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Roker Report

https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/ | 673 entries published

Sunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!

Latest Entries

Sunderland’s Mentality and Character: Built for Premier League Success

Monday’s convincing victory over Burnley has virtually guaranteed Sunderland’s Premier League status for next season, with more than a third of fixtures still to play. It was also the sixth occasion where the squad has responded to a defeat with a win — that speaks to the mentality of the group of players who have […]

about 14 hours ago | 0 reads

Farewell to ‘Mr Sunderland’

It was announced on Tuesday of the sad death of ‘Mr Sunderland’, George Forster, who was chair of the Sunderland Supporters’ Association for 55 years from 1966–2021. George died in hospital after a short illness, surrounded by his friends and family, wearing his Sunderland cap and scarf and holding his clippings from the Stadium of […]

about 14 hours ago | 0 reads

Talking Tactics: Sunderland Dominate Burnley – Comfortable 3-0 on Deadline Day

After a poor result last Saturday, Sunderland had to wait over a week to put things right as they took centre stage against Burnley for the Monday Night Football special on transfer deadline day. With the window shutting just an hour before kick-off, Sunderland were able to name a side without any transfer speculation following […]

MLS

about 14 hours ago | 0 reads

Lasses Spotlight: Could It Be Cassap and McInnes’ Time To Shine?

There are moments when the answer to a lingering problem doesn’t lie in the transfer market — even if, in an ideal world, that’s precisely where Sunderland would be looking. The reality is that finances and resources often impose limitations — particularly in the January window — where shrewd signings become not only difficult but […]

about 14 hours ago | 0 reads

On This Day (4 Feb 1904): A Record Fee And Rancour As McCombie Departs

It was Sunderland’s first full season at their new home of Roker Park when Andrew McCombie arrived from Inverness Thistle in December 1898. He was an imposing figure at right-back, but looks were deceptive as was his physique. This was a ball-playing defender who combined traditional defensive attributes with a subtle and intelligent ability to […]

about 14 hours ago | 0 reads

Lasses News: Changes Are Coming To The Subway Cup!

Starting next season, the Subway Women’s Cup will undergo a major overhaul, with sweeping changes to its format, eligibility and structure. These adjustments are designed to streamline the competition, align it more closely with UEFA standards and elevate its competitive integrity. However, they also raise questions about inclusivity and opportunity — particularly for clubs outside […]

about 22 hours ago | 0 reads

Matchday Musings: Sunderland Cruise Past Burnley — Back To Winning Ways!

A lot has unravelled since the players last laced up their boots for Premier League action: from some of the squad rendezvousing in Dubai and London, Lutsharel Geertruida turning on a sixpence (on the M6, not on the pitch) after a touted move to Liverpool, and a flurry of movement at the arrival gate and […]

1 day ago | 0 reads

Talking Points: Burnley Bopped As Sunderland Bounce Back

Sunderland show their resilience once again — and the fortress remains unbreached! After a fairly shambolic loss at the hands of West Ham last time out, Sunderland needed to use this home clash with the Hammers’ fellow relegation rivals as a chance to respond strongly and to show that we could cope in the absence […]

1 day ago | 0 reads

Thank You, Paddy: Sunderland Hero Gave Us Special Memories

Paddy Roberts came to Sunderland on loan from Manchester City in the January transfer window of 2022. After all the rubbish we had seen in those bleak League One years, Paddy was a breath of fresh air, blowing left-backs out of the water with his mazy run trickery; taking the rather exotic number 77 jersey. […]

1 day ago | 0 reads

On This Day (3rd Feb 1906): Mr Sunderland Puts It All On The Line

Lincolnshire side Gainsborough Trinity made their first trip to Roker Park for an FA Cup tie, and whilst the visitors were a second-tier outfit their reputation for developing future stars meant they were likely to be a tough prospect. Several former players had since gone on to perform well at a higher level and the […]

1 day ago | 0 reads

2 Up, 2 Down: Sunderland See Off Burnley With Ease!

John Wilson says… A comfortable evening for Sunderland At last we were treated to a game that wasn’t nail-biting. A pleasure to behold  — Quinn and Phillips, and jumpers for goalposts? Fabulous. It moved us back into lofty heights of the European spots and put our goal difference into positive figures.  Habib Diarra impresses There […]

1 day ago | 0 reads

Haway The Podcast | MATCH REACTION | Routine Win For Sunderland Against Burnley!

A comfortable first half set the lads on their way to a routine win against Premier League strugglers Burnley and Michael & Brett join Chris to provide immediate reaction! On today’s show: All of this and more – get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never have to miss another episode of our free […]

2 days ago | 0 reads

Transfer Deadline Day 2026: Calm and Calculated at Sunderland

I am writing this mid-afternoon on 2 February 2026 — the Premier League transfer deadline day. So far, Sunderland have signed two young players — 19-year-old Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi, and 22-year-old Swedish goalkeeper Melker Ellborg. As I’m writing, news is coming in that a deal has been agreed with Anderlecht for 22-year-old Ecuadorian […]

2 days ago | 0 reads

Haway The Podcast | IS HE ANY GOOD? | Malmo Goalie Coach Gives Insight on Melker Ellborg!

Sunderland signed 22-year old goalkeeper Melker Ellborg at the weekend, but we’ve never really heard of him, so we thought we’d pick the brains of someone who knows him very well – Malmö FF goalkeeping coach (and goalkeeping analyst for The Athletic) Matt Pyzdrowski! All of this and more – get subscribed to Haway The […]

2 days ago | 0 reads

Good Luck At Millwall, Patto!

A couple of months ago, there’s a pretty good chance that the odds of Anthony Patterson, Tommy Watson and Alex Neil spearheading Millwall’s Championship playoff push would’ve been lengthy, to say the least. Three Sunderland playoff heroes — one of whom directed traffic from the Wembley sidelines in 2022, ensuring that our long-overdue escape from […]

2 days ago | 0 reads

Starting XI: Three Changes For Sunderland Versus Burnley Tonight?

Sunderland were poor last weekend at West Ham, and Regis Le Bris has had plenty of time to ponder what went wrong against the Hammers. Hopefully a few days off and a few days on the training ground will have got the lads’ heads back in the right spot, and with Habib Diarra fit again […]

3 days ago | 0 reads

Score Predictions: Can Sunderland Bounce Back Against Burnley?

Martin Wanless predicts… Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Burnley 1 Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Brian Brobbey After last week’s disappointing result against West Ham,we’ve got a huge game tonight. Burnley have picked up performance-wise recently and are more than capable of getting a result tonight, so we’ll have to be far better than we were last time […]

3 days ago | 1 read

Match Preview: Sunderland v Burnley — The Lads Are Favourites In Front Of The Cameras!

Monday 2nd February 2026 Sunderland v Burnley – Premier League Stadium of Light Kick-Off: 20:00 Tickets & Match Coverage Tickets: Tickets are sold out. TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is available on 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 the […]

3 days ago | 1 read

On This Day (2nd Feb 2013): Was This The Beginning Of The End For O’Neill?!

With Martin O’Neill getting Celtic back on track north of the border, it’s difficult not to think back on his time as manager of Sunderland – and think what a bloody shame it was that it didn’t work out. Thinking back, it was potentially a case of being the right man at the wrong time. […]

3 days ago | 1 read

Fan Focus: What Can Sunderland Expect From Scott Parker’s Burnley Side Today?

It seems so long ago when Burnley defeated  Sunderland back in August – how would you summarise your season since? Yeah feels like a while ago doesn’t it – the season has not gone well, is an understatement. 10 points adrift by January and looking down the barrel of another relegation. Scott Parker has developed […]

3 days ago | 1 read