Sunderland host Aston Villa in the Sky Bet Championship Last time out Sunderland drew at Millwall and Villa won away at Sheffield Wednesday. The Black Cat’s will be without suspended Jake Clarke-Salter and the injured Paddy McNair. Sunderland have midfielder Ovie Ejaria available after recovering from a thigh problem, as they look for a vital home win against the Villans. Villa’s game with QPR at the weekend was postponed due to the bad weather. Chris Coleman: Quote of the season: "You don't want players like wheelbarrows who are only good or useful when you push them. First bump in the road they fall over anyway." "I'm pleased with the character, but frustrated by the result. It's a really difficult place to come. If you don't come here with your sleeves rolled up, you're finished before you get off the bus.” "That's three games now where we've had something about us. Four games ago, we'd have lost that game, but when you're winning 1-0, the very thing we said not to do was what we did - invite pressure.” "It's a little bit of a disappointment there, but at least we stood up to the test and got a point. I thought that we deserved a point." "I'm not worried about Lewis Grabban returning. I'm more worried about making sure we perform. Aston Villa have got a host of talent. We have got to be right mentally for the game." Steve Bruce: “When we arrived at the club, we wanted to instill tenacity because it probably wasn't there before. To have it and to get it with a group of players who are on the same hymn sheet as the supporters is important.” "For too long now, the supporters haven't really associated with the team because of what's happened to the club. I believe that they're enjoying watching the team now, there's association with supporters and the team, which is important." Form: Match facts: These sides haven't met at Sunderland outside the top-flight since October 1974 - a goalless draw at Roker Park. Aston Villa haven't lost back-to-back away league games against the Black Cats since October 1999, losing their most recent visit 3-1 in the Premier League in January 2016. Since the start of last season, only Chesterfield (47) have lost more league matches in the top four tiers of English football than Sunderland (43). Robert Snodgrass has had a hand in eight Championship goals in 2018 (4 goals, 4 assists) - only Ryan Sessegnon has been involved in more (10). Chris Coleman has never beaten Aston Villa as a manager (P9 W0 D5 L4), with this his first home meeting with the Villans since March 2007 as Fulham boss. Steve Bruce, meanwhile, has lost one of his last 15 matches against Sunderland in all competitions (W10 D4), a 2-0 defeat as Wigan manager at the Stadium of Light in February 2008. Sports Analytics Machine: Away win (48%) Prutton predicts: 1-2 Match Appointments: Referee: ANDREW MADLEY Assistants: James Mainwaring and David Avent Fourth Official: Jeremy Simpson Team Line ups Sunderland: Substitutes: Camp, Jones, Williams, Honeyman, Robson, Maja, Asoro Injured: Watmore (Cruciate – out for season), Ruiter (Dislocated finger 3-8 weeks), Gibson (Groin 3 weeks), McNair (Groin 2 weeks), Wilson? Suspended: Clarke-Salter (second of 3 match ban) Aston Villa: Johnstone, Elmohamady, Chester, Terry, Hutton, Snodgrass, Whelan, Hourihane, Onomah, Grabban, Hogan Substitutes: Taylor, Lansbury, Jedinak, Bjarnason, Hepburn-Murphy, Bunn, Davis Injured: Westwood, Hutchinson, Grealish, Adomah Betting Odds: H 11/4 A 21/20 D 23/10 My two pence: Steve Bruce returns to the SoL with his in form Villa side and a certain Lewis Grabban leading the line, I’m half expecting another home defeat, but hoping that this will be the start of our great escape. My guess is a 2-2 draw Ha’way the Lads
Not to be a downer.....but..... I just feel that we'll get smashed here. I expect Grabban to get a couple, with his only two touches. I'd take nil nil now
For me this is a bit of a free hit. Expecting us to get beat but hoping to get something. The 2 games after this one, QPR and Preston, are the season defining ones. A point won't be a bad result tomorrow providing that we do the business in the other 2 games.
Some positivity came out of the Millwall game which creates an expectation. However, we've been here before numerous times this season. The players will freeze, the crowd will become impatient and critical, and we will concede a goal. Downhill spiral from there. Sorry guys, but I don't see it any other way. I desperately hope that I'm proven wrong, though.
Hope the crowd give him dogs abuse! I will be that's for certain. Ask to leave for a permanent move then come back on loan to another club. Got no time for him at all
The way I look at it is that it was Bournemouth that recalled him so that they could cash in, but they failed to do so and just sent him out again. I imagine that if Grabban and Bournemouth could have known they’d get no fee for him he’d still be with us. Frustrating the way it panned out, but not Grabban’s fault IMO.
I would like to see ----------------------Steele------------------------ ------Kone-------Oshea------Browning---- Matthews------------------------------Oviedo ----------------Ejaria---Honeyman----------- --------------------McGeady--------------------- --------------------Asoro--Maja-----------------
Snodgrass ! and Elmo will have his best game ever for Villa knowing our luck, oh I forgot about Grabban as well. 2-1 to us though, Asoro to come on and score.
Been here to many times before so haven't got a clue but going on past history probably a 4 . 0 drubbing.
Probably the way it was. Maybe should be a rule that in those circumstances that he has to come back to same team, if he is to be loaned again. Or at least, not allowed to play against a previous loan team of the same season.
He asked to leave according to Coleman though. Got no time for him and will give him abuse as much as I can tomorrow
