ALS: SAFC Fanzine

16/09/2025

OTD: 3-1 V QPR (2023)

On this day in 2023, Sunderland went to Shepherd's Bush and came from behind to claim three points thanks to Clarke, Ballard and Ba. Here's Sobs' report from that great day...

The day was off to a good start when, after I'd waited nervously in the pre-dawn wolflight of a mizzly damp of the temporary bus stop on Tenters Street, I breathed a relieved cloud into the air when the bus turned up, meaning that, barring mechanical failure or ambush by the natives of Spennymoor, arrival at Durham station for the 07:08 to that London was guaranteed.

An uneventful journey ended just before ten with King's Cross echoing to the sound of Ha'way the Lads as we met up with the other five of the Durham bus regulars and the not-so-magnificent seven headed for fun in the sun in Hammersmith. Thanks to Ron's bonus Oyster cards, discovered in the mystery drawer, it was a free tube ride. Once in the William Morris, we learned that Sunderland townies are known in certain places as cheese eaters. Every day’s a school day.

Anyhow, The William Morris filled up with Mackems, QPRs, and those in town for Fulham v Luton as we scared the locals with full-volume pitmatic. They couldn't understand a word, but it certainly worried them as they tried to work out which country we were from.

In our pink and purple away gear we lined up facing the other end as we took up our usual precarious position up aheight with Patto down below.

Patterson
Hume Ballard O'Nien Huggins
Neil Ekwah
Ba Bellingham Clarke
Burstow
.. and a bench of Bishop, Hemir, Pricthard, Aouchiche, Seelt, Triantis, Rigg, Bennette, and Roberts.

Obviously, it was a worry to hear of Cirkin’s unavailability, but ;uckily, or rather, cleverly, we had Huggins to slot straight in. We also had a proper centre forward in new boy Burstow, so we were interested to see how we’d cope when we had a real target to play to.

As expected, we dominated the early possession but the Hoops defended well to deny us space at the sharp end. Perhaps Burstow lives locally – they certainly decided to keep tight on him so that there was never really a chance to tee him up, but we stayed patient, which proved the key. Gareth Ainsworth seemed to have brought his Wycombe tactics with him – goodness know, after last season’s showing QPR needed to try something – of “if it’s not in a home shirt, kick it” and it did succeed in breaking up our play. When we didn’t properly deal with a long throw (when did we ever?) the ball found its way to the edge of the box and a low shot went across Patto and just beyond his left fingertips to nestle just inside the post. Hardly deserved, but it was a shot and it was on target. That wasn't in the script.

If that wasn’t bad enough, only two minutes later Ekwah needed treatment and was pretty quickly subbed in favour of Pritchard, which obviously changed the shape of the game. Thankfully, it was for the better, but with the home side sticking to their clogging tactics, it was no real surprise and a real source of joy when Colback, who’d been on the end of a fair bit of abuse from the off, flew in high on Jobe and was straight off. What was he thinking? I reckon his dad would have sent him off for that. Obviously, that was the signal for us to relax and play the patient game. We’d already shown superior passing, but now we could let the ball do even more of the work. We thought we were back in it a few minutes later when Pricth’s cross was nodded in by Jobe, but the linesman’s flag quickly ended our celebrations. Somehow, we couldn’t find a way through until we were deep in the time added for the treatment of Ekwah and Bellingham without levelling, but then up stepped Clarke. QPR knew fine well what he was going to do when he cut in from the left after taking a clever pass from Huggins. His low right footed shot took a satisfying pinball off a defending shin and left Begovic with no chance and had us in the upper tier precariously close to tumbling out of the stand in celebration.

With the hosts a man down, Mowbray decided we could go for it and replaced Huggins with Roberts, and little Pat quickly set about dancing across the pitch behind Burstow and linking up with Pritch, who’d established himself as the main man. He was pulling strings and dictating play, moving the ball left and right with the home defence looking increasingly fraught. Ballard went close from a corner after only a few minutes, and Ba showed that his improvement was continuing when he showed great movement to find space for a shot – but Begovic was up to it. Following a corner, the ball came to Pritch and fired in a low shot that Begovic saved, but he only succeeded in pushing the ball across the area to where Ballard was lurking unmarked, and big Dan gleefully planted it into the empty net to cause more ructions in the away end. No more than we deserved.

A few minutes after that we replaced Burstow with Aouchiche (forgive me if it just call him Adil from now on) to give another new boy a chance to impress, and he didn’t let us down as he carried the ball past opponents with ease as we probed for the settler. Not that the result wasn’t in doubt from the moment Ballard scored, but football’s a funny old game, we are Sunderland, and it only takes a moment to score a goal. Ba smacked one off the post as we in the seat went into singing overdrive, then Patto had to be on his toes, or rather his knees, a couple of times to ensure that didn’t happen at our end but when the third came it was no surprise. After Jobe had seen his effort well saved, Adil played a lovely cross from our left to the inrushing Ba, and he hit an absolute beaut into the roof of the net with the keeper barely having time to blink. Ten to go, game over, mad celebrations amongst the 3,000 visitors.

On came Hemir for Belliingham and we could use the big man as a target to soak up the play and deny QPR any sort of chance of building a break. He came close to grabbing his first league goal, but it was not to be and we had to “make do” with 3-1. Honestly, I love going to QPR as it’s been such a happy hunting ground of late. A well-deserved win built on patience which let the quality shine through. Ba’s progress continues, Adil looks like the real deal, and if we can afford to start without players as good as Pricth and Roberst, we’re in a good place. Oh, and nobody got booked.

Man of the Match? Jobe glided about as he does, O’Nien (previously unmentioned simply because he organised this defensive marras so well that he had little to do) was his usual enthusiastic self, and Clarke did what Clarke does. However, little Alex was the man who kept us ticking after his unscheduled early appearance from the bench and shows that we have the versatility in our squad that allows Mowbray to change tactics. Pritch for me.

15/09/2025

Send Atletico Madrid another £0M

15/09/2025

NORDI: ANYTHING FOR THE TEAM

Following another standout performance against Crystal Palace at the back alongside the rest of the defence and Robin Roefs in goal, Nordi Mukiele discussed our strong start to the season and shared his views on our long throws and how he can help the side out in several areas. Whilst trying to help out however he can, whether it be as a full back, centre back or even launching a long throw into the box, he says he's just happy to help out wherever he can like a true team player.

ROOOOOEFS
“The goalkeeper is really chill, I would say, but also confident. You know, when you have a goalkeeper like this, you just want to defend with all your body, that you don't concede any goal, and he showed that already since he's here, and today he showed it again. He's a very good goalkeeper, and when you have him behind you, you just want to do everything. He has nothing to do in the game, but if he has to do something like he did today, and he did it well, so we are really happy.”

LONG THROW IN
“You know, it's also another weapon for me to help the team with these kinds of things, not only to defend. I'm usually playing right back, so I do it a lot of the time these kinds of things, and nobody knew it, so now they know but I think I do it well and I just hope that one game or one day we're going to score with this."

HAPPY TO HELP IN ANY WAY
“In training, I did only one and they saw it, and after we just said that we can do it even if I play centre-back. But yeah, it's a good weapon for our team, something different, and I just hope that one day we're going to score with this. It’s just something that I hope is going to help the team. This is the only thing I want.”

TEAM PLAYER
“If I have to play centre-back, I will play centre-back, and I will do my job. If I have to play right back or left back, I will also do my job. I'm just happy to be on the pitch and ready to give everything for this team, for this jersey and I just hope to keep going like this.”

WE CAN KEEP IMPROVING
“To be honest with you, I think the team is not yet very, very alike 100 per cent... but at the beginning, to be honest, I'm really happy because I'm also impressed at how we can play, and we didn't know each other for a long time, but I'm just surprised and I'm just waiting for the future to see how we're going to do because for the moment, we do well, and we have to keep working to be better than now.”

RETURNING TO THE SOL
“Yeah, this is what I mean. This point is very important because we know we play at home to the next game. I’m really excited and happy to be back at home with our fans, and we'll do everything to take the three points again and to be comfortable in the table.”

15/09/2025

BORN ON THIS DAY: CHRIS TURNER

Born on this day is former Sunderland keeper Chris Turner, a shot stopper who won over the hearts of Roker Park and became a firm fans' favourite. He enjoyed a career spanning 18 years, all in the Football League as well as a managerial career which lasted for over a decade and a half.

Turner arrived at Roker Park in 1978 from his boyhood club of Sheffield Wednesday, he successfully saw off competition from Barry Siddall as Ken Knighton's men won promotion back to Division 1 in 1980. After that, he firmly cemented himself in the keeper's shirt at Roker Park, however, the arrival of Alan Durban as manager saw Turner demoted to back up and only featured 19 times in the 1981-82 campaign.

The Yorkshire born keeper would be a stalwart in the team from the following season though and would be one of the first names on the teamsheet under Len Ashurst. He starred in the impressive League Cup run which saw us get to the final in 1985, only to lose 1-0 to Norwich at Wembley. Asa Hartford's shot deflected off Gordon Chisholm to beat Turner between the sticks for Sunderland. However, that season would end on a high for the Steel City born keeper as he was voted Supporters' Player of the Year.

Following his impressive season in the 1984-85 campaign, Ron Atkinson signed him for £275k which was quite a hefty fee for a goalkeeper in 1985! Turner joined Manchester United and would grace the field for the Red Devils 64 times in the league as well as a handful of cup appearances. He was originally signed as a challenger to Gary Bailey but would become a starter after Bailey suffered an injury. He fell out of favour at Old Trafford under Alex Ferguson who transfer listed him as Gary Walsh came through the youth ranks, Turner finally left the North West to return to Sheffield Wednesday after the arrival of Jim Leighton from Aberdeen.

His return to Hillsborough was to a struggling Owls side which were kept in the First Division following the arrival of Big Ron Atkinson, the manager who had signed him at United back in 1985. Turner would play two games on loan at Leeds under Howard Wilkinson to cover the injured Mervyn Day before he joined Third Division Leyton Orient in 1991 then he teamed up with John Sitton in 1994 as his assistant manager at Brisbane Road; Turner would star in the fly on the wall documentary Orient: Club for a Fiver.

He went on to manage Hartlepool United, Sheffield Wednesday, Stockport County and then Hartlepool again before leaving management in 2010. Since leaving management, he served as CEO and Director of Football of Colchester United, attempted to buy Sheffield Wednesday and help found Wakefield AFC in 2019.

14/09/2025

Palace away
📷 Dean Spraggon

14/09/2025

Now taking bookings for Forest away…

A Love Supreme online store. Your one stop shop for away coaches, t-shirts and other Sunderland related merchandise. 01915654422 - [email protected]

14/09/2025

RLB ON CPFC

Regis Le Bris spoke after his side held Crystal Palace to a 0-0 draw away from home. He gave an update on Enzo Le Fee's injury, explained the game plan and praised Robin Roefs for his outstanding goalkeeping performance.

CHANCE CREATION
“I think we prepared this game properly, and the picture was the picture we expected during the week. We played a good first half, dominating the ball, but it's not enough. You have to create chances, you have to threaten the opponent's defence. So we had a couple of opportunities - maybe one more, two more, to cross and be a bit more impactful in the box - but it didn't happen, so it's possible. But the first layers are positive, now we have to push more.”

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET
"Every game is a unique challenge, and this game against Crystal Palace, away, we knew before that it was probably the toughest challenge from the beginning of the season. I think we had two different parts in that game. The first one we showed good quality with the ball, the second one was a bit different, like expected, because it was clear that they were able to create and generate momentum through set-pieces, through direct play, through counter-attacks, especially with [Jean-Philippe] Mateta, because they are really smart and efficient in this way of playing. So they generated this momentum, but we were able to work together, to defend together, to make saves, to block the balls, and I think it's an important part of the performance.”

ENZO UPDATE
“It doesn't seem too serious, but we'll see. He's an important player for us because we can combine the winger position with a number 10’s ability, and I think to generate a bit more unpredictability in our game. It should have been really interesting to play with him, but it wasn’t an option today. It wasn't too bad.”

ROOOOOOEFS
“I think we need players at that level in the Premier League, otherwise we won't exist. So for me it's not a surprise, I'm really pleased and happy with his performance, of course. But not surprised, and I'm sure he will have other performances like that. Thanks to the team too, because to make these saves you need defenders, you need the block, you need to make it hard for the opponent, and when you are a goalkeeper you have to make the final save. Probably because he's young he will improve many things, I hope so. He's really composed, really calm, he understands the game really well. I think his technical and physical attributes, the way he understands the game, the way he can anticipate, the way he can connect with his teammates is really impressive. So for me it's not a surprise, but I'm happy with his performance.”

14/09/2025

MUKIELE POST PALACE

Nordi Mukiele has explained how he kept Crystal Palace's striker Jean-Philippe Mateta quiet in our goalless draw at Selhurst Park.

FAMILIAR FACE
"I knew him already before because he was playing in Germany also, and we were on the national team together, so I know him, I know how he plays.”

KNOW HIS GAME
“I didn't see every game from Palace from before, but I just saw some games, and I knew which type of player he is, what he likes and what he doesn't like. So, yeah, I think I did a good job because he didn't score. It helped knowing a little bit about his movement. And everyone knows that he's a good striker, and, yeah, today I just saw that I'm also a good defender.”

HARD FOUGHT POINT
“Yeah, exactly. That's very important. It's very important to get a clean sheet. We know goal difference is very important, and also for the confidence of the team and for the defenders and the goalkeeper. When you don't get any goals, this type of game, where it's really hard, your confidence goes high, and this is exactly what we want."

NEED TO CREATE MORE
“But we just have to keep working and training every day to keep a clean sheet. But we also need to score because it's also really important. But, yeah, I trust the offensive players because they are really good. And, like I say, we don't know each other for a long time, and when we find the good, this magical stuff, we will do something really good."

RESPECT THE POINT
“It was tough. It was a hard game, but we are happy now that we go home with one point, because it was really hard, and everyone knows that it's not easy to play here. We suffer together, to be honest. I would prefer, of course, to take three points, but one is a good one. This one is a good one, and I'm really happy because we did a great game.”

14/09/2025

OTD: SAFC 3-0 READING (2022)

On this day in 2022, we produced a goal from a beautiful passing move after Patrick Roberts scored two identical goals in the wake of Simms limping off the pitch, leaving us striker-less. Here's Sobs' report from that great day out...

Well, what on earth can you say about that? Already shorn of the services of our main striker, we lost the other ten minutes before the break, but adapted quite superbly to quite simply pass the home side to death. Pace and fluent movement had already been established as our modus operandi before the unfortunate Simms had to leave the arena, but the way we played throughout was just lovely. The stuff of dreams – and full marks to the gaffer for making best use of the ball skills of players like Clarke and Roberts when we don’t have the usual suspects up top.

Naturally, it hadn’t started well, with the train from Bishop falling foul of a broken summat and the services of Phil’s taxis being required to get me to the 1300 from Darlo. Thereafter things went more to plan, and after checking in to my salubrious penthouse (room 8) I met up with Blake at the handily nearby Nags Head (serendipity’s best deal to me in a while). From there it was a simple walk back to the station to meet the usual suspects and discuss the team, which was:

Patterson
Gooch Batth O’Nien Alese
Neil Evans ©
Roberts Pritchard Clarke
Simms.. and a bench of Bass, Dajaku, Matete, Diallo, Embleton, Bennette, and Hume.

With the minute’s silence being impeccably observed and the rendition of God Save the King being bellowed from the away end, the football world showed that the decision to postpone the weekend’s games was a wrong’un. You don’t have to be a Royalist to appreciate seventy years in the same job – just sayin’.

Anyway, we kicked off away from the packed away end, most of whom were taking the much-deserved mickey out of the drum in the home ends – one of which was very obviously placed next to a microphone. Oh, give awwa- if you can’t sing and shout, just go home. Alese’s first league start saw him in a role that was somewhere between left back and left of central defence, but with Clarke (who seems to have grown a fair few inches over the summer) always ready to sprint down the wing, he always had an outlet. For the first fifteen minutes, we fairly camped in their half, but didn’t manage to work anything that their keeper had to really worry about, while the home side’s forays into our half seemed on a par with the home attendance – sparse and rather half-hearted.

Down at the other end, we in the seats were wanting Roberts to push forwards a bit more, just to be a presence around Simms and possibly pick up anything the big Lad laid off. Reading seemed reluctant to burst forward, and relied heavily on the physical presence of their central defence to keep us at bay.

We won three corners in quick succession – the first of which was fired in low and cleared - as we approached the half hour, then Simms took a knock near the corner flag on our right. Simms and a Reading player went down hurt, and there was a flurry of social media messages bemoaning the fact that we’d not signed Erling Haaland as backup to Simms and Stewart.

Doesn’t care much for ham and pease pudding stotties, apparently. Anyway, Simms was down again, then went off only to come back on before finally giving up the ghost on 37, with Embleton coming on and us fans wondering who was going to win a header in the opposition’s box.

Reading won their first corner on our right, and the absence of Simms and Stewart was notable as their fella comfortably won the header – but Patto was equally comfortable in taking it.

Blake’s message of “failure to sign another striker has come back to bite us” had barely had time to whizz through the ether when Embo played Roberts in, Ronnie T screamed “cut inside and shoot” – so little Paddy did just that, picking his spot low to the keeper’s right to make it 1-0. Stick that up your drum and see what happens. A celebrating Macken hoyed his shirt so far up in the air that it got stuck on a rafter, so someone chucked what looked very much like an ALS black polo shirt at it – which also got stuck for a while. On the field, Dan Neil had been spraying passes all over the shop since kick-off, but within a minute of us going ahead, Embo repeated the trick and found Roberts in the perfect position to double our lead with another precise finish. Oh, just lovely – 2-0 and only 41 minutes gone. Another cracking goal that had started deep in our own half, that was the result of some lovely crisp passing, and one that had Reading shaking their heads in disbelief at how defensively loose they’d been. While that might be true, the pace at which we were moving the ball around was pretty damn impressive.

Batth was mopping up pretty much everything that arrived high, while O9 was doing a passable impression of a Colin Todd (ask yer granddad) tribute act picking up pretty much everything that Reading tried to play along the deck. Some snappy tackling was involved, which always helps get our fans revved up, and we responded to their drumming with some fairly acerbic chanting. Drums, empty seats, Paul Ince as manager – easy targets.

Four added minutes were announced, which we quite enjoyed, but not enough to add to the scoreline – hey, two up away, I was more than happy.

The home side replaced Loum with Baba for the second half, while we save our changes up for later. Several times we almost got Clarke away down our left, with Dan Neil the main supplier and the linesman the main spoiler with his offside flag, but we weren’t to be denied. As Sunderland fans, we’re hardened to two-goal advantages being squandered, so despite Reading hoofing their only two real chances into row Z or further, some of us wondered if we could hold onto the lead.

Of course we could, and we could do even better. From Patto’s pass out, there were another eleven touches as we zipped up the right and Neil’s ball across the field to find Clarke was as good a pass as you’ll see de Bruyne produce this season. Jack cleverly took his marker out of the game with a deft touch, then simply clipped the ball past the hapless Lumley for 3-0. What a goal – you’ll not see better. As we celebrated, I received a message from our Ian telling me that Lumley is on loan from Boro, and that Smoggies of his acquaintance have such a low opinion of him that you’d need a drill to find it. Ah well – that third one, with a shade over twenty minutes to go, settled my pessimistic nerves, and the visiting fans made loud suggestions as to where the Reading drum might best be stored. Sideways.

Totally in control, we brought on Diallo and Matete for Roberts and Pritchard, and we were treated to a lovely touch from Diallo on the left that almost set us away again.

With six to go, Evans made way for Bennette – who promptly put his marker on his arse and treated us to the sight of someone faster than Usain Bolt – look, I’ve seen some speed merchants in my time, but those ten yards he covered then disappeared like nobody’s business. Wow, just wow – and Clarke should really have made it four, but his flick past the keeper went the wrong side of the post.

Three added minutes were announced, much to the disappointment of the home players, who just wanted to go to the pub, I’d imagine. Anyway, we passed it about and ended the game with nothing to moan about other than the yellow for Alese when several Royals had committed worse challenges.

Man of the Match? Not a single iffy display out there, and many to crow over. Patto might not have had much to do, but what he had to do, he did well and was at the origin of goals. Batth seemed to scare the life out of the home centre-forward, who was a big lad, while O9 feared nowt and played it about nicely when required. Gooch was decisive, Clarke (despite his slightly worrying tendency to cut back inside and expect his defensive marras to play like Beckenbauer) was a constant worry to the home defence. Alese looked strong and swift, while more than willing to carry the ball forward when the opportunity arose. Evans played another captain’s game, Pritch was a pest, and while the injury to Simms was worrying, it gave two Lads the chance to shine. Roberts became Stan Cummins and tucked away two cracking goals, set up by Embo who was all over the space behind Roberts.

I think that despite Roberts scoring twice and Embo setting him up for both, I’ll give it to Dan Neil, as he bossed the midfield like the player we know he can be.

Trying not to smile too obviously on the bus back to town, I managed a celebratory pint and possibly the nicest donner kebab I’ve had – and it tasted all the nicer when Paul Ince (not someone I’m a fan of. Euro 96, penalty shoot-out, the Guvnor...) says we played like Barcelona. Mind, his side were rubbish.

13/09/2025

SOBS V PALACE
BY SOBS

The Lads went to Croydon, produced a disciplined performance, and brought away a point despite a frantic final ten minutes of Palace pressure, with Roefs flinging himself in the way of everything that got past our defence.

Such are the current vagaries of train travel that my comfy departure from Bish Vegas (0827 if you're bothered) meant not meeting the remnants of the Durham bus until just gone noon at Victoria, where I happily reminded Ron that he'd never seen us win at Palace in eighteen attempts, while I'd seen the last three.

For the record, we'd won our last three with an aggregate of 8-1. Last time, Rob had nipped out for the half time pints. "Have I missed a goal?"

"Three".

Same again? We planned to send him for beers on 43. Suitably refreshed at the Duke of York with the SW Durham lot, we were on the train where the Palace fan we chatted with revealed he chose them because his dad wanted him to support Ipswich and his mam wanted him to support Arsenal - so he decided to follow the first team to beat Arsenal that season - fifty odd years ago.

Memories of 1997 against Wimbledon were stirred when passing THAT petrol station where a police motorbike became the stuff of Wearside legend. In our seats, and Mr Gilling explained his very early bus departure - two hours before I got up. The luxury of train travel.

In black (stripes, man!) we lined up:
Roefs
Hume Alderete Mukiele Reinildo
Xhaka (c) Sadiki Diarra
Talbi Isidor Adingra
.. and a bench of Patterson, Jones, Masuaku, Brobbey, Mayenda, Neil, Rigg, Geertruida, and Traore.

Thank the Lord for predictive text, but no Le Fee due to injury. Bah. The heat from the pre-match pyrotechnics fairly singed our hair as we sang We've Got +clap+ clap Granit Xhaka.

We faced the goal to our left and Palace kicked off - although I couldn't see the centre spot for the git big pillar. We matched them all over the field before a naughty late one on Alderete after his impressive spin and sprint, and we shot over following the free on 15. With the pitch so close to the seats, there was no need for ball children and the near touchline was out of sight.

Palace missed a sitter on 35 when clean through the middle, dinking it wide of Roefs and his right hand post, then an ambitious volley from Issy failed when he made contact with the defender's head instead of the ball. We nearly got through on 40 when a shot was blocked, then Adingra's curler was tipped away for a corner on our right. We won another free on 45 in the inside left channel as four added minutes were announced, but we made nothing of it.

Level at the break, which shouldn't have come as a surprise as we've neither conceded nor scored in the first half this season. Oh, and the famous cauldron of noise at Selhurst? Not a single chant - just a bloody drum. Poor show, Palace - but they made up for it by dedicating the game to the Bradley Lowery Foundation. Nice one. Not sure about the Crystals dance troupe, though. Give me the Dagenham Girl Pipers any day.

There were no changes for the second half, and we upped the pace a bit while still content to use Alderete as the pivot for building attacks from the back. Surprisingly it was five minutes in before the first shot on target, which Roefs stopped and we blocked the follow up.

On the hour down came the rain onto an already well-watered pitch, and we came close when Issy couldn't quite hook Talbi's front post cross towards goal. We tried to shake things up by swapping Adingra for Brobbey, with Issy going left, and won a series of throws on our right which Mukiele hoyed into the box. There were a couple of corners for us, while Palace's centre forward worked on the principle that if you fling yourself to the ground often enough you'll get a decision. He got none, the lanky beggar.

As we entered the final ten we seemed to run out of steam a bit, and the home side went for the win. Which is when Roefs invoked his inner Monty and produced a series of impressive saves. In came Geertruida to add strength to the back line, with Sadiki sacrificed. The defence stood firm despite a few scary moments and four added minutes were announced, so we used up a bit of that by swapping Issy for Rigg.

0-0, and I'm happy with that despite the lack of chances created.

Man of the Match? It was probably going to be Alderete (despite one dodgy pass that put us under pressure in the first half) but Roefs, after his yellow on 78, stole the show and saved a point.

The Roefs, the Roefs, the Roefs on fire!