Roker Report
Sunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!
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Sunderland Are in Europe – And We Should Drink It All In
Back in the League One days, I remember waking up on a matchday when Fleetwood, Crewe and Morecambe were the opposition. There was always optimism, but after being scarred on too many of those dismal days, there was more often an underwhelming feeling that we’d be playing against another club who was about to have […]
Haway The Podcast | AZ ALKMAAR: WHAT AWAITS SUNDERLAND? | AZ Fan Gives His Verdict!
SUNDERLAND’S FIRST EUROPA LEAGUE OPPONENTS ARE HERE… 🇪🇺🔴⚪ What better way to get the lowdown on AZ Alkmaar than by speaking to someone who knows them inside out? AZ supporter and journalist Brian Wijker joins us at Haway The Podcast HQ to give Sunderland fans the inside track on our first Europa League opponents. AZ […]
OTD (15/9/2012): Sunderland & Liverpool Share the Spoils in 2012
On this day in 2012, Sunderland took on Liverpool at the Stadium of Light, playing out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the Premier League near the start of a season that would see us finish seventeenth in the table, with Liverpool finishing seventh for the second season running. It was a strange start to a […]
Talking Tactics: How Le Bris Took the Gunners to the Wire
Sunderland returned to the Stadium of Light in league action following a battling point on the road to high-flying Brentford, having to welcome the current champions Arsenal in a game which saw the real limits of Premier League physicality put to the test. After an exhilarating match last season, Sunderland were unable to replicate their […]
Sunderland in Europe: For Those Who Endured League One
There are moments as a football supporter when you stop and think: how on earth did we get here? For me, one of those moments arrived while looking at flights to Belgium. Not because Brussels was necessarily high on my list of places to visit, nor because I had always dreamed of spending an autumn […]
Which Player Might Make Sunderland Scoring History Against AZ Alkmaar?
Ciaran McKenna says… For me, Brian Brobbey. It might seem obvious to choose a striker, but I think it would be perfect. Brobbey is yet to find the net this season and it would be great for him to get off the mark. I also think he deserves the praise that comes with scoring a […]
Fan Letters: The Hunt For Barnesy Goes On, & Controversial Decisions
Got something to get off your chest? Email us and we’ll include your thoughts in the next edition of Fan Letters! 📧 [email protected] Dear Roker Report, The search for Barnes & Benno – Part III The saga continues in my hunt for the mythical ‘membership scheme’ BBC radio commentary link on the SAFC website. Thursday […]
Haway The Podcast | SUNDER YEARS | 1913 | Horatio Carter, An FA Cup Classic & Joe Lane
Welcome to another episode of The Sunder Years, where we take a jaunt down memory lane, looking at a player, a game and an anniversary that was prominent in a particular year. This week, Martin, Andrew and Kelvin deep dive into 1913, and explore… • New signing Joe Lane – who had an interesting career! • […]
Cheese, Beer, Canals and Football: A Rough Guide To AZ Alkmaar!
On Wednesday, we welcome Dutch side AZ Alkmaar to the Stadium of Light for our Europa League opener, and ahead of the game, I’ve had a look at what our visitors are famous for – both in football terms and beyond! In profile: Alkmaar Alkmaar is a city located in the North Holland region of […]
Even In Defeat, Sunderland Showed They’re No Pushovers
What was arguably the biggest game in world football on Saturday wasn’t even Sunderland’s biggest game in the next seven days. Imagine saying that five years ago. Régis Le Bris described the 90 minutes on Saturday evening as “frustrating”. There’s no doubt this was not because of his displeasure at the quality of the performance, […]
From The Darkness, Sunderland Have Emerged Into The European Light
During the past two decades (and perhaps going even further back than that, if we include our ill-fated 2002/2003 season), it’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment at which the notion of Sunderland ever competing in European competition seemed most fanciful. Was it the summer of 2006, and the aftermath of our soul-destroying fifteen-point 2005/2006 […]
Editorial: A New Chapter In Sunderland’s Redemption Story
In two days’ time, we’ll watch Sunderland play in Europe. Almost five years to the day since we conceded two late goals to Simon Grayson’s Fleetwood Town to draw 2-2, this club – our club – will be playing European football for the first time since 1973. There’s only one player still around from the […]
OTD (14/09/1992): Sunderland Faces Striker Exodus And Possible Marco Return
It might only have been four months since Sunderland took on Liverpool at Wembley in the FA Cup final and five league games into the new season, but the dark clouds were already gathering over Roker Park and manager Malcolm Crosby. The summer of 1992 was a chance to reset and ride the positivity that […]
Matchday Musings: Sunderland lose But Aren’t Outgunned By Arsenal
Two things are often true simultaneously in football. “I’m proud and disappointed,” said Régis Le Bris when asked to give his post-match summation of a game that was within our grasp, albeit greasy, before an Enzo Le Fée missed penalty proved costly, in what was otherwise a tremendous display from Sunderland. It was an evening […]
Haway The Podcast | SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT | Tom White on Sunderland v Arsenal
We went toe-to-toe with the Arsenal and they showed why they are champions and probably will be again! It was a monumental effort from the Lads but we came away with nowt but pride. Tom White joins Gav & Chris as we look back at all the action from last night and the one or […]
Talking Points: Sunderland Fall Short Against The Gunners
A game that swung in two instances When Sunderland were awarded a penalty following Ezri Konsa’s impromptu wrestling match with Dan Ballard, it felt like a massive opportunity to break the deadlock against the notoriously watertight Gunners as Enzo Le Fée lined up his spot kick against David Raya. There was little wrong with the […]
2 Up, 2 Down: Arsenal Grind It Out As Sunderland Rue Their Luck
Ben McKevitt says… Effort and desire in abundance That’s as good a team effort as you’ll see all session from any team, in my opinion. The fact that we’ve come away with a red card and a 0-2 to show for it is sickening but you can’t feel anything but proud of the Lads and […]
OTD (13/9/1902): Liverpool Beaten By Mourning Sunderland
Alex Mackie’s dominant Sunderland won the 1901/1902 Football League title with games to spare, and because of their margin of victory, they looked a decent bet to repeat the trick ahead of the following season. However, the heartbreaking death of captain Matthew Ferguson over the summer left a dark cloud over the side and the […]
Andy’s Player Ratings: Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal – Le Fee Penalty Miss The Turning Point
Robin Roefs: 7/10 Made a really good save in the first half, tipping an effort over the bar and was strong from set pieces. Might be disappointed not to save the penalty after getting a good hand on it. Nordi Mukiele: 10/10 Absolute mountain at the back, dominated from right back. Didn’t give Arsenal a […]
Haway The Podcast | MATCHDAY PREVIEW | Can Sunderland Cause An UPSET vs Arsenal?!
The Champions are coming to the Stadium of Light. Join Gav, James and Jonny LIVE as we look ahead to a huge Saturday night on Wearside as Sunderland take on Arsenal in the Premier League. Arsenal arrive as the reigning champions and have made a perfect start to the season — but Sunderland have already […]
Fan Focus: How can Sunderland stop Arsenal from extending their 100% winning record?
Arsenal won the Premier League last season after a long 20-year wait for the Gunners. Do you feel that now the pressure is off in a way and Arsenal can play with more freedom under Arteta? The pressure is off in terms of the title, but I still see Arsenal playing in a similar way […]
Score Predictions: Can Sunderland Give The Gunners A Kick Up The Arsenal?
Stats at a glance: Arsenal (H): 12/09/2026 Average home goals predicted: 1.4 Average away goals predicted: 1.5 Confidence of Roker Report’s writers: 4.1/10 Predicting a win for the Lads: 37.5% Martin Wanless (Cautious Optimist) says… Score prediction: Sunderland 2 Arsenal 1 I think we can get a result here. Maybe I’m being overly optimistic, but […]
Starting XI: Is This The Sunderland Team To Take On Arsenal Tonight?
After our best display of the season last weekend, and a good performance by a different 11 on Tuesday against Hull City, Regis Le Bris has a few more players staking legitimate claims for first team places. Despite new signings Malick Fofana, Jules Ahoka and Dayann Methalie getting their first starts in midweek, and Omar […]
Match Preview: Sunderland v Arsenal — The Champions Head To The Stadium Of Light
Saturday 12th September 2026 Sunderland v Arsenal – Premier League Stadium of Light – Kick-Off: 20:00 Tickets & Match Coverage TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is available via TNT 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 game on the Roker […]
OTD (12/9/53): Sunderland thrash reigning champions Arsenal!
The Sunderland team of 1953/1954 was somewhat enigmatic. Blessed with some magnificent attacking talent, we had no problems scoring goals, but we seemed to suffer from travel sickness whenever we left the North East. Despite looking like we could kick on during this particular season, our form away from Roker Park was causing major issues […]
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