a third would surely have ended the contest.

Sunderland were back in the game on 24 minutes when Stephane Sessegnon’s pass was beautifully back-heeled by Sebastian Larsson into the path of man-of-the match Nicklas Bendtner whose shot deflected off Gareth McAuley to leave Ben Foster helpless.

The home side levelled when Ahmed Elmohamady rose to bullet home a header from a delightful Bendtner cross and might have taken the lead only for Foster to deny Gardner with a good save.

In the second period Sunderland enjoyed the majority of possession and Brown should have done better when he peeled away at the back post to meet but head Larsson’s cross down and over the bar. Then Elmohamady shot much too close to Foster when found by Sessegnon before the pace of the game slowed in the final quarter, with West Brom in particular rarely seeking to score the winner.

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Two new video's on the work of Leeds based group supporting refugees and asylum seekers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj5DYssLMfw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAmOf9H858w

For more on this see article on this site dated July 19th on 'Britain's firm but fair immigration policies.'

Video on disabled hate crime conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzXkYMcjpf8

for more on this please see article dated April 19th on this site

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Norwich City 2 Sunderland 1

Norwich City 2

Barnett, Morison

Sunderland 1

Richardson

A deserved first Premier League home victory of the season pushed Norwich into the top half of the table. Not that they had to play especially well as Sunderland were toothless, lacked a fighting spirit and are clearly in for a season of struggle.

The Canaries started the game by pushing the Wearsiders back with Steve Morison forcing Simon Mignolet to get down quickly to save. Then when the keeper dashed from his box he was beaten to a loose ball by Wes Hoolahan and fortunate to see the Norwich skipper’s shot clear the empty goal.

It took Sunderland 15 minutes to fashion their first opening but with just John Ruddy to beat midfielder Craig Gardner hit his left shot well over from the edge of the area. The keeper then got down smartly to block a Nicklas Bendtner shot before Paul Lambert’s side took the lead on 32 minutes.

Playing a 1-2 with David Fox to get beyond Kieran Richardson, Elliott Bennett’s cross from the byline left Leon Barnett with the simple task of putting the ball into an empty net. It took Norwich just three minutes into the second period to double their lead when Steve Morison headed a floating Marc Tierney cross powerfully home. The scorer was then denied a chance to add to his tally when only a last ditch Titus Bramble tackle prevented him running clear.

2-0 down Sunderland were given a great chance to get back into the match when Bradley Johnson’s back pass was short but Bendtner hit his shot too close to Ruddy and the ball went out for a corner.

Substitute Connor Wickham might also have done better with an Ahmed Elmohamady cross but his header from five yards out lacked pace and power. Ruddy then saved well from David Vaughan as for the first time Steve Bruce’s side put the home side under pressure.

Five minutes from the end a powerful drive from the corner of the box by Richardson caught Ruddy off-guard to reduce the arrears and after which the home fans endured an anxious few minutes before they were able to celebrate all three points.