Sunderland travel to Birmingham City in the Skybet Championship Last time out Sunderland beat Hull and Birmingham drew at Huddersfield. Sunderland have signed Kazenga LuaLua from Brighton until the end of the season, Lamine Kone has returned to training and played in the U23s 2-0 win against Leicester on Tuesday, and U23 prospect Rees Greenwood has been released by the club. Jack Rodwell almost came out of retirement for a trial with Vitesse Arnhem, but no one had mentioned salary and the deal fell through Birmingham played a weakened team for Saturday’s FA cup clash at Huddersfield, and came away with a draw and a home replay. Chris Coleman: “It was good to get that home win, but we have to build on it. We’ve had the chance to do it before and we’ve not taken it, so it’s imperative that on the back of three points at the Stadium of Light, we build on it - it doesn’t matter who we’re playing against.” “It’s all about us and we need to show the confidence, belief and determination that we did in the last game. We’re not going to win every game and we’ve had one or two performances where we’ve been below par. There have been a lot of good signs, though, and as I said at the weekend, that’s five clean sheets from 11 games, which is a good return.” “I’ve seen improvements since my arrival, and training has been tough, but it has to be. You train hard and play easy as they say, and although the games are never easy, the harder you train the more prepared you are, but I’ve definitely see improvements.” “Work hard, train hard, follow the game plan, and you’ve got a good chance of picking up points.” Steve Cotterill: "The result on Saturday kept the run that we have been on lately - not the Derby result, obviously, which we know about - going, because it has been really, really encouraging. There is a good spirit about the place now. Things have changed a little bit. You can sort of feel that, in and around it." "We will continue to work with the boys that we have got, who have been great to work with. The football that we are playing is better, so they are my main focus - in fact they are my only focus. I think that you would have seen over the last six weeks that there has been a great improvement in them." “So sometimes actually cutting your squad can work for you as well. The balance there now - even though we haven’t brought anybody in - is better than it had been. It would be nice to go out there and spend some money, but I am not sure that that will happen." “At best - at best - it will be a loan player (before the window shuts) but I couldn’t guarantee that a loan player will be better than what we have already got." Match facts: Birmingham are unbeaten in seven home league matches (W4 D3) against Sunderland since a 1-0 defeat in September 1997. This is the first Championship meeting between these sides at St Andrew's since February 2007, when DJ Campbell equalised for the Blues in the last minute in a 1-1 draw. Birmingham have scored eight goals in 14 home league games this season, which is their worst ever record at this stage of a league season. In fact, only three teams have scored fewer after 14 home games in the English second tier. Chris Coleman has won three of his past four trips to St Andrew's in all competitions (L1), though the most recent victory came in November, 2008 as Coventry manager. Sam Gallagher has scored four goals in his previous six Championship matches. This will be Sunderland's fourth match against a side starting the day in the relegation zone this season - they are yet to lose any of the previous three (W1 D2). Indeed, they are unbeaten in their last 25 second-tier matches against sides starting that day in the relegation zone (W20 D5) since losing 4-0 away at Reading in October, 1997. Form: Sports Analytics Machine home win 49% Prutton predicts: 0-0 Match Appointments: Referee: DARREN BOND Assistants: Matthew McGrath and Adam Crysell Fourth Official: John Brooks Team Line ups Sunderland: Substitutes: Steele, Kone, Love, Williams, Gooch, Beadling, LuaLua Injured Watmore, McNair, Gibson, McGeady Suspended: NDong (2nd of 3 matches) Birmingham City: Stockdale, Colin, Roberts, Dean, Grounds, Ndoye, Kieftenbeld, Maghoma, Davis, Boga, Gallagher Subs from: Jutkiewicz, Adams, Bramall, Jenkinson, Jota, Morrison, Trueman Injured: Vassell, Lowe Betting Odds: H 5/4 A 11/5 D 23/10 My two pence: An away win would be a massive boost, but will Coleman stick with a winning team or be tempted to make a few changes. I think that he’ll start with the same team, with Matthews in for Jones and LuaLua on the bench. My guess is a draw 1-1 Ha’way the Lads
Got a feeling we might sneak a win, but it's important not to lose. A boring 0-0 would do me thanks!! Bart
I think it will be a high scoring draw. I'll go 2-2. If we win it's game on for the relegation battle.
Good thread again mate. Birmingham seemed to have picked up a little form just recently and got a good result to today. Getting another win would be massive for us. It could possibly even influence last day of the transfer market...?
I said last week we were due our first win of this year so now I'll say were due our first back to back wins of this year. Fingers crossed again.
I think we'll get the win, we're improving steadily despite the odd blip. Good to see the injury list is shrinking.
Sooner the better, and this could be it, and why not. A clean sheet would be massive, but three points would be even more massive-er. It's going to be like this for some time I think, but it's do-able, that's the belief.
My dad made a good point earlier when he said that when we went down we tried to play like a premier league side but without the quality. Now we've come to terms with the situation and the players are finally starting to fight.
bet the auld twat is desperate to get to a match. Give him my regards please - he is well missed by me.
Speaking of injuries I see West Ham's list has expanded rapidly since old smiley took over, wtf does he do to them.
