Sat. 30th Dec. 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP Nottm Forest15:00 Nottingham Forest forward Daryl Murphy is expected to face his former club, Sunderland, after being left out of the Boxing Day loss to Sheffield Wednesday. Midfielder David Vaughan also missed the game against the Owls, and faces a fitness test for Saturday's match. Sunderland are likely to be without top goalscorer Lewis Grabban, who has a calf problem. Midfielders Didier Ndong (ankle) and Darron Gibson (groin) could also be absent for the Black Cats. SAM's prediction Home win 46% Draw 26% Away win 28% Match facts This is the first meeting between these sides at the City Ground since August 2008 in the League Cup - Sunderland won 2-1 with goals from Phil Bardsley and David Healy. The Black Cats have not lost twice to Forest in a league season since 1984-85, having already lost 1-0 earlier this season. Forest have won five of their past seven league games at the City Ground (L2), although the two defeats have come in the most recent three games there (0-2 v Cardiff and 0-3 v Sheffield Wednesday). Sunderland have not won any of their past nine final matches in a calendar year (D4 L5) since beating Bolton in 2007. Barrie McKay has provided seven assists from open play in the Championship this term - the most for any player in the competition. Lewis Grabban has scored 43% of his team's goals in the Championship this season (12 of 28) - the highest percentage for any player for his team. My tuppence: Who knows what will happen. 1-1 draw. Ha'way the lads
It's Sunderland so going for the win. No logic behind my thought other than I keep praying for the three points....could do with a bone at the end of a horrible year...ha way the lads!!
The honeymoon period for CC is well and truly over and we are a very poor team. Home Win all day long. The transfer window has to be a good one or unfortunately we will almost certainly get relegated. Just wish this season was over!!! Bart
Ffs ... please log in to view this image RICHARD MENNEAR Email Published: 12:34Friday 29 December 2017 0HAVE YOUR SAY Tyias Browning is the latest injury concern for Chris Coleman - with Sunderland set for a change of formation as a result. The Black Cats have played with three centre backs in recent weeks but Browning’s badly swollen foot will force Coleman’s hand at the City Ground. Sunderland only have central defenders John O’Shea and Marc Wilson available with Lamine Kone out with a knee injury and Billy Jones only just back from injury. Lewis Grabban (calf) and Didier Ndong (ankle) remain out. Coleman said: “We have two games in three days and I don’t see any of the lads being available who were unavailable. “Darron Gibson is playing with discomfort with his groins but that is what we have got. You can’t make excuses. “Lewis and Didier are definitely unavailable and Tyias Browning also. “He has a badly swollen foot, he did it in the first half at Bramall Lane, he is very uncomfortable. “He is a big doubt for Saturday, hopefully with another 48-hours rest he could be available for Barnsley, could be. Then again he may miss that.” On a possible change in formation, Coleman said: “With Billy [Jones], he has experience but has been out for a while and not had any minutes out on the pitch. To go straight in against Forest is a gamble. “Even with Bryan Oviedo at Bramall Lane, he looked rusty after being out and not having any minutes but it is needs must. “The formation could change against Forest and a completely different one against Barnsley.” Jack Rodwell (hamstring) is training but not ready for a return. Coleman hopes Grabban’s calf injury is only short term but the New Year fixtures will come too soon. “Calf injuries are buggers really, you never quite know, it can be a week, two three or longer. You literally go every 48-hours to see if there has been any improvement,” added Coleman. “After this weekend he should be okay. It is not one of those we think he is out for six weeks, it is not a tear. It is a strain more than anything else.” Coleman will also be relying heavily again on 36-year-old O’Shea. He added: “It is not easy but you need his experience. He is calm. You need that, two games so close together is always tough. “You see with Lynden [Gooch] and George [Honeyman] at Bramall Lane they lacked a bit of sharpness and that sometimes happens. “We are going to have a look at all the players. I would be amazed if it was the same team that we play against Barnsley as we do against Forest. “I’m not giving anything away there to Barnsley, it is obvious. We will have to look and see who is ready.”
Apparently, yet proven to be better than Love and Rodwell the only time that direct comparisons could be made. Not that that says much. Our first team squad is so poor that anything is worth a try, and I would rather watch our Kids lose than this bunch of aimless misfits drawing and losing all the way down to the next level, without any gain and at great cost, as that is where we are undoubtedly and deservedly heading.
So would I, I thought he was relatively well thought of but if he can't get a game during an injury crisis for a crap side in a crap league then it's likely he's not going to be any good. Gooch and Honeyman aren't exactly amazing and they're getting lots of time on the pitch, not to knock them though I like seeing our academy producing decent players.
Same for me, the kids getting a chance have the potential to improve, you cant say that about many of our recent acquisitions.
I have a tenner on us to win 2-1 £120 back if i win !. And what is a calf injury ?, some of these players must be soft, or avoiding getting injured before they are off in Jan.
I agree we should try the kids Give at least one a start each game Haway man man they can’t be any worse We keep loosing any way for gods sake try them
