Roker Report
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Andy’s Player Ratings: Sunderland 1-0 Fulham – Isidor Strike Claims First Win
Robin Roefs: 7/10 Was a spectator for long periods, had a few good crosses to either punch or claim but did not have a same to make. Thomas Meunier: 7/10 Played a lovely ball into Hume early on that should have resulted in a shot on goal. Was never overly troubled defensively, put a couple […]
Haway The Podcast | MATCHDAY PREVIEW | SAFC v Fulham | Can We Get 3 Points?
Will Sunderland get their first three points of the season as Premier League action returns to the Stadium of Light this afternoon? Join Gav, Jonny and Andrew as they look ahead to the game! On today’s show: All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our […]
Opposition Analysis: Can Sunderland Press The Issue Against Fulham?
Sunderland will begin their home league campaign against Fulham — a team that, last season, seemed to have our number. However, with a new manager, you wonder how differently this Cottagers side will line up under new boss and former Real Madrid star Alvaro Arbeloa compared to that of Marco Silva’s iteration of the West […]
Match Preview: Fulham (H): Welcome Home, Lads!
Football returns to the Stadium of Light during a season which will host European football for the second time in our history. I’m very excited to see the Lads back in competitive action on Wearside; however, I’d have preferred some points on the board… Tickets & Match Coverage Tickets: Tickets are still available at https://tickets.safc.com TV/Stream: Full […]
Fan Focus: What can Sunderland expect from Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham side?
Fulham lost Marco Silva to Benfica after 7 years in charge. Were fans disappointed to see him go after so much stability and success? I think it’s a bit of both. Marco Silva was exceptional for Fulham, establishing us as a Premier League side after years of “yo-yoing”. We did have a tenancy to drop-off […]
Sunderland Are Back At Home… Bring It On
May 24 2026 is a day that we’ll not forget in a long time — much like we won’t forget May 24 2025 in just as long. Walking to the Stadium of Light on the final day of the Premier League season, with Chelsea as the visitors, was special. The sun was shining; the city […]
Score Predictions: Can Sunderland Bounce Back Against Fulham?
Stats at a glance: Fulham (H): 29/08/2026 Average home goals predicted: 2 Average away goals predicted: 0.6 Confidence of Roker Report’s writers: 6.75/10 Predicting a win for the Lads: 88% Martin Wanless (Cautious Optimist) says… Score prediction: Sunderland 1 Fulham 0 The first game of the season should be one we are all excitedly looking […]
On This Day (30 August 1939): Attention Shifts Away From Murray’s Men
Having only replaced Johnny Cochrane in the March, Bill Murray was still taking early steps as Sunderland boss come August 1939. A former player under Cochrane, Murray knew the standards expected at Roker Park and his long-term vision was to get the club back to where it had been prior to his predecessor’s final season, […]
Starting XI: Three Changes Predicted For Sunderland Against Fulham This Afternoon
This is a really important game for us – which might sound daft given it’s only our second of the season, but with the fixtures we have coming up, and that ridiculous defeat last weekend, we need to get some points on the board for everyone’s sake. Key decisions for Regis Le Bris today seem […]
Haway The Podcast | OPPO PREVIEW | SAFC v Fulham | Can Sunderland Get Revenge?
After three long months, Premier League football returns to the Stadium of Light on Sunday with the visit of Fulham to Sunderland – and joining us to chat all about his team with us is journalist Jack Kelly! On today’s show: All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss […]
Can Sunderland Find Home Comforts As They Return To Wearside?
The importance of solid home form One of the most contributory factors behind our success last season was how incredible our home form was. Being a newly-promoted team and enjoying a tsunami of momentum off the back of the playoff campaign, the Stadium of Light was a fortress. Tickets for home games were like gold […]
Flexibility Could Be Sunderland’s Strong Suit For 2026/2027
At the end of last season, as it became clear Enzo Le Fée was best in the centre of the park, and our right-wing options were, well, not right wings, I argued many times that the best way to get all of the club’s best players on the pitch at one time was a back […]
On This Day (29 Aug 1981): A Six-Goal Thriller For Sunderland At Ipswich
Last week’s ‘punch in the stomach’ result against Ipswich wasn’t the first time that the Lads had made the long trip to Suffolk on the opening game of the season. There was an exciting encounter back on this day in 1981 — a thrilling six-goal game that saw Sunderland return with a fine point. Back […]
From 3-3 Thrillers to 1-0 Heartbreak: Sunderland at Ipswich
We witnessed a self-inflicted defeat over the weekend at Portman Road, and it was a discouraging start to the season which has resulted in a lot of online analysis, as well as blame assigned to some usually reliable players. This all took place in the context of the rebuilt Tractor Boys’ team being out to […]
Sunderland Fans: Let’s Win the Nurdle Derby!
The goal: Support the nurdle beach clean-up and win the Nurdle TrophyWhen: Kick-off 1st September, for four weeksWho: Fans of ten north-east clubsWhich clubs: Ashington, Blyth Spartans, Gateshead, Heaton Stannington, Hebburn Town, Newcastle United, North Shields, South Shields, Sunderland, Whitley BayHow: Score goals by taking action to support the nurdle clean-upWhere: Sign up at — […]
Haway The Podcast | EUROPA LEAGUE DRAW REACTION | Mackems In Milan!
We went live over on YouTube (search for Haway The Podcast and get subscribed…) earlier as Sunderland’s Europa League fixtures were announced – so join Gav, Andrew, Jonny and Ian for the craic! All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show. Ready […]
Sunderland’s Europa League Draw: Milan, Here We Come!
Ian Bendelow says… There are dream scenarios and there are dream scenarios…and this is a platinum edition banger of a dream scenario. Before today, I didn’t believe in fate, in things being written in the stars, or karma. But I do now. Let’s get ourselves down to Milan, do what the Mags couldn’t and come […]
Robin Roefs Extends His Sunderland Contract… A Big Boost For Everyone?
Can Robin Roefs become Sunderland’s long-term number one and establish himself as the Netherlands’ next great goalkeeper after an electric debut Premier League season? Sunderland have confirmed that Roefs has extended his stay on Wearside until 2031. The Dutch international was key in the Black Cats’ seventh-place finish during the 2025/2026 season and subsequent Europa […]
Haway The Podcast | Q&A | Attacking Threat, Upcoming Games & Past Heroes
We did one Q&A earlier in the week and had a ton of questions left over, so we thought we’d assemble a slightly different line up to tackle some more queries! On today’s show, Martin, Sam, Jonny and Ant talk • Attacking threat – in particular our wingers and forwards • How many points would be […]
On This Day (28th Aug 2007): The Night Sunderland Lost 3-0 — And Roy Keane Had An “Evil Thought”
It was that time of year again when the early rounds of the English League Cup were being played in the midst of a hectic Premier League schedule. Sunderland had played their first four games of the season following promotion and, despite an exciting victory over Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day, had failed to […]
Why Sunderland Must Find More Goals to Kick On This Season
It’s not possession that wins games; it’s not who has the highest xG; it’s simply one team scores more than the other. Football is a simple game made complicated by those who should know better – Bill Shankly. Similarly, the season’s final table positions are not dictated by goals scored or conceded. However, goals matter […]
Wilson Isidor Signs New Sunderland Deal – ‘Here’s to His Goals’
John Wilson says… I like Isidor a lot. Sometimes you catch a player up close, executing a superb piece of skill, and I’ve seen that many times with Wilson. He’s a bright talent and his speed isn’t often talked about either — he’s like a gazelle and I’d love to know what his flat 100 […]
Sunderland’s Transformation Is About More Than What Happens on the Pitch
When I lived in London, for a couple of years a good proportion of my disposable income went on travel to make the most of my season ticket at the Stadium of Light. I bought it in the wave of optimism of the Stewart Donald takeover and maintained it through COVID and the League One […]
Fan Letters: Sunderland Must Get Out Of The Blocks – Or This Could Turn Disasterous
Dear Roker Report, Right at the death yet again, and, as should have been scripted, by a former player. Taking away the regrettable celebrations from Clarke that irked us fans who once adored him, there was definitely something lacking in our play. To me, we seemed half a yard off the ball, and although I […]
Pause The Meltdown – We Aren’t in Bad Company
Well, that was a bit of a damp squib of a “match one”, wasn’t it? It was always going to be a bit “meh” for me, to be honest – I erroneously made arrangements to have lunch with some old friends on Saturday (family pals, not footy mates), which I was really looking forward to […]
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