IT should have been the perfect day. The second anniversary of Uncle Jack's death. The most eagerly awaited season for years. A glorious summer's day.

Sunderland, torn apart by civil unrest, perfect candidates to be led to the sacrificial altar like lambs to the slaughter.

Then it all started to go slightly wrong. With the temperature pushing 27 Celsius, we couldn't get a pre match pint as our usual watering hole had unexpectedly shut down.

The sweltering heat then had an undoubted effect on an uninspiring first half played out with all the lack of urgency of a pre-season friendly. Neither keeper called upon to make a save.

The second half was much better. We played with a far better tempo and were genuinely exciting on occasions. However we didn't get the breaks in the opposition penalty area when it mattered and in the end drew a blank. General consensus coming out of the ground and at Pub post mortems afterwards - "Disappointing".

If the result were to be indicative of the season ahead it would be somewhat worrying, a carbon copy of last year's inability to despatch the Division's poorer sides.

Sunderland came to Ewood devoid of any ambition other than trying to survive by means of packing ten men behind the ball. The fact we allowed them their limited objective left a slightly sour taste in the mouth - surely sides have a duty to at least try to entertain the paying public?

It's also a fair bet Sunderland won't be figuring too prominently in the upper reaches of the table this year. On yesterday's evidence they'll struggle to reach even last season's paltry return of 28 goals.

As it happens though I wasn't unduly worried by Saturday's result which I think will have little or no bearing on our prospects.

I've been concerned for a while that our pre season build up lacked the quality and intensity to leave us at maximum sharpness for the opening day.

That was certainly the impression I got for much of Saturday's game. Five matches only from scratch, two of which were against virtual Pub teams and a further 90 minutes against Blackpool.

Only two workouts against meaningful opposition. I'm sure we'll be much sharper in a couple of weeks time.

So any genuine causes for concern? We seemed far too reliant on giving the ball to Damien Duff and hoping he would do something extraordinary.

Any causes for optimism? A clean sheet, somewhat of a rarity last season. At last Tiny Taylor in the starting line up in his correct position of centre back. Let's hope it's for keeps. An equally assured performance from defensive partner Craig Short, albeit against the most toothless attack imaginable. And of course the irrepressible Duff.

So it's on to Birmingham where a win is now somewhat of a necessity.

Three points and we'll be wondering what all the fuss was about.

Any less than that and we'll be going into a difficult fixture against Liverpool needing to get something to avoid putting ourselves under pressure.