Firstly, what an enjoyable night out that was for 15 quid. To set the scene from my lower bowl seat in the West stand just to the right of the Royal box and a couple of rows down it was a pleasant warmish evening, the grass looked good and the ground calm with
a low buzz of chatter from the 6,258 supporters that had made the Tuesday night vigil for Cities first home game of the pre-season which I guessed included about 1000 or so Sunderland fans that made their way South and perched themselves up in the North East
Corner.

A good friendly lot probably more interested in the beer than the football as The Tigers & Black Cats mixed together in a number of pubs but especially in The Boot Room where I imbibed a cold refreshing Magners outside before collecting my pre-booked ticket
from the MKM and taking my seat.

First time I've seen Sergej Jakirović for real and he looked the dominant figure around the bench as well as cutting a smart figure in his bright white coaching top and black tracky bottoms which looked far better than the stagnant swamp green rubbish that
Walters and Selles used to wear. Another noticeable change of garb was Pandur who was not sporting his usual highlighter pen kit and had opted for a much more sobering green kit with black patterning.

Now, before the game and in a match preview I did for the OSC, I mentioned that all I wanted to see was something different. something that remotely resembled an attacking or at least positive and confident showing than what we have been force fed for three
seasons and to a degree most of the pre-season friendlies so far, despite the results. The last 20 to 30 minutes of these games has saved us with the first 60 to 70 minutes being positively pedestrian at best.

Well. Today didn't leave me disappointed and whatever and however Jak' formulated tonight's outing from the info gleaned on our pre-season games so far was a massive shot in the arm.

In my opinion and although only a friendly, I enjoyed tonight's match more than I did Walters or Selles league games. Of course we can all nit pick till the cows come home but for the whole of the match today and arguably two different Tigers teams I saw one
attitude. They worked magnificently as a unit and some players were positively inspirational and I have to include little Harry Vaughn in that. His very persona is "Tenacity", boy can that lad scrap back when he wants and only has one direction. Goal-bound.

For me, we've found our starting back 4. Drameh now head and shoulders above Coyle although that's not to say I rate Coyle as a great workhorse for City with a do or die attitude. Ajayi is a natural and a perfect partner to Captain Hughes who IMO will claim
the armband for this season and a big shout for Giles who is looking far better and played a pretty solid left wing back part today.

Crooksy or "Tree" as he likes to be known as (and god knows why), has the fineness of a roll on roll off ferry. But as a box to box midfielder this evening he ploughed a deep furrow, broke up their play, last man in defence and piling forward amongst the attack was unplayable.

Jak' tonight threw a load of questions at the players and I think they answered every one. Yes we had moments of that back passing crap and nearly got caught again a few times but we are breaking and attacking in a far stronger pattern with Slater now coming
good again and put in a good shift.

Joseph had a far better game. Maybe not so much in the first 30 minutes he looked a little lost but what I did see was the mileage he covered. City are also missing a trick with him as I watched him off the ball on a few occasions just hanging on the shoulder
of their last defender and belting off like a greyhound out of a trap to chase long balls that didn't come. One such time was Crooks sat in the middle of our half, open play, not a soul around him but he didn't look up...Joseph had sprung the trap but Crooks
just passed the ball square. Joseph threw his arms up in despair as though to say "Not again".

Kamara's goal though, thankfully highlight what Joseph can do when he's on his game. great carrier of a ball, strong and wrestled off challenge after challenge to gift the perfect ball on a silver platter to Abu who swept it decisively past Patterson.

AS for Ndala, wow. A right live wire and also a bludgeoning 12 minutes from McCarthy who has an unlikely turn of pace and unlucky to be dragged back as he rounded his man towards goal.

Sunderland had a lot of individual quality out there today and in isolation they had the upper hand regarding fast feet and sharpness but as said, we performed today as a unit that understands each other witnessing more than once the flurries of quick one touch
passing that took us from danger under pressure to the open field and on the front foot again.

Ok, now the score. 5 wins in the last 5 and the first home win of the season. The win is a bonus but once again the mentality tonight is what counted the most and didn't disappoint.

I actually have some genuine hope after that. UTT.