Sunderland host Charlton Athletic in League One Last time out in the league Sunderland beat Wolves and Charlton lost to Shrewsbury in the play-off semi-final. Jack Ross takes charge of Sunderland’s first competitive game under the new Stewart Donald era. Sunderland have undergone a huge transformation on and off the pitch since the end of May. The squad has seen 11+ players leaving through loanees returning, players reaching the end of their contracts and transfer sales with at least four others requesting a move. Jack Ross has added 10 players to his first team squad so far and the club are still looking to bolster their attacking options having missed out on Taylor and Eisa. Charlton have undergone a major squad overhaul from last season, 10 players have left the club with only 2 replacements so far. The Addicks have a number of injuries to key players, Lyle Taylor who turned down a move to Sunderland has a calf injury and missed the friendly with Norwich City last weekend. Winger Tariq Fosu joins Igor Vetokele, Billy Clarke and Ben Reeves on the treatment table. It is thought that all five will be major doubts for the clash at the Stadium of Light. There are also fitness concerns about the experienced Darren Pratley, who joined on a free transfer this summer. Jack Ross: “I think this will probably be the most challenging pre-season period of my managerial career. For however long I’m in this kind of job for a number of reasons, but what I would say is that the group I’ve had have been fantastic, so responsive. " "We’ve been low on numbers, a number of youngsters, but they’ve responded well to everything that we’ve asked them to do. “I think their progress has been reflected in the results and the performances, because Middlesbrough was a big test for us. You look at our side and how young it was, the lack of depth, to come and produce that brave performance is a reflection of how they feel about themselves, I think they feel good.” “So there are two answers to that really, ideally I’d like to be further ahead in terms of preparation for the whole squad, but on the flip side, I’ve been delighted with the response I’ve had. “ “There’s certainly a lot to be positive about, I think the players feel good, and that matters in football. They’ve got that at the moment and it is up to me to harness it and keep growing.” Lee Bowyer: "It depends on who is fit. I know certain players I can’t use because of fitness but I’ve got a very good idea. A lot of it will depend on what I see from Sunderland. I’ll try and look at stuff from them during the week and then that might make the odd decision different to what I might be thinking now. Getting through today with no more injuries is another good thing. We didn’t lose a game pre-season, a clean sheet today. It’s been a better last 24 hours." "I think it’s a good habit to get into. Now we’ve just beaten Norwich, who beat us twice comfortably last season. I know it’s a pre-season game but I felt we were the better team, especially first half, second half we dropped a bit deeper. We’ll be turning up to Sunderland on the back of this result having just beaten a Championship side so we’ll be turning up next weekend ready." "You give me 100 per cent that’s all I ask and they did that today and they did that on Tuesday (against Brighton). Because if you don’t give 100 per cent you don’t play, it’s as simple as that. They all know that, so that’s why you always see them do that." Sports Analytics Machine: Meh Prutton predicts: 0-1 Match Appointments: Referee: JOHN BROOKS Assistants: Philip Dermott and Adam Crysell Fourth Official: Peter Wright Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlin, Matthews, Baldwin, Loovens, Love, McGeoch, Honeyman, Gooch, Maja, McGuire. Substitutes: Ruiter, Flanagan, Hume, Embleton, Molyneux, Sinclair, Mumba. Injured: Watmore (return Oct), James (Groin), Cattermole (ill), McGeady Taxi: NDong, Djilobodji, Kone, Oviedo Charlton Athletic: Phillips, Solly, Page, Pratley, Bauer, Pearce(C), Forster-Caskey, Aribo,Marshall, Ajose, Grant Substitutes: Maloney, Lapslie, Maynard-Brewer, Sarr, Mascoll, Hackett-Fairchild Injured: Taylor, Fosu, Vetokele, Clarke, Reeves Betting Odds: H 21/20 A 23/10 D 11/4 My two pence: It’s been a long hot summer but at last the real football is back Change of ownership An owner who seems to care about the club A new enthusiastic manager A good influx of new players Rid of Jack Rodwell Lots of shiny new red and white seats My guess is 4-4 after extra time and we win 7-6 on penalties Or maybe just a Home win 2-0
Ah the RTB match thread, always a pleasure. As much as I want to I can't go to this one but consolation prize it's on Sky.
I'm of on my Hols at the weekend so will be watching it on Sky, Can't wait for the season to kick off now.
Off to Mallorca for 2 weeks, not taking my laptop so will need a volunteer to do the Luton & Sheff Wed games.
Brilliant as usual RTB, thank you. But is that a typo - it reads as though we are favourites to win a game of football . !
Well done RTB Can I offer a word of caution, I read that Charlton despite their staffing problems have gone unbeaten during pre season so they must be doing something right. I'm expecting a hard game on Saturday and I hope that Ross has been able to gel the new signings in time for the weekend (if he plays them that is). Although I expect us to win I'd settle for 1-0 now.
Given our recent form it must be quite a while since we won on tv. Could've been the Derby game now I think about it. The one that offered so much false hope
I'm going along on Saturday, and will remain very open minded until I've seen them play Really really really looking forward to it
I’m having to go through tommorow to get my season card I’ve phoned 5 times and they originally said it was in the post I paid cash for it in April
Short might have it. Better give the yank a call Seriously though, that's a piss take isn't it? They've had your money 3 months and still no ticket!
