[midknight]

That should be Sunderland - Boro
The first Wears - Tees Derby of the season.

Last season, we won this match 3-2 to stay up. Hope a similar result brings as much good luck to this season.

Sunderland (from): Gordon, Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, McCartney, Bardsley, Diouf, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Edwards, Miller, Reid, Richardson, Malbranque, Tainio, Cisse, Murphy, Healy, Stokes, Chopra.

Middlesbrough (from): Turnbull, Jones, Hoyte, Huth, Wheater, Riggott, Pogatetz, Taylor, Aliadiere, Emnes, Arca, O'Neil, Shawky, Digard, Walker, Downing, Johnson, Mido, Alves, Craddock.

I say
--------------------Gordon---------------------
---Nosworthy--Collins--Ferdinand---McCartney--
--------------------Reid-----Tainio------------
-------Malbranque---------------------Richardson
---------------------Diouf----------------------
-------------------------Cisse------------------

Though i'd really like to see Edwards sink his teeth into a competitive no holds barred match and get some confidence.

I'm not at all impressed by Chimbonda since he started playing.

[midknight]

These are the kinds of games we lost last year.

2-0 after a tight first half, and riding our luck on that penalty in the second half. It was just clumsy from Nosworthy to give it up, but Chopra worked his socks off to make a great return and make Downing feel even worse lol.

Chimbonda looked a lot better this time around.Malbranque had a bad game up until the last 15 minutes or so lol.

Only negative is a possible injury to Tainio. Might open up the squad selection somewhat though.

Northampton on Tuesday is a great game to play some of the benchers, keep the rhythm going and prepare for Villa next week.

[MidnightMackemRider]

Story fit for TV for Chops. Week after he gets out of the rehab clinic he nets two goals. Good story for him, great luck for the team.

Lets hope we build on this.

Oh, and btw, what is West Ham doing up in the CL spots? lol