Sunderland visit Barnsley in the Sky Bet Championship Last time out Sunderland beat Carlisle Utd. in the Carabao cup, Barnsley lost to local rivals Sheffield Utd. in the league. Barnsley signing Dimitri Cavare will have to wait to make his debut as a hamstring strain keeps him out despite receiving international clearance. Defender Zeki Fryers, also hamstring, and midfielder Lloyd Isgrove with a foot problem, miss out through injury. Simon Grayson has no new injury concerns, Bryan Oviedo could again feature overcoming a calf injury from Tuesday's win at Carlisle. Midfielder Jack Rodwell could play in the U23 game tonight (Friday) as he recovers from illness. Simon Grayson: “There’s one or two who didn’t train yesterday with knocks, we’ll give it until today after training to have a look,” said Grayson. “Jack Rodwell is back training, there’s an U23 game at Derby tomorrow that he might play in, we haven’t decided yet just because he’s missed a lot of football.” “I think everybody wants to see a fit, firing Jack Rodwell who can be a valuable member of your squad.” “The injury that kept him out of the pre-season games was a dead leg which can happen, illness can happen, he doesn’t get much luck, we’re just hopeful that we can get behind him now and he can be available for the season.” “All the other ones we’ll wait until the last minute.” “It’s a nice position to be in at times when you have got people knocking on your door and making a case for themselves being in the team – that’s how we want it to be.” “The competition is good. I think Jason Steele has done all right, Robbin showed why we signed him, and one or two other players came into the team the other night and showed what they are capable of doing." Paul Heckingbottom Talking about the defeat to Sheff Utd. "It was disappointing. Compared to the last two performances it was chalk and cheese. The players know that. We started on the back foot and it was a game too far for us. "It was a first derby for a lot of them, the first time we played three times in a week, I need to learn about these players. "There weren't many who came out with positives today." Match facts: After winning three consecutive home league clashes with Sunderland, Barnsley have since lost three in a row. Sunderland have won five of their last six league encounters with Barnsley, losing the other in November 1998. Paul Heckingbottom played for the Tykes the last time these sides met, a 2-0 win for Sunderland at Oakwell in March 2007 when they were managed by Roy Keane. Barnsley's 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest stopped a run of 10 successive league games without a win at Oakwell (D7 L3); the Yorkshire side haven't won two in a row since December 2016. Sunderland have picked up as many points in their first four league games this season as they had in the last 14 of last season (5). SAM – Away win Prutton predicts: 1-0 Referee: CHRIS KAVANAGH Assistants: Andrew Garratt and Daniel Cook Fourth official: Seb Stockbridge Team Line ups Sunderland Subs from Steele, Matthews, O’Shea, Djilobodji, Gibson, Gooch, Khazri, Asoro Doubtful Oviedo, Galloway Injured McNair (knee, Sep), Watmore (knee, Sep), Maja (knee, Sep) Barnsley Davies, McCarthy, Jackson, Pearson, Williams, Hammill, Potts, Moncur, Hedges, Bradshaw Subs from Townsend, Barnes, Pinnock, Ugbo, Thiam, Mowatt, Bird Injured: Fryers, Isgrove Suspended MacDonald (3 match ban) Betting Odds: H 12/5 A 21/20 D 13/5 My two pence: After the defeat to Leeds we need to make a few tweaks to the team and bounce back quickly, Barnsley have lost their last 3 league games but have had a tough start similar to ours. No easy games in this league. I am going for a 2-2 draw. Ha’way the Lads
Hoping for ------------------------Ruiter-------------------------- Jones-------Browning-----Kone----Oviedo -------------Cattermole--Ndong--------------- Gooch----------Honeyman--------Mcgeady ----------------------Grabban-------------------------
Last time we played Barnsley, Tobias Hysen, Anthony Stokes and Martin Fulop missed the bus... Hopefully this time Jack Rodwell, Billy Jones and Fatty Khazri do the same.
Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom was on the books at SAFC for 4 years. But never played a competitive game..Loaned to mighty Scarboriugh, Darlo and Hartlepool.
Ruiter and Gooch won us the game on Tuesday and should be rewarded with start imo. Vaughan isn't injured but we are having to put square pegs into round holes and playing Honeyman and or Grabban out of position to accommodate him. Yes he works hard but with the faux faux 2 we are having to play we can't control games and give the opposition too much possession.
We haven't been trying to control games though, We've been letting teams have the ball. Think you're going to be ripping your hair out this season. 451 off the ball, 442 on it and we play counter attacking football. It's clearly a choice installed by Grayson as he's done it elsewhere and we've never set up like this before he came here.
Really wish I could make this one ..... great away support and a good stand for us. It'll be a battle but at least we're battling these days.
For myself the contrast shown in effort and willingness to date is refreshing to say the least, Ndong imo is a fantastic player who displays these qualities to a tee,i truly hope he stays .
If your going, have a great time and I hope my prediction is PISH!! Bart FTM & The Northumbria Police.
Tough game in a totally different way to the first 4, but we've shown we can dig in and fight. Hard fought 1 goal win for me.
