Sunderland travel to Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship
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Last time out Sunderland drew with Bolton and Middlesbrough beat Hull City.
Sunderland sacked manager Simon Grayson within minutes of failing to beat bottom of the table Bolton Wanderers. The Black Cats sit 22nd in the division with 10 points from 15 games, and they have equaled an unwanted record in English football – 19 games without a home win. Billy McKinlay and Robbie Stockdale will take joint charge for their weekend visit to Middlesbrough in this Tees-Wear clash.
Middlesbrough will have an almost fully fit squad available for the visit of managerless Sunderland. Fabio da Silva suffered an ankle knock in Tuesday's win at Hull but should be fit to take on the Black Cats.
Robbie Stockdale:
“We’ve been better than what our results have suggested, “We should have more points on the board, without a doubt," he added. But when it comes to a derby game I think anything goes, I think the form book goes out of the window. "
“James (Vaughan) will be missing, he struggled in the back end of the game on Tuesday,”
“Josh Maja is still recovering and that’s a shame. The other is Tyias (Browning). He’s well on the way to recovery but he’s not ready to play yet.”
Gary Monk:
“With derby games, the form goes out the window and we just need to focus on ourselves and deliver what we need to deliver."
“We will just approach the game by focusing on ourselves. “It’s now going to be difficult. Sunderland will come strong regardless of what situation they are in. It’s another difficult game for us."
"At home we haven’t given our fans what we have wanted before and this is another motivation for us. We want to try and finish a good week and make it a great week.”
Match facts:
- Middlesbrough have beaten local rivals Sunderland in each of their last three matches in all competitions, last winning four in a row in February 2003.
- The Black Cats have won two of their last 24 away league visits to Middlesbrough (D8 L14).
- Britt Assombalonga has scored in each of his last five Championship appearances in November, netting six goals.
- Sunderland, with just 10 points from their opening 15 matches, have made the worst start of any side in the second tier who were relegated from the Premier League the previous season.
- The last second tier side relegated from the top-flight the previous season to win only one of their first 15 games were Swansea City in 1983-84; the Swans were relegated at the end of that season.
- Garry Monk has never lost back to back home Championship matches as a manager; Monk has followed up six defeats with three wins and three draws.
Form:
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Sports Analytics Machine – home win (60%)
Prutton predicts: 3-0
Referee: JEREMY SIMPSON
Assistants: Nick Hopton and Michael George
Fourth Official: Peter Bankes
Team Line ups
Sunderland:
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Substitutes: Ruiter, Jones, Wilson, Cattermole, McNair, Williams, Embleton
Injured Browning, Maja, Vaughan
Middlesbrough
Randolph, Christie, Ayala, Gibson, Fabio, Howson, Leadbitter, Downing, Braithwaite, Tavernier. Assombalonga
Subs from Konstantopoulos, Friend, Fletcher, Fry, Johnson, Forshaw, Traoré
Injured None
Betting Odds:
H 7/10
A 17/4
D 13/5
My two pence:
When we poached Grayson from Preston I jokingly told my PNE supporting mate not to worry because they could have him back when we sacked him at Christmas. Well – it’s done now and we start this crazy roller-coaster all over again.
Hopefully Stockdale has been drilling the whole team on how to defend – especially at set pieces. At least it is live on Sky.
I’m going for a 2-2 draw but fearing a roasting.
Ha’way the Lads
