When enduring the worst ever start to a Premier League season, you can forgive Sunderland supporters for feeling less than jovial.
At the start of business on Saturday, they were rooted to the foot of the table with just two points to their name under David Moyes and the Black Cats remain understandable favourites for the drop.
The mood around the Stadium of Light is gloomy, as is often the case, and smiles are few and far between.
It was perhaps, then, rather ill-advised for the club’s official Twitter account to try to have a bit of fun when Sunderland drew level against Bournemouth.
Can we just tweet something like…@VictorAnichebe makes it 1-1 pic.twitter.com/1UNW9vh2n8
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) November 5, 2016
The above tweet was a reference to a recent social media post from striker Victor Anichebe, the man who netted the equaliser, which was pretty clearly copied and pasted from somebody on Sunderland’s PR team .
The joke was not well-received given the sombre atmosphere around the club and fans didn’t hesitate to vent their unhappiness.
@SunderlandAFC @VictorAnichebe No delete this now
— George Wright (@Ps3123321) November 5, 2016
Can we just tweet something like… You’re getting fucking relegated @SunderlandAFC
— Paul. (@PaulPogbx) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @VictorAnichebe naw ye canny ya embarrassment of a club
— Martyn (@ManLikeTav) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @SAFCsource @VictorAnichebe Take the piss out the fans – class bantz
— Gaz (@GazJ2K) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @VictorAnichebe what an insult
— nwosu kelechi (@Igbocommentator) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @premierleague @VictorAnichebe shit banter from a shit club
— curwin (@_curwin) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @VictorAnichebe please delete
— kyle murgatroyd (@kylemurg) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @VictorAnichebe *rubs eyes* *rubs eyes again*
— Marcus Byron (@marcusb66) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @premierleague @VictorAnichebe DELETE
— Nicklas Letho Peders (@DiderPedersen) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @premierleague @VictorAnichebe can we tweet like yes are down to 10 men and gonna lose???
— Morgan O’Shaughnessy (@MorganOS1229) November 5, 2016
As it turned out, Sunderland got their first win of the season despite playing thirty minutes with 10 men and the result probably did something to get fans back on side.
And absolutely nobody appreciated Jermain Defoe’s winner from the penalty spot more than Sunderland’s social media manager.
FULL TIME: That's it! Big, big win on the south coast for #SAFC #HawayTheLads pic.twitter.com/YbdnKZbpSA
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC pic.twitter.com/pKvBAhAZdL
— Kieran Lane (@laneyno3) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC I LOVE YOU SO MUCH
— ㅤ (@bekahsafc_) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC Keep playing Victor, Highly rated at Everton just didn’t get really much of a chance, he’s a great player.
— Everton Blue Army (@EvertonBlueArmy) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC WERE GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE
— Razz (@GreenRazz) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC tweet something like big Vic for president
— James Wake (@wakeinator) November 5, 2016
@SunderlandAFC I have no oxygen left ??
— Levi Wedgewood (@WedgeLevi) November 5, 2016
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