We are safe from that only because there is a load of complete poo below us.

You simply cannot be in a transition or rebuilding season if the teams main fulcrum is considered to be a Liverpool loanee or your future striker hope a Leicester no hoper donkey. That is building nothing of value. It never ceases to amaze me how we swallow this nonsense as the "truth" like being fed a daily diet of lies about our "young and inexperienced" team and accepting that with little rebuttal.

Press the Twitter icon and it should take you to Twitter, anywhere else goes to the BBC match report Good questions asked for a change and JDT used the "young team" excuse at least half a dozen times, which @arbitro has now exposed as nonsense.

I'm ok with "we're shit and somehow we're 3rd"

That's when I knew that Venkys were a clear and present danger and called it out on here, along with others of the enlightened.

Apart from Burnley and SU this league is as poor as it's been for years. The January window will show our ambition. Boro and WBA are climbing the table, Norwich should improve after the window and I expect those 3 to finish above us. So, imo we are still in the running for 6th place but not hopeful. The Boro game is one to win. Those championing "were 3rd" make the most of it over the next few days, before it becomes the plaintive cry of "we were 3rd at Christmas". *I forgot Watford! They will be around the playoff mix too.

I was straight out of that toilet as soon as the final whistle went. No positives in inviting crap.

I disagree, JDT can makes things worse. Taking off Dack and Gallagher to replace them with Travis and Hirst is mind altering and not in a good way. The man simply has no idea beyond non progressive tippy tappy.

It is and so is our kit today. Drap and depressing shite.

I've spent time in the far reaches and the Newcastle lot were in a league of their own but now unbearable fuelled by the butchers money.

We differ on that. Their crowds are impressive for a somewhat deprived area also suffering hard times. They do have a huge catchment area though but get bums on seats.

My nose is bigger than yours. It's a Juggernaut.

Impressive. Capacity is 49k so even the PNE game would show some empty seats.

I had the same thought earlier today. They are southern softies, of course they do.

Good, that will beat Sunderlands previous highest this season .... which was against PNE, so good to do that, and also the 40k+ our reserves got at WHU.

I am looking forward to watching BBC 1 live coverage of Christmas Mass and Christmas Eucharist from Blackburn Cathedral much more than this game.

Vague sound bites with no substance and from the buying time playbook by you know who. Claptrap.

I only recall seeing 2 last night which I put down to understandable post crap trauma. The false narrative being spread is all a bit sad.

Sunderland have only won 3 of the last 26 games that they have played on a Monday (night), but Rovers are coming to town for this lunchtime game on Sky where we are rather iffy. All the signs for a draw at best and I'll take that.

Mowbray v JDT, a tactical masterclass in the offing. I can hardly wait although I may just sit outside in case I see it snow here on Boxing Day. Dingles lost so not a totally wasted day.

And yet Diaz came on as a late sub for a Dolan injury. Bit mental that choice if protecting players is the priority.

Well done for attending when you probably knew the sort of team that would be fielded. I feel your pain

I do agree that JDT needs a couple more windows to show what he can do. He just can't seem to get his head around our lack of technique in playing short passing especially in defence. Szmodics .... Lovely pirouettes in midfield usually just before losing possession. We got plenty of experience in transitions against us today. We used to call them fecking up and being counter attacked.

It's a loser mentality which has to transmit to the players. As exciting as day old wet lettuce. Hirst beggars belief, he's so gash.

Good luck with that one. However Sunderland are pants so we have a chance there