Sunderland send Burnley crashing out of the Carabao Cup

For the 3rd week running, Sunderland are headed to Lancashire, this time for the Carabao Cup tie against Burnley – hoping to make it a full house of wins. As with last week I am a passenger rather than a driver, after last weeks white knuckle ride with Lewis Hamilton, normal service is resumed, as York’s very own Harold Bishop lookalike is at the wheel.

This is the 101st post for SAFCBlog..

SAFC Blogs 101st Post — A Dalmatian yesterday – shitter version of a Labrador

“*Good Evening Pasadena……”, (*one for the younger readers)

Following a pretty uneventful drive over, as we pass through Colne everything starts to happen……

Pot hole Pete — Whilst not a ***weekend***, our clown at the wheel did get **lost,** it was a right *commotion……* don’t even get me started on *the price of the medicine* at the local pharmacy.

Seconds later…….

This man walks into the middle of the road and stops the traffic……..

Thumbs up from Pot Hole Pete — What a nice touch?.. wonder if he knows there’s 4000 of them down the road in Blackburn?

Hardly seems worth going to the game after such an exciting journey? As we’re only 10 minutes from the ground, we carry on.

Sunderland visit Burnley in the Carabao Cup — Possibly one of the most *Northern Photos* I’ve ever taken?

We then head to the cricket club, we almost miss the turning if only the bloke on the gate was wearing a high viz vest or similar……

SAFC Blog flag in Burnley for the Carabao Cup tie against Sunderland — Once parked up, we get the flag up, and consume a bit of ale….

Burnley pie pre the Sunderland Carabao Cup tie — A highlight of going to Lancashire is having a pie. Reasonable offering from Burnley….better than Rochdale but not as good as Accrington. Another season of mid table mediocrity for the Clarets beckons?

Sunderland send Burnley crashing out of the Carabao Cup — Cannot beat a midweek away?

As kick off approaches we wander round to the ground….. stand in a huge queue for 15 minutes…. it’s now 10 minutes into the game….. eventually get to the front of queue and realise it’s the queue for ticket sales rather than the Away end….

We have Flanagan and Baldwin at the back, (first time since Coventry debacle I think?), Burnley have a load of international players on the pitch. Within 2 minutes of finding a seat, Burnley score with ease, they then manage to hit the post twice in 5 seconds, (they should probably hit the target from 6 yards with no keeper or defenders in the way?).

Whilst it’s only a few years since we were in the Premiership, I’d forgotten how good players can be on the ball, especially passing it out from the back ~ having backed us to win in 90 minutes at 5/1; the reality is, we’re going to get stuffed tonight?

Then……Grigg scores with a great finish!! Within 10 minutes of the restart we are 3-1 up. Sadly a mix up with the half time pints order means we get delayed on the concourse finishing the said pints….and watch both goals on TV, (although the 2 second delay means the roar goes up before the ball hits the net).

Sunderland send Burnley crashing out of the Carabao Cup - Flannagan scores — Modern football is rubbish etc, etc? Too many armchair fans? Get yourselves to the match – watching on TV will never come close to actually being there??

The second half passes without any real scares, if anything we look like we could score again. In a similar vein to Rochdale last week, we showed heart, passion, skill…. we were absolutely brilliant on the pitch. Off the pitch the 2000, (ish?), fans were brilliant too. Just a great night out – well done lads, every Sunderland player should be so proud of their efforts tonight. The performance of Dylan McGeough was absolutely immense – he has the potential to be the best midfielder in League 1.

For me this look is in the same category as 3/4 length trousers or crocs on men?

I’m always a bit cagey Re: taking photos of police officers. But every time we go to Lancashire, it’s like some kind of *WPC Miss World Contest?* If Greater Manchester Police decide to do a calendar of said WPC’s…. I’m definitely going to buy one.

JOB DONE ⚽️⚽️⚽️

WILL GRIGG WATCH Decent again, showed some nice touches and took his goal well.

With excitement high, we decide to stop and purchase some beers on the way home…. who’d have thought Skipton would have a 24 hour Tesco? That said….. at 10.35pm, I think we were the only customers? Didn’t hang around, but suspect the locals may appear at very random points of the night?