Roker Report
Sunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!
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Reflections On Leeds: Lessons To Be Learned For Sunderland
One of the main takeaways was the contrast in performance between the first and second half, but also during the game overall. In the first half, I thought we played quite well. For the first thirty minutes, we had a lot of the ball and used it quite nicely, putting some nice passages of play […]
Dennis Cirkin: From League One Prospect To Premier League Starter
As the years have passed and Sunderland’s squad has been revamped, refitted and reshaped, many of the architects of those memorable seasons and moments that preceded our return to the Premier League; of League One playoff success, the freewheeling “play it your way, lads” Tony Mowbray era and to an extent our landmark 2024/2025 season […]
Ghisolfi In The Stands: What His Visit Could Mean For Sunderland Women
There are moments in football that feel minor yet carry the weight of something shifting beneath the surface — and Florent Ghisolfi’s appearance at Sunderland AFC Women’s match against Ipswich Town on Sunday was one of those moments. A director of football attending a women’s fixture is not, in itself, extraordinary. Yet in the context […]
Haway The Podcast | MONDAY SUPPLEMENT | Phil Smith On Leeds Draw
After Sunderland’s draw with Leeds, we caught up with the Sunderland Echo’s Phil Smith to review all of the action. Chris, Martin and Phil discussed: This episode of Haway The Podcast is sponsored by LiveScoreBet, a principal partner of Sunderland AFC. For more information, visit LiveScoreBet.com or download the LiveScore Bet app. Over 18s only, please […]
Talking Points: Sunderland’s “Year Of Moments” Ends With Another Point!
Dan Ballard’s absence puts Sunderland behind the eight ball I’d been thinking prior to the game that it had been really encouraging to see Ballard playing so often recently, but football being football, I should’ve known that something was going to be around the corner. A massive part of the team both defensively and offensively, […]
Matchday Musings: Sunderland Maintain Unbeaten Home Record Against Leeds!
When the news came out that Dan Ballard wasn’t fit enough to make the starting eleven for Leeds’ visit, a lot of concerns arose for many, but in the end we did a decent job in defence. There were extended periods — especially in the second half — where it was very much “backs against […]
2 Up, 2 Down: Never-Say-Die Sunderland Forced To Settle For A Point
Calum Mills says… Firstly, I hope everyone had a brilliant Christmas and has an excellent year ahead! Simon Adingra makes his mark He needed it. For me he’s been so hit and miss since we signed him, but he was brilliant. The first touch that set up the goal was superb and the finish was […]
On This Day (29th Dec 1990): Five Goals & Three Penalties But Sunderland Lose Out!
You could point at quite a few games like this during the relegation of 1990-91, but this one sums up how it went quite nicely. We shouldn’t forget that it was one of those relegations where you were still proud of the Lads and considering how many of the side started out with us in […]
Haway The Podcast | MATCHDAY REACTION | SAFC 1-1 Leeds Utd | Regis’ Lads Remain Unbeaten At Home!
Gav & the lads jump straight on it in the pub after the final whistle and their reaction on a hard fought draw against Leeds United at the Stadium of Light! On today’s show: All of this and more – get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free […]
Andy’s Player Ratings: Sunderland 1-1 Leeds – Adingra Off The Mark But A Point Shared
Robin Roefs: 7/10 Don’t recall Roefs having to make too many saves and had no chance with the equaliser, was as steady as ever though. Trai Hume: 6/10 Made a fantastic block on the line in the first half but struggled a little against Okafor, getting too tight at times and letting him spin off […]
Haway The Podcast | MATCHDAY PREVIEW | SAFC v Leeds Utd | Another Chance For Three Points!
IIIIIIITTT’SSS MATCHDAY! Feeling refreshed after some festive fun? The Lads are back in action this afternoon at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland take on Leeds United, hoping to get another three points which would take us to a whopping 30 in total. Join Gav, Jonny and Andrew as they preview all the action! On […]
On This Day (28th Dec 1992): Crosby Enjoys A Win During His Final Run
When Sunderland AFC supporters think of 1992 they will automatically recall Malcolm Crosby – a fan of the club growing up that subsequently took the Lads to Wembley as he lived out the dream of taking charge at Roker Park. On the face of things, it was a year of great excitement but whilst people […]
Starting XI: One Change For Sunderland Today?
We acquitted ourselves well at Brighton last time out, and with a big game against Leeds today the squad will be tested again. Chris Rigg was the surprise inclusion last weekend, and while he did OK I think his inclusion was more tactical than anything else and I’d be surprised to see him in the […]
Score Predictions: Will Sunderland Keep Up Their Cracking Home Form v Leeds?
Martin Wanless predicts… Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Leeds 1 Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey Leeds have been in good form recently, especially at home, but so have we – and we’ll be targeting this game as one from which we can get another three points to add to our already impressive total. Despite being without […]
Match Preview: Sunderland v Leeds United — Will The Lads Deliver A Late Christmas Gift?
Saturday 28th December 2025 Sunderland v Leeds United – Premier League Stadium of Light Kick-Off: 14:00 Tickets & Match Coverage Tickets: Tickets are sold out. TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is available via Sky Sports. Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online) Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of […]
Haway The Podcast | OPPO PREVIEW | YouTuber Conor McGilligan On Sunderland v Leeds!
Pop the kettle on, load up a sarnie full of Christmas leftovers and stick your headphones in as we look forward to Sunderland vs Leeds United at the Stadium of Light – and joining us to give us his expert views on our opposition is popular YouTuber Conor McGilligan from the One Leeds Fan Channel! […]
Fan Focus: What Can Sunderland Expect From Leeds?
After four straight defeats, Leeds are on a current unbeaten run of four games, beating Chelsea and Palace – what has sparked an upturn in form? A change in tactical formation from the 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 during half-time at the Etihad has transformed Leeds and made them much more difficult and unpredictable to play against. […]
On This Day (27th Dec 2021): Johnson Happy To Close The Gap At The Top After Doncaster Win
It’s almost two years to the day since Sunderland secured a vital 1-2 win at Doncaster to ease the pressure on the then Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson, who was under huge pressure after a nine-game winless run. On this day in 2021, Sunderland came into this game in much better shape and put in a […]
Mel Reay: In or Out? Sunderland Women’s Dilemma
Sunderland sit towards the bottom of the WSL2, a position that naturally invites scrutiny, frustration, and emotional reaction. Yet the table tells a more nuanced story: the gap between 11th and 7th is a mere three points, meaning that a short burst of good form could transform the club’s outlook almost overnight. This tension between […]
On This Day (26 December 1962) Brian Clough Suffers Career-Ending Injury At Roker
It’s a date and a game etched into the minds of many Sunderland supporters, no matter whether you were around at the time or not. Boxing Day, 1962, Sunderland versus Bury. Alan Brown’s team were flying high in the second division – second in the league at Christmas after beating Leeds 2-1 at Roker three days […]
Boxing Day Footie — A Fixture Of The Festivities
Boxing Day is here, and a glut of football is taking place right across the pyramid – apart from at the very top. Only one Premier League game is scheduled for December 26th, that being Manchester United vs. Newcastle United. The rest of the league play will take place across the next three days, with […]
It Does Get Much Better Than Sunderland At Christmas
It has become a Sunderland tradition in my household to follow the lads to at least one away game over the Christmas holidays. My brother and I would be overjoyed to receive the ticket as a Christmas present. The next day, we would bundle into the car and begin the trip. I would sit in […]
Atkinson And Blades: Sunderland’s New Dynamic Duo?
Given the Lasses’ limited attacking output, there’s a sense that Sunderland haven’t quite reached their full creative potential. Injuries have disrupted their rhythm, limited options, and forced tactical reshuffles, and among the players whose absences have been felt most keenly are Izzy Atkinson and Reanna Blades — two wide players who offer something different. Although […]
Sixth At Christmas: Our Writers On Sunderland’s Yuletide High!
Gav says… It’s been a season like no other in my lifetime — not just a season, actually, but a year that’s gone beyond my wildest dreams. The storyline of 2025 for Sunderland has been like no other — and it genuinely could’ve been the script of a movie. The way we’ve won big games […]
On This Day (25th Dec 1940): Len Duns Stars In A Christmas Cracker
The breakout of war in the early 1940s ultimately put a halt to any competitive football in England at this time. This meant that regional leagues and friendlies were the only games in which any club in the country could participate, with the funds raised from these friendly games going towards the war effort. For […]
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