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If you tolerate this, then your children will be next...

The sun glistened quietly in the darkened background of the Hampshire evening sky, a few specs of rain slowly developed a puddle on the roof of the Fratton End. Hoards of blue and gold fans proudly applauded their victorious team, not just in battle but in their Premier League survival. Despite ending the season with a meaningless home game, they managed to show their gratitude to the loyal support they have received through out a season of relative turmoil.

In contrast stood eleven dejected stripes, hopefully feeling red with embarrassment and white with sickening guilt. But it is not the first time they have struck this pose, it seems to be a recurring trend in a campaign filled with promise, but badly let down by a losing mentality and a lack of endeavour. Ironically these two missing pieces of the jigsaw are the two things that any player can possess, regardless of their skill level, making last nights lengthy journey to the south coast another worthless excursion as a Sunderland fan.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

It doesn't take a genius to work out that May is most definitely the business end of the season, it is a time when no-one cares about performances, but everyone lives and dies by their points haul.

The tally of three, one or god forbid, none, is the single most important part of football come five to five on a Saturday afternoon in May.

However, this May game was different. As the Reebok emptied bemoaning an end of season bore draw, 5,000 fans stood and applauded. Their stance was a show of respect and appreciation, a show of affection that has been some what undeserving in recent weeks. But on this occasion it was fully justified.

For once, Sunderland had seemed to earn the adulation of having everyone displaying their gratitude. Finally they have done the shirt they wear a bit of justice and finally I can leave a stadium 100% satisfied that my team has at least shown they care.

Talk Is Cheap

The Stadium of Light stinks, it has a desperate air of inevitability that is permeating its way through the club, suffocating everyone connected and ultimately inching us closer to the unthinkable.

They say passion doesn't always lend itself to reason, but after watching a lifeless performance against a distracted Everton, I'm not angry, far from it. I define anger as a boiled up frustration, it's the emotion caused when you believe that things should be improved, when you believe people should be doing better.

Now, unfortunately, I do not possess anger, I am laissez-faire when it comes to the issue of Sunderland and relegation. Whatever will be will be, que sera sera. I've had enough experience of abysmal effortless displays this season that I've come to the conclusion I shouldn't let it bother me, worries are now becoming a distant memory. Off with their heads and send them down I say, they deserve it, they've committed a crime now let them do the time.

Full Circle...?

As Mark Halsey gave three sharp blasts on his whistle, the Hawthorns erupted in a state of pandemonium. A team resigned to Championship football next season had dominated a Premier League game and completely annihilated a fellow side in their division, a fantastic achievement considering their predicament.

A despondent Ricky Sbragia described it as the 'worst' of the season, a desolate Phil Bardsley branded it a 'shambles'. However the majority of Sunderland fans, once the emotions had drained, simply crossed it off as the usual, typical bloody Sunderland.

West Bromwich Albion three, Sunderland nil may have sent a few shock waves around the country but it definitely didn't in the North East, a place where people have become accustomed to this frustrating football team. Pardon the phrase but nothing is ever black and white for Sunderland, nothing ever seems to be so damn straight forward and easy.

Celebrity FC

When Richard Scudamore introduced his plans for a 39th game to be played in the Premier League, I hope he took the time to explore the possibility of adding a 21st team instead. They would be called Celebrity FC, however they would only play in midweek to allow their weekend ritual of going out and getting uncontrollably drunk, swearing at paparazzi and then getting arrested. Also, Ashley Cole would be club captain.

They would play their home games closest to the nearest party or nightclub, whilst playing in shoes, jeans and a shirt to save time after the whistle, not forgetting to have chilled bottles of lager scattered around the pitch-side to avoid any dehydration during a game.

Then again, why stop at one team? Why not introduce these rules to Sepp Blatter at FIFA and let's make English football the playboy playground it is. Let's face it, footballers are just a bunch of over-paid, under-worked, cocky foul-mouthed morons who throw the game into disrepute.

Romance Of The League

Di Matteo: "Number 30, Bob."
Wilson: "That's Ricky Sbragia's Sunderland and they're at home."
Beasant: "Number 27, Bob."
Wilson: "To Blyth Spartans or Blackburn Rovers."
City of Sunderland: "Not Blackburn again, switch the channel please love."

So once again the red and white of Sunderland came up against the blue and white of Blackburn, four managers have oversaw this fixture in the last two months with a mere six goals scored. Consequently this was never going to be an FA Cup classic, and definitely not a game that would demand an early slot on the ITV highlights at 10.

Ricky Sbragia: Mistake or masterstroke?

Ricky Sbragia has been as the helm on Wearside for near on six weeks now, a period that has seen him administer eight games as manager, resulting in three wins, two draws and three defeats.

It's a run that has kept us above the relegation places, albeit it ever so delicately, and into the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in three years, early days it certainly is, but promising ones at that.

Sunderland deserve better than Roy Keane

Everybody seems to be missing the point. Commitment is paramount and backbone is crucial. Clearly Roy Keane possesses neither and that is why he is no longer manager of Sunderland AFC.

The club has bent over backwards to accommodate this man. They gave him a chance at management and continually supported his decisions no matter what the consequence. Yet when all we ask is for him to replicate the favour and give us a chance he leaves. Good riddance, Niall Quinn deserves better.

Sunderland: Bullet Proof

Renowned for his unrelenting desire to win, first is first and second is nowhere. This desire to win resulted in many a triumph and many a fight back, without a doubt an inspirational figure and one of the greatest players to ever grace the game. There is no challenge he can't face and no hurdle he won't overcome, with a reputation so fierce and so determined he is surely the man you want with you not against.

So during a period of two victories in ten games, not to mention a hugely important six-pointer against Bolton only 24 hours away, the last thing any Sunderland fan or player needs to hear is this so called winner Roy Keane spouting: "If I can leave here in six, seven month's time, hopefully with the club well established in the Premiership, then we'll all be happy."

The man's arrogance astounds me.

Change Yourself, Not The Record

If you haven't bought a ticket for the circus would you still expect to be smothered by the antics from inside the tent? No you wouldn't. So why do we constantly have to endure countless reports from SJP about this pathetic walk-away Geordie legend, his overweight employer and the apparent chaos happening upon the Tyne? It's rather frequent, rather exaggerated and lets be honest, rather boring.