Page 9 - 360633 LP236168 A Love Supreme 48pp A5 (April 2022)

on the beach by then because by this point, realistically they’ll probably be up. It’ll be the last home game of the season, that is of the normal season, so it should be a good atmosphere. I’ve got a feeling we can probably beat Rotherham at home.
BENNO
That could be the game that seals you play-offs so we can relax a bit at Morecambe.
MORECAMBE
BARNES
Morecambe on their day can disrupt, they can win games. At home with a sell out crowd there, a party atmosphere from the Sunderland fans, its hard to say which way it will go. I’m still fairly optimistic. Sunderland are not losing games, they’re keeping clean sheets, they’re creating chances they just need to find a way of finishing them. I was saying to Marco Gabbiadini on the programme the other night, its not as if we are lacking chances, if anything its just finishing in the six-yard box. The balls are being put down the throat of the goalkeeper because there’s
no one there to finish them off. Clarke should have had one, two maybe even three goals in recent games. Broadhead’s got the instinct, in and around the penalty area and Pritchard has as well. With those back in for these final games then you’ve got a fighting chance.
PLAY-OFFS?
BARNES
In terms of selection, I think Corry Evans has demonstrated why he is in the team. I thought he played well against Lincoln, credit where credit
is due, he put in a shift and saw a lot of the ball. He protects the back three and allows you to play the back three with a bit more confidence so I can see why he’s in there. He’s doing a job and he’s doing a pretty solid job. But who goes in beside him, Dan Neil or Jay Matete? Play both and you might sacrifice one of the front three, that’s the quandary we have for the run in at the end of the season and it’s a good issue to have. Can Plymouth go 13 wins on the trot? Certainly not, they have the hardest run in, Plymouth will slip up at some point. Sheff Wednesday are blowing hot and cold, Ipswich are the team to be wary of because their new manager seems to have done a good job since he’s come in there and they’re winning games, they’re on a good run. Keep not losing, keep in the top six we’ll be fine.
BENNO
If we can guarantee a place in the play-offs, I think we’re capable of winning it. Other times we’ve been in the playoffs we’ve been favourites.
BARNES
The trajectory of the team at the minute, specifically clean sheets, we’ll be difficult to beat and, on that basis, I think they’ll reach the final and I’ve got no worries about them playing at Wembley because I think that’ll suit this team. This team has got players who are used to the big occasion, if you give them a good pitch and width, there’s not many teams who can play them off the park, footballing wise. Arguably Oxford are the only one who won’t let you play and that will be an advantage to Sunderland, should they get there.
BENNO
We’re not relying on one player or two players like we have been doing. Look at Aiden McGeady the last couple of times, hoping on him. Look back on his history and he’s never been fully fit, yet we’ve been thinking ‘Aiden McGeady’s going to do this’. Now we’ve got more options, we’re not relying on Charlie Wyke. Look at the makeup of the team at the present moment I think we’ve got a lot more options, more balanced than we have been before. If we can get there, going into the final, I think we’ll be more prepared, dangerous and threatening than ever.
BARNES
Alex Neil’s doing a good job. He’s gradually ticking off the problems, the areas of concern. With Pritchard and Broadhead back we address some of the issues going forward so, I’m fairly confident.
ALOVESUPREME ISSUE258 9