Stamford Bridge at round 4.50 pm on Saturday was a scene of delirium and delight for Sunderland. A 93rd-minute winner from Chemsdine Talbi moved us as much as second within the desk and regardless of Chelsea dominating the ball, they by no means appeared prone to peg us again.
The ambiance was up there with the most effective I’ve ever skilled as a Sunderland fan and the away finish barely stopped singing even after going 1-0 down early on. A fourth-minute Alejandro Garnacho objective may’ve opened the floodgates, however this Sunderland staff has proven time and time once more that it doesn’t go down and not using a struggle.
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Within the second half, we stepped up and as soon as once more, we didn’t appear to be a newly-promoted staff.
Chelsea repeatedly performed the ball into the field, the place it was both headed away by a defender or claimed by Robin Roefs. It was an ideal away efficiency and our organisation allowed us to each preserve Chelsea at arm’s size and play some respectable soccer ourselves.
Chelsea have loads of particular person high quality however what was missing from them was unity. The ambiance generated by the house followers was non-existent — however perhaps that’s what years of changing into a vacation spot for vacationers will do for you.
When Talbi curled the ball into the underside nook, the chaos on our facet of the Shed Finish started. We noticed what that meant to each participant on the pitch and the celebrations at full time have been reflective of a monumental efficiency from everybody in a Sunderland shirt.
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I walked by Euston Station in my purple and white stripes and was congratulated on the end result by a number of individuals. We beat the Membership World Cup Champions in their very own yard and infrequently appeared underneath strain, and it’s a end result which may not sink in for some time.
Six years in the past, virtually to the day of our 2-1 win at Chelsea, we misplaced 1-0 at Shrewsbury.
I used to be on the sport and trudged away from Shropshire considering issues couldn’t get a lot worse. After they did, it was a private low level in following Sunderland. On the time, if somebody got here as much as me and mentioned that in six years, we’d be within the prime 4 of the Premier League after profitable 1-2 at Stamford Bridge with Granit Xhaka as our captain, I’d’ve laughed hysterically all the way in which again dwelling.
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The transformation at this membership in an excellent shorter house of time has been phenomenal.
Three and a half years in the past, we misplaced 6-0 to Bolton Wanderers and appeared destined for a fifth straight season within the third tier. Now, we discover ourselves hoping that Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool drop factors to ensure that them to stay under us within the Premier League.
Regardless of this, nothing about what’s occurred between that wet day in Shrewsbury to the place we’re at the moment is a fluke. We’re within the prime 4 of the Premier League as a result of we’ve proven no worry in opposition to sides who most likely take us frivolously resulting from being the newly promoted membership.
That is a very powerful side for me — that many groups have come up from the Championship and nonetheless appeared like a Championship membership, with timid performances to match.
We’re enjoying among the finest soccer many people have ever seen and the extra time we spend dreaming on the prime of the league, the much less we’ll hopefully want to fret in regards to the backside.
