Stephen Elliott: Why the return of 10,000 Sunderland fans against Lincoln City will prove key

Coupled with the fact that 10,000 fanatical home fans will be in attendance, the first time the red and white army will have attended a game in over a year.

I know only too well how Sunderland fans can be a twelfth, even a thirteenth man at times for the players such is the passion and energy they can bestow on the team.

I have had some memorable moments of the Roker Roar, both as a player and as a fan in attendance at games.

It’s spine-tingling at times, the hairs stand up all over your body, and your heart does beat an awful lot more than it should do.

Other clubs may come close, but no other set of fans in football match up to the Mackems when they are in full voice.

Seeing Thierry Henry sat in the TV studio absolutely mesmerised by the Sunderland fans after the Jermaine Defoe winner in the derby a few years back tells you everything.

There was a man who had won everything and played in the biggest games and stadiums in world football, gobsmacked by our fans.

Breathtaking stuff, and something that may be needed come Saturday.

Those 10,000 in attendance need to make it feel as though there are 48,000 packed into the SOL, kicking every ball, blocking every shot and winning every tackle.

Show the players what this football club is all about and hopefully they’ll respond by showing how much it means to them.

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