Sunderland 3-0 Newcastle - The 'Index 6'

Newcastle lost another derby game, but there were mitigating circumstances. The bookies will have made a killing, as I would bet that nobody had placed a bet on the referee winning it for Sunderland. In the meantime, here are six things we learned from the game:

1. Football is now (un)officially a non-contact sport.

Watching in disbelief as the referee gave that penalty, I am now convinced that the great game that we love is gradually becoming a non-contact sport. I have had my season ticket since 1978, and I remember watching games where full contact shoulder charges, and physical aspects of the game were commonplace. I agreed totally with those in charge when they outlawed the tackle from behind.

Not seeing a challenge coming, and the risk of injury, therefore, always likely, it was part of the game that should have been made illegal years earlier. However, the shoulder-charge has always been an integral part of the game. A fair challenge that was available to both players to use when challenging for a ball that no one is in full possession of.

The law, according to the FA’s rulebook says:

“A player who places himself between an opponent and the ball for tactical reasons has not committed an offence as long as the ball is kept within playing distance and the player does not hold off the opponent with his arms or body. If the ball is within playing distance, the player may be fairly charged by an opponent.”

This is exactly what happened in the penalty incident. I would be willing to bet my house on the fact that if that had happened at the by-line and the defender was using it as a method of letting the ball go out for a goal kick, then no foul would have been given.

2. Referees continual inconsistencies are ruining the game.

Referee, Robert Madley, had a dismal game. However, the same can be said in 75% of games. The standard of refereeing is so poor nowadays that it is a weekly occurrence to hear that an official has been dropped for the next week due to his poor performance.

At the start of yesterday’s game, there were 4 fouls committed on Newcastle players in the first minute and a half. That’s a foul every 22.5 seconds. There was little doubt what Fat Sam’s teamtalk contained prior to the game. Surely, when there is such a blatant and crude game plan, the referee should stamp down his authority straight away? Not in the world of Madley, who didn’t even speak to anyone. Yet, lo and behold, the first challenge that Cheick Tiote made was followed by a stern lecture and the very next challenge resulted in a yellow card. Granted, having been spoken to, he should have had the common sense not to make the next reckless tackle, but the fact still remains that the same logic from the referee was not presented to both teams. The very fact that the thuggish Cattermole was allowed to make three or four poor (and that’s being kind) challenges and be constantly in the ref’s ear, yet still not get a yellow card is, frankly, beyond belief.

Then there was the lead up to the penalty. A handball, as harsh as it may have been, followed by a “clothesline’ that would have been fair game in the WWE were not even given a second glance by the bumbling official. Fast-forward fifteen seconds and a legitimate shoulder charge, and he couldn’t get the whistle to his lips fast enough. Then, to compound the situation, only after a baying crowd and spittle laden verbal volley from Cattermole and Co, did he decide that a red card was warranted…even though there was no certainty that the forward would have reached the ball.

We were once regarded as having the best referees in world football. Not anymore I’m afraid!

3. Stats mean nothing.

21 shots to 9; 8 on-target attempts to 3; 59.8% of possession to 40.2%; 10 corners to 1; 614 touches to 459; these are just some of the stats that were in favour of Newcastle at the Stadium of Light. However, the only stat that matters is the one in the top left corner of the television screen - the one that read 3-0.

Stats are great for the Gary Nevilles, Jamie Carraghers, and Stattos of the world, but ultimately, they mean nothing. No team has ever got three points for keeping the ball more, or for winning the majority of the aerial duels.

Don’t get me wrong. I love good statistics and trivia like the rest of us, but sometimes, I would swap all of the positive data for a win…a lot like the Mackems did in this game.

One thing they do provide though, is a reason for optimism. In many games, if you can dominate most aspects of a game, the way we did in the derby, you will win more games than you lose. It is maybe because of this that I am not too down-heartened by the loss. We all know what cost us the game, and why it turned out the way it did…and the performance of the players was not it.

4. Even the staunchest of Mackems cannot say that the best team won (but they will anyway).

The game was quite bizarre in many ways. We were the only team that looked like scoring or winning in the first half, and weirdly, even with ten men, we were the only team that looked like they would score for much of the second half too.

I study at the University of Sunderland, and, as such, there are quite a few Mackems here too. I would think that every single one of them will try to tell me that they were the better side, and that they deserved the three points.

Like many derby games in the past, much of what actually happened and went on is largely forgotten and ignored, and they will convince themselves that this was a wondrous performance of epic proportions, and that the three points were never in doubt.

However, while we lost the game, by a lopsided three goals, if I were a Sunderland fan today (thank God I am not), I would be more worried about the rest of the season than us Newcastle fans. If they want to think that was a great effort, then let them, but if they play like that for the rest of the season, and don’t have a ref in their pocket, like they did yesterday, then I can only see relegation in their future. Although we need to put a run of results together, it is much more conceivable that if we play like we did, then we will climb the table, so that come spring, we will not need to be looking over our shoulders too much.

5. You must capitalise when you’re dominating a game.

The main worrying aspect for me, was our failure to score when we were in total control during the first half. We need to be more ruthless, and once we find that ability, we will be able to salvage points from situations like those that occurred today.

We did that to good effect against Norwich and, while still shaky at the back, the concession of two goals was negated by the fact that we had put the ball in the net when we had the chances. Had we done that, we would have given ourselves something to hold on to when we were down to ten men.

It is something that all of the great teams do, score when on top. But that’s why they are great teams. I don’t expect us to become a Barcelona or a Real Madrid, but I do expect us to be able to take hold of a situation, and capitalise on the amount of possession and play we’re having in and around an opponents penalty area.

6. Anita still looks a better option than Tiote in midfield

I still think that Cheick Tiote’s best days are behind him. He is often a liability in midfield. A yellow card waiting to happen. I do think his reputation precedes him, and the referees have an eye on him during a game. While I still think the referee was wrong not to punish any Sunderland players with a yellow card, and I also thought he singled out Tiote, I also think that, after the talking to Tiote got, he was stupid to dive into the next challenge a mere 5 yards in front of the already twitchy official.

After that, his card was marked and he was walking on eggshells for the rest of the half.

Vurnon Anita, for me, still looks a more composed option in the holding midfield role. He is more composed, spots a pass better and generally reads the game better. Add to that the fact that he doesn’t jump in as much and a referee does not have a predetermined opinion of him, as they do with Tiote, then all the fingers point towards Anita being given the nod to start ahead of the Ivorian.

Not everyone will agree with me, that is what makes football so great, everyone has their own opinions, and Anita is certainly a player that has, and continues to, divided opinion among the fanbase. But, I am definitely hoping to see the diminutive Dutchman starting, not only against Stoke to replace the suspended Jack Colback, but for the games beyond that too.