Sunderland travel to Sheffield United in the Sky Bet Championship Last time out Sunderland drew with Birmingham and Sheff Utd. drew at Villa. Sheffield United will again be without midfielder John Fleck, who serves the final game of a three-match ban. David Brooks has been suffering with tonsillitis and will be assessed, but Kieron Freeman (knee) and Ched Evans (ankle) remain on the sidelines. Sunderland will look to claim a much needed win when they travel to Sheffield on Boxing Day and will check on Darron Gibson, who went off with a groin injury on Saturday. Didier Ndong could step in if Gibson is ruled out, while Brian Oviedo is hoping for a start. Chris Coleman: “Our performance wasn’t where we wanted it to be, On the back of last week, we were looking to build on that, of course." “We tried to get the maximum here, I thought there was a touch of luck with their goal. It was a great block by Sheasy after the ball over the top, but it falls straight back to their guy who slots it in. It was disappointing really because it was an opportunity that we haven’t taken." “When they had a man sent off they chose their moments to attack us, we defended very deep and in numbers. We did that ourselves, but we couldn’t break them down. We waited for that one little chance, but we couldn’t capitalise on it." “When you don’t play as well as you can you still need to take something. We took something, but I think we have missed an opportunity.” Chris Wilder: "It was attitude and character that got us through more than free flowing football but that was what I needed.” "It may not have been the biggest result of the day in England but, in our dressing room, it feels like a win. Maybe it could be a turning point for us. It had to start somewhere.” "Clayton Donaldson has got himself back in over the last two or three weeks. We're not big hitters in this division and people might have been a surprise when we signed him, but he's really good for Birmingham City over the last few seasons and hopefully he can now have a good run at it with us." Match facts: This is the first league meeting between Sheffield United and Sunderland at Bramall Lane since September 2004 - the Blades won 1-0 with a goal from Paul Shaw. The Blades haven't managed a league double over the Black Cats since the 1986/87 campaign, but won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light earlier this campaign. Billy Sharp has had a hand in six goals in his past seven Football League starts on Boxing Day (five goals, one assist) - he's scored braces in two of his last three appearances (Boxing Day 2012 v Leeds and Boxing Day 2016 v Oldham). Sunderland have lost each of their past three league games held on Boxing Day, shipping 10 goals in the process. Sports Analytics Machine - meh Prutton predicts: meh Referee: PETER BANKES Assistants: Paul Hodskinson and Billy Smallwood Fourth Official: Robert Jones Team Line ups Sunderland: Substitutes: Steele, Love, McManaman, Embleton, McGeady, Maja, Asoro Injured Kone, Watmore, Williams, Jones, Rodwell, Cattermole, McNair, Gibson Sheffield United: Moore, Carter-Vickers, Stearman, O'Connell, Baldock, Lundstram, Basham, Stevens, Duffy, Clarke, Donaldson Subs from: Sharp, Wright, Lavery, Heneghan, Lafferty, Blackman, Carruthers Injured: Freeman, Evans Form: Betting Odds: H 3/4 A 13/5 D 19/5 My two pence: We need a win to boost confidence and we are playing Sheff United at just the right time with them going through a bit of a dip in form so I’m going for a 2-1 away win. Ha’way the Lads
We're doing better away from home so I fancy a narrow win here, although we don't have a particularly good record at Bramall Lane.
Yeah I've got a strange feeling we'll win this one anarl!! 1-2 to the lads. Merry Xmas all - am pi$$ed!! Bart
If pace is introduced with Asoro and Maja earlier in the game and Oviedo is fit I fancy us - but our defence need to match their physical play Tricky game with a narrow Cats win
Another team on a poor run who need a result, so it will be a home win for Sheff u, how can it be anything else ?, i would like to say we will win but this is SAFC, i am worried about where we will be before the Barnsley match, we will need points.
Draw would do but we can win this. They are performing at a more realistic level now and still having a great season. Player for player we are better than them but that Clarke lad scores 11 a game for them at home. 12-12 it is then...
Think Shef Utd will nick it. Sorry lads. Something about boxing day away fixtures, Traveling on a coach following a belly full of Christmas cheer makes me feel ill just thinking about it and I haven't touch a drop of plonk. Think its a day for the home teams.
Expecting nowt from this game, to be honest. I don’t think we’ve enough players for to give it a proper go, and our midfield is v. weak with the number of players we have out. A stretch too far for the young-uns, as much as i’d Like them to prove me wrong..
Tend to agree as I think their physicality and div1 style play may undo us as it did when they were at the SOL. But with a no nonsense Coal man on our side... 3pts for Black cats ? I hope but like you will be and it's not after Christmas beer.
Impressive work mate, I reckon I could just about lick the tip, I ain’t gonna try it like, haha. All the best pal!
I’m sure it would taste like bad decisions and regret, ha. Actually I regret none of them, scratch that bit!
