No Cup Upset Thanks to Campbell

A game against non-league Barrow wasn’t the most glamorous way to kick off the New Year, even if minor celebrity Gareth Jelleyman (the one that had the “wobbler”) was playing, but it was a good chance to record a long overdue win. Any thoughts of Bruce resting players and giving some reserves a run out where banished when practically the same 11 that started against Blackburn appeared onto the pitch. The only changes came in the form of Steed returning to the right wing and Cana replacing Nosworthy in defence. The only worry now was that we would turn up half bothered thinking that it will be a doddle only to be turned over by an eager Barrow side backed by nearly 8,000 fans. 

Those fears seemed to come to life in the first half. We were sloppy with possession and looked just as rocky as our opponents did at the back. Barrow found themselves in our box a few times in the first stages of the game and as previously thought, looked really up for it. What we needed was an early goal to kill their spirit and it came around 15 minutes into the game when Mlabranque latched onto a Campbell backheel and drove the ball home from close range. Now the deadlock was broken so early surely this would open the proverbial floodgates and send barrow home blushing.

Not so, as we quickly found ourselves inviting pressure on the defence with Cana seemingly doing most of the defending on his own. Fulop made a good save as a barrow free kick flew hard and low through a maze of bodies towards goal. Our box was a busy place in the first half and the half time whistle came with the lead still intact, just. Possession needed to be utilized more efficiently in the last 45 minutes if we were going to put a brave Barrow team to the sword.

A second would surely end any hope of an upset and we didn’t have to wait long as Campbell dove to latch onto a free kick and headed it past a stranded Tim Deasy. Now all that was needed to progress was to cut out any daft errors and keep our concentration intact. This looked to be the case as 6 minutes later the lads found themselves 3 – 0 up as Campbell again latched onto a cross and his clever header slipped past the post into the side of the net. With half an hour yet to play it looked as if the game could quickly turn into a rout as we looked far more assured and able than in the first half.

Credit to Barrow though, they never lay down and still looked to break at every opportunity. Meyler was tenacious in the centre of the park and did well in cutting out attacks and starting counters. We began to dominate the match and it was all Sunderland in the latter stages. Campbell missed a host of opportunities to record his hat-trick as did Ryan Noble to record his first senior goal for the club. The young forward looked good as he tricked his way into the box only to fire wide each time he saw a gap.

The game ended at 3 – 0 which was a fair result given the dominance of the second half but it was nowhere as straightforward as 3 – 0 seems to imply. Barrow was resilient in the first half and caused a few scares as they cut through the defence on a couple of occasions. The 8,000 that made the trip over the Pennines have every right to be proud of their side as they took the game to us even after the third goal had went in. Sunderland on the other hand can just be pleased nothing came of the early pressure and they are safely through to the fourth round.

Final Score: Sunderland 3 – 0 Barrow

Man of the Match: David Meyler  

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