Sunderland go to extreme lengths to keep NUFC fans out of the Stadium of Light last night - oh dear
Sunderland's fate was all but confirmed last night following a late Norwich equaliser - but what they did to prior to kick off was quite amusing, with the club appearing to take an internet rumour involving Newcastle fans a little too seriously..
Tickets were just £1 for last night's game (in a desperate attempt to get a bigger attendance), however it was suddenly announced that no cash turnstiles were being operated. This due to alleged fears that Newcastle fans would turn up to mock their impending relegation to the third tier.
This was only an only rumour created from the minority (and it wasn't even a game where their relegation could be confirmed), but it was enough to see them take action.
A petty idea, but one that has hardly been dealt with well from the Mackems, seeing them closing all cash turnstiles in fear of Mags snapping up their £1 tickets for the game!
https://twitter.com/SunderlandAFC/status/983692228139810817
https://twitter.com/All_NUFC_Fans/status/983722296086024192
As expected, there was a miserly attendance on a wet night on Wearside, and it didn't end well. Ex-Mag Grant Hanley setting up Ivo Pinto to score a 89th minute equaliser, denying them of a win they so desperately needed.
It wasn't so long ago that they fancied themselves for a 'great escape' too, with them pulling off a shock 4-1 win at Derby. Normal service has been resumed since then, however. It was followed by a home 1-3 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, then them surrendering a 1-0 lead at Leeds the weekend after and last night they could only muster a point.
Relegation rivals Burton, Barnsley, Birmingham and Bolton may have all lost themselves last night, but Sunderland need to be gaining much more than a point on these sides with just 4 games left to play.
What a mess.
