Today’s piece comes from Ed Syers.

IT SEEMS it’s never going to be perfect on Wearside. It seems with recent points under the belt and an exciting cup tie on the horizon, Sunderland completely forgot to prepare for the QPR game.

The growing buzz around the club has soon turned into a chorus of boos. That’s the problem with being a football fan – you’re only as happy as your last result.

In truth, we should have all seen it coming. Lacking a manager, a top scorer and a league point away from home, Queens Park Rangers had no right to claim three points on Tuesday night. And yet, aside from one or two penalty appeals, the visitors might as well have been handed the victory on a plate. Far be it from Sunderland to play by the rules.

 
I spent most of the match trying to work out what we were doing wrong, and the simple conclusion seems to be that we just didn’t know what to expect from QPR. This was their first away trip since the departure of Harry Redknapp, and with a new (albeit temporary) manager at the helm, it becomes difficult to pay too much attention to their previous results. Sunderland looked like a team without a game plan, and for long periods, I don’t think Poyet really knew what to do to try and fix it.

You can read the rest here.