Up to 5th in the PL!

Sunderland are fighters and despite their recent poor record, they have been playing quite well. So, I wasn't totally optimistic of a win (when am I totally optimistic that the Bees will win?). We needed to avenge our last minute defeat at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season. We did this quite convincingly, 3-0 at the Gtech (but we could have scored 5). Things might have been different had they not missed a pen early in the second half (more about that later). We started brightly with Schade's effort being tipped over the bar by their keeper. Then Kayode intercepted a pass just in our own half. He drove forward and played a great long crossfield pass to Schade who set Thiago free and his left-footed effort went narrowly past the far post. Then Janelt won the ball in our half and threaded a glorious through ball to Thiago who timed his run perfectly to stay onside. He went round the keeper to slot it home and put us 1-0 up on the half hour. They did manage to force a corner, but nothing came of it. Then KLP was pulled back just outside the area. He took the freekick himself and it grazed the crossbar and flew over. Early in the second half they shot over the bar, then Ajer gave away a pen when he was turned by their centre forward. Their penalty kick was hilarous. He attempted to take a Panenka down the middle, expecting Kelleher to dive to one side. Kelleher stayed firmly in the centre of the goal and all he did was to lob it gently into Kelleher's hands just in front of his face. In the 65th minute Sunderland gave the ball away in their own half. Damsgaard got the ball and played in Thiago who passed it to Schade and instead of scoring he hit the bar. The ball came out to Jensen who crossed to the far post, where Schade headed it back across goal and Thiago scored with a header. Then Thiago broke free in our own half, played it to Schade. He made a good forward run and played it to the onrunning Thiago whose right-footed effort was saved low down by their keeper, denying him another hat trick. The ball falls to Damsgaard who twists and turns in their area and his shot is deflected for a corner. The we get another corner and the ball falls to Yarmo in the 6-yard box and he slots it home for his first ever Bees' goal to make it 3-0 in the 73rd minute. We almost got another when a long Kelleher clearance sees Thiago runs free but his shot is blocked. It falls to Damsgaard whose shot clips the far post and goes wide. Then from a Henry cross Thiago's shot is saved by their keeper but he got an ankle injury and was substituted (I hope it is nothing serious). Kelleher had one more save to make and our final chance fell to Nelson who just shot wide after a cheeky pass from Damsgaard. Next game is on Saturday away to bottom of the Championship Sheffield Wednesday in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. I'm sure KA will make quite a few changes and hopefully Thiago will get a rest

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