Sunderland visit Bristol City in the Skybet Championship
Last time out Sunderland lost at home to Ipswich and Bristol City lost away to Bolton.
Sunderland will be without first-choice goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter for up to three months, the Dutchman having played 20 league games since his summer move to the Stadium of Light. Chris Coleman has Jason Steele and January arrival Lee Camp as goalkeepers in the squad for selection.
Coleman provided the latest team news ahead of this weekend’s trip to Bristol City, and said that Jonny Williams and Paddy McNair are near to a return to first team action.
Chris Coleman:
“Adam Matthews is definitely out”
“Robbin Ruiter will be out for probably eight to 12 weeks with a dislocated finger – a badly dislocated finger.
“Marc Wilson is progressing nicely, and maybe next week he could be involved with the group again.
“Paddy McNair, if he isn’t involved with the squad at the weekend, will possibly play an under-23s game, which is good for us.”
“Jonny Williams played 90 minutes for us in the under-23s on Monday night so he is a bit closer.”
“Lamine Kone, after he landed badly on his knee against Birmingham, although he completed 90 minutes, should be okay after this weekend."
“We’re bottom three, away to Bristol City next week and we either succumb to it, think it’s too much for us, or we can’t match the challenge and become engulfed in it all or, alternatively, be bigger than that, not swallowing it."
“It doesn’t guarantee you success, but it guarantees you an easy night’s sleep. As a manager the number of good night sleeps that you have during a season are not many."
Lee Johnson:
“blah blah”
Form:
Match facts:
Prutton predicts: 2-0
Match Appointments:
Referee: JAMES LININGTON
Assistants: Steven Meredith and Michael George
Fourth Official: Adam Bromley
Team Line ups
Sunderland:
Substitutes: Steele, Love, Robson, Gooch, McGeady, Asoro, LuaLua
Injured: Watmore (Cruciate – out for season), Ruiter (Dislocated finger 8-12 weeks), Gibson (Groin 8 weeks), Wilson (Knee 2 weeks), McNair (Hip/Groin 1 week), Kone (knee 1 week), Matthews (Knee 1 week), McManaman (Knock 1 week), Williams (Shoulder 1 week)
Bristol City: Steele, Smith, Flint, Wright, Bryan, Paterson, Brownhill, Pack, Kent, Reid, Diedhiou
Subs from: Walsh, Engvall, Eliasson, Magnusson, Kelly, Wollacott, Diony
Injured: Taylor, Pisano, Hegeler, O'Dowda, Djuric
Suspended: Baker
Betting Odds:
H 7/10 A 13/5 D 17/4
My two pence:
After Saturday I'm just hoping that the new lads have settled in a bit and the rest of the team have at least practiced a few set pieces and how to defend corners. I was tempted to go to this one as my lad's footy game is off this weekend, but I still haven't recovered from the new years day trauma.
I'm going for a 2-2 draw, but I'm half expecting an away day thrashing.
Ha’way the Lads
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Last time out Sunderland lost at home to Ipswich and Bristol City lost away to Bolton.
Sunderland will be without first-choice goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter for up to three months, the Dutchman having played 20 league games since his summer move to the Stadium of Light. Chris Coleman has Jason Steele and January arrival Lee Camp as goalkeepers in the squad for selection.
Coleman provided the latest team news ahead of this weekend’s trip to Bristol City, and said that Jonny Williams and Paddy McNair are near to a return to first team action.
Chris Coleman:
“Adam Matthews is definitely out”
“Robbin Ruiter will be out for probably eight to 12 weeks with a dislocated finger – a badly dislocated finger.
“Marc Wilson is progressing nicely, and maybe next week he could be involved with the group again.
“Paddy McNair, if he isn’t involved with the squad at the weekend, will possibly play an under-23s game, which is good for us.”
“Jonny Williams played 90 minutes for us in the under-23s on Monday night so he is a bit closer.”
“Lamine Kone, after he landed badly on his knee against Birmingham, although he completed 90 minutes, should be okay after this weekend."
“We’re bottom three, away to Bristol City next week and we either succumb to it, think it’s too much for us, or we can’t match the challenge and become engulfed in it all or, alternatively, be bigger than that, not swallowing it."
“It doesn’t guarantee you success, but it guarantees you an easy night’s sleep. As a manager the number of good night sleeps that you have during a season are not many."
Lee Johnson:
“blah blah”
Form:
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Match facts:
- This is the first meeting between these teams at Ashton Gate in any competition since February 1999 - Sunderland won 1-0 that day with a penalty from Kevin Phillips.
- Indeed, Sunderland haven't lost at Ashton Gate since October 1993, when the Robins won 2-0 in a league fixture with goals from Wayne Allison and Ian Baird.
- Bristol City have lost six of their eight matches in 2018 in all competitions (W1 D1), having lost just six of their final 37 matches of 2017.
- Chris Coleman has never beaten Bristol City as a manager (D2 L2).
- Bobby Reid has scored double the number of goals that any other Bristol City player has managed in the Championship this season (12).
- Sunderland have conceded the first goal in 20 Championship matches this season and are yet to win any (W0 D5 L15).
Prutton predicts: 2-0
Match Appointments:
Referee: JAMES LININGTON
Assistants: Steven Meredith and Michael George
Fourth Official: Adam Bromley
Team Line ups
Sunderland:
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Substitutes: Steele, Love, Robson, Gooch, McGeady, Asoro, LuaLua
Injured: Watmore (Cruciate – out for season), Ruiter (Dislocated finger 8-12 weeks), Gibson (Groin 8 weeks), Wilson (Knee 2 weeks), McNair (Hip/Groin 1 week), Kone (knee 1 week), Matthews (Knee 1 week), McManaman (Knock 1 week), Williams (Shoulder 1 week)
Bristol City: Steele, Smith, Flint, Wright, Bryan, Paterson, Brownhill, Pack, Kent, Reid, Diedhiou
Subs from: Walsh, Engvall, Eliasson, Magnusson, Kelly, Wollacott, Diony
Injured: Taylor, Pisano, Hegeler, O'Dowda, Djuric
Suspended: Baker
Betting Odds:
H 7/10 A 13/5 D 17/4
My two pence:
After Saturday I'm just hoping that the new lads have settled in a bit and the rest of the team have at least practiced a few set pieces and how to defend corners. I was tempted to go to this one as my lad's footy game is off this weekend, but I still haven't recovered from the new years day trauma.
I'm going for a 2-2 draw, but I'm half expecting an away day thrashing.
Ha’way the Lads
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