Match Day Thread Sunderland v Stoke City Saturday 14th January KO 15:00

Saturday 14th January 15:00, Sunderland host Stoke City at the Stadium of Light

Last time out Sunderland drew 0-0 with Burnley and Stoke lost 2-0 at home to Wolves in the FA Cup.
Sunderland could move out of the relegation zone for the first time since September with victory over Stoke on Saturday afternoon. The Black Cats are unbeaten in their last three games at the Stadium of Light in all competitions, and manager David Moyes believes this month could be vital in their fight against relegation.

David Moyes:
"We want to keep our players and we want to add to our squad"
“Patrick is a very important player for us”
“We are out there, seeing where we can find things”
“We have limited funds and we need to make them go a long way”

“I’ve watched Stoke play recently and I think they’re a good team; they also now have a club which is very stable and I don’t think many people think they're a club who could ever be in danger.

Mark Hughes:
Talking of last week’s FA cup defeat "We didn't perform to the level that we needed to despite me picking a side that was more than capable of winning.
"I fully expect us to show a response at Sunderland, although I acknowledge the difficulties facing us.
"There are frustrations within our building because of what happened last weekend. The guys are desperate to put those wrongs right."

Match Appointments:
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: J Collin, D Cook
Fourth official: L Mason
Mike Dean was the referee in this game last season and sent off Ryan Shawcross early in the second half. Sunderland went on the win 2-0.

Form:
Sunderland: L-L-W-L-D-D
Stoke City: D-D-L-L-W-L

Head to Head
Won 42 Lost 8 Draw 19

Sunderland have won their last 3 home games against Stoke City
The Black Cats have lost just one of their last five home league matches (W3, D1)
Jermain Defoe has scored 20 Premier League goals in January. Only Alan Shearer (23) and Frank Lampard (21) have more.

Pundits:
Lawro 1-1
Merson 1-0

Team Selection:
Sunderland

Sunderland are again without Lamine Kone, Didier Ndong and Wahbi Khazri due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Full-back Billy Jones returns but Steven Pienaar will miss out once again with a calf injury and Striker Victor Anichebe is still not ready.
Jordan Pickford, Jan Kirchhoff, Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore (all knee), Lee Cattermole (hip) and Lynden Gooch (ankle) are all on the sidelines.

Stoke City

Wilfried Bony, Ramadan Sobhi and Mame Biram Diouf are on international duty at the ACON.
Stoke forward Jonathan Walters requires surgery on a knee problem and is ruled out, along with Bojan.

Marc Muniesa and Phil Bardsley could both be involved after returning to training this week.

Key Men:
Stoke City
Marko Arnautovic

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Sunderland
Jermain Defoe

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Jermain Defoe makes his 500th career league appearance – it would be nice to celebrate that land mark with a goal or maybe even a hat-trick.

Expected Line ups

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Betting
Sunderland 2-1
Stoke City 7-5
Draw 12-5

My two pence...
Stoke have been as unpredictable as we have been so I have no idea how this one will turn out. My heart says home win but my head says another 0-0 bore draw.
Ha’way the lads.

 

great thread rtb.

denayer cd, live cm and mannequin or jones rb would be my changes to the line-up.

then fingers firmly crossed.

 

Have we signed 2 new players?
I don't think we will play Manquillo in the centre either. That line-up is from the Guardian.

 

I'd put Jones at RB and replace Larsson with Love. Larsson gets on my tits, I think he's ****e, basically. O'Shea in.

----------------- Mannone ----------------

Jones -- O'Shea -- Djilobodji -- PVA

------------------- Love ---------------------

---------- Denayer -- Rodwell ---------

--- Borini -------------------- Januzaj ---

------------------ Defoe --------------------
-

 

That's so ****ing poor it's unbelievable.

If Ellis can't see he needs to invest when that's about our strongest lineup at the minute we might as well give up.

Having said that, I fancy us to win tomorrow

 

they must have had a few beers in the eagle, putting that line-up out. at this rate, we might need a mannequin or two to make up the numbers..

 

Yep I'd go along with that.

 

Rodwell to break his duck then?

Since the day I was born, we have beat no team more than we've beaten Stoke and we are currently 14 games unbeaten against them at home. The omens are good

 

And Lawro says we'll draw so that won't happen either.

 

Was it you putting a fiver on 1-0 and Rodwell 1st 83? had a wee dabble on that meself, like a daft bet.

 

Cheers mate, good work. O'Shea must start like if those are the options. Midfield looks a bit rough mind. Larssons pointing might suit this game, definite win

 

Another game which could be classed as a must win if we are going to pull clear..

 

Merson has gone for a 1-0 home win

 

Ahh ****, just as I was starting to feel a bit positive!

 

Certainly was mate. I got 66/1 for it.

I'll continue to back it until it comes in.

 

I've gone for the home win, more out of hope than judgement, but i really hope Charlie Adams breaks a leg or two and Shawcross is struck down by lightening.

 

F*ck Stoke.....a win to the Lads!!!!

 

Ow whats the matter with the Eagle like. It was a good pub in its day.