To conclude the coverage of our FA Cup Clash with Notts County we got the views of Alex West, our other subject of Fan Focus this week. Alex was over the moon as expected, so why not be happy for Notts and have a read...
So, let me get this straight, you're really a League One team? Because any neutral watching wouldn't have thought that! Well done, how pleased are you?
Alex: Pleased doesn't seem to describe how I’m feeling this morning. More like ecstatic. A fantastic defensive performance by the 'Maggies' and we took our chances, something your £25 million strike force were unable to do so. Our free transfers did the damage today. We are a league one team, but the form we are in, it won’t be long till we are playing in the next tier of the football pyramid. We passed, we moved and we created. The main thing we did do was we battled. All over the pitch we got in your faces and we flew into tackles, your foreign internationals didn’t know what had hit them. We huffed and we puffed and the effort shown by our side today was second to none.
Ben Davies seemed very impressive, and you mentioned he may be on the move. Can you hold on to him really?
Alex: After the performances of recent weeks and our sudden climb up the table (four points off the play offs with a game in hand) the togetherness at the club, if possible, is even bigger than last season. Super Ben is an integral part of that bond within the camp and is loving life at Meadow Lane. Plus, I don’t think Ray Trew will even consider a bid under £1 Million; a fee that I don’t think clubs will be willing to pay for a player unproven at Championship/Premiership level. He was impressive though, they all were, but Neil Bishop (No.10) in the centre of midfield was absolutely immense.
Lee Hughes got the crucial goal, after some booing. Inevitable wasn’t it?
Alex: Just before he scored, we were saying it wasn’t really his game today. Then bang, he sparks into life and puts the game beyond any doubt. He ghosted past your centre-half with complete class and composure and perhaps should have scored with his first effort. However, his poacher instinct and delightful technique got us the goal we needed. If Hughsey would have got the chances your strikers got, your score would have been double figures. He gets boo's wherever he plays, and he loves every second. And so do we, it spurs him on even more. The Sunderland fans can give it, but they certainly can't take it. Perhaps a little jealousy of the quality of our striker compared with your own. England international my arse (RR: He says jokingly, we think).
Were you surprised by how poorly we played?
Alex: Not really, no. Steve Bruce opted with playing a bunch of foreign fringe players who had no idea of the spirit of the FA Cup and didn’t know what to do when Neil Bishop and Ricky Ravenhill plummeted into hard (but fair) tackles in the middle of the park. Bent was dreadful, and was easy for our centre backs to limit your side to many long range efforts, of which none really troubled our reserve goalkeeper. I’m sure your side got the hair dryer treatment at full time.
Can you pick out any star men for Sunderland, as I'm struggling!?
Alex: Steed Malbranque was neat and tidy but ineffective in the final third, as was your entire attacking force. Erm... Sorry.
Pleased with the 4th Round draw?
Alex: Obviously I wanted Forest at home, but just seen the draw to see we have Leicester to Man City at Meadow Lane, Lovely Jubbly! The return of Sven, or, a visit from one of the richest clubs in the world!
What’s your prediction for both our clubs for the rest of the season?
Alex: County to finish just outside the play-offs and Sunderland to run out of steam but still finish in a respectable 10th place
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