Talking Points: Was Flanagan’s ‘goal’ onside or offside?

Was it offside?

I feel like he was onside, but it’s so bloody close.

What do you think?

It’s a tough decision for the linesman to make, but unless he’s 100% sure that it’s offside, he’s got to give it. I don’t know even after rolling it back thirty times what it is either way, so how can he be so sure? Poor officiating, I say.

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Dan Neil was outstanding

The way that Dan Neil has just slotted into the team and actually managed to stand out is nothing short of impressive.

He’s broken into the side through the misfortune of others - the lack of a left-back, and then subsequently the injury to Corry Evans - and he’s grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

He’s just so clever with the ball. He rarely wastes it and the variety in his passing is simply outstanding. If his development carries on at this rate, he’ll be tough to keep hold of.

Evans is confirmed as out for a fortnight or so, meaning Neil now has the chance to really stake a claim to that position - and I’ve seen nothing since the start of pre-season that suggests he won’t excel.

Gold stars to you, Dan. You were brilliant.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Beautiful football, poor finishing

Some of the stuff we played last night was magnificent.

One-twos, high tempo passing, slick interplay, crosses from wide, the big man up top holding it and bringing others into play, the defenders playing high and passing with intent, the central midfielders dominating the ball and keeping it moving forwards, rather than sideways and back - it was genuinely mint at times.

We had 20 shots, 69% of the possession, 9 corners.

I think it’s fair to say that on another day we would have won 3 or 4 nil.

Sadly, it wasn’t one of those days.

Burton were organised defensively and they came up with the one bit of quality in the game, where we did not - their goal was brilliant.

Our finishing was pretty naff.

McGeady’s chance was the best of the lot - I’ve still got no idea why such an experienced player opted to try and be clever when it would have been far easier to slide it under the keeper, or go around him. But, he did what he did, and it didn’t come off.

Ross Stewart found himself in a great position too, and his finish was similarly poor.

Never mind.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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