Sunderland visit Coventry City in League One Last time out Sunderland beat Rochdale and Coventry lost to Bristol Rovers. The Black Cats travel to Coventry in confident mood after a 4-1 win and will have around 5000 travelling fans to cheer them on despite the game being shown live on Sky at 12:30. Max Power is back in contention after his suspension and will be a welcome addition to the matchday squad. Donald Love will miss Saturday’s trip to Coventry City, but the right-back is Jack Ross’s only fresh injury concern ahead of this weekend’s game. Lee Cattermole is just one yellow card away from a one-match ban after picking up 4 bookings so far this season. Coventry, meanwhile, sit 13th after taking 11 points from their opening nine games. Mark Robins’ side were promoted via the Sky Bet League Two play-offs last season, but after initially struggling with one win from their first seven games this campaign, they’ve started to find their rhythm. The Sky Blues have picked up wins over Oxford United and promotion-contenders Barnsley this month. Jack Ross: “I’m really looking forward to it and to manage a team that has that incredibly loyal fan base, and travels in those numbers, is a responsibility on my shoulders as well, but we’ll look to replicate large parts of our last performance this weekend.” “We’re slowly but surely working our way back to a fully-fit squad, Duncan Watmore’s is a long-term injury, but he’s joined in with me this week and he’s getting closer, but he’s still a while away.” “He joined in with just about all our sessions this week, although we tailored some of it to suit him as well. It’s another big step forward for him, as previously he joined in with little bits and pieces, but this week he’s done more or less the same as everybody else, with the exception of a few drills and bits of work.” “He’s getting ever-closer but, as I said last week, there’s a duty of care on us to make sure we don’t rush him back. The only other one is Donald Love, who has just had a wee niggle in his ankle. Apart from that, everyone else is fit which is good.” Mark Robins: “I think what we’re doing is we're approaching the game the way we approach all the games and stick to the things we need to do both offensively and defensively. We need to be at our best because these are a good side." “Three points are up for grabs and it’s a game to look forward to, the atmosphere will be good and these are the games you want to play in. Last time out (at home) we played a similar side in Barnsley, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t go out there this weekend and attack from the off.” “Jack Ross has gone in and started his overhaul and it looks like they’re setting off in the right direction and their results have been decent, and they have good players." “They’re in a healthier position now, it’s just a shame that they’ve had to come down two divisions, but yes it’s a game we’re looking forward to. There will be around 15,000-16,000 there on the day and hopefully we can get a few more turn up to take it to around the 20,000 mark.” Sports Analytics Machine: Meh Prutton predicts: 2-2 Match Appointments: Referee: MICHAEL SALISBURY Assistants: Edward Smart and Joe Clark Fourth Official: Paul Marsden Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlin, Baldwin, Loovens, Flanagan, Hume Cattermole, Power, Honeyman, Gooch, Maja, Maguire. Substitutes: Ruiter, Ozturk, Oviedo, O’Nien, McGeouch, McGeady, Mumba Injured: Watmore, Wyke Coventry: Burge, Hyam, Kelly, Brown, Sterling, Chaplin, Doyle, Willis, Clarke-Harris, Shipley, Thomas Substitutes: O’Brien, Davies, Andreu, Thompson, Bakayoko, Ogogo, Hiwula Injured: Jones Betting Odds: H 21/10 A 13/10 D 23/10 My two pence: I’d like us to start with the same team as last week but I’d also be tempted to put Max Power straight back in midfield ahead of McGeouch. My guess is a hard fought 2-1 win. I'll have to settle for watching it on the telly. A special call out to @Burly Hurley stay strong mate Ha’way the Lads
Cheers mate! I'm gonna have to just say here right now, I'm not going anywhere just yet guys. My sincere apologies if I gave the impression I won't see the week out. The outlook is grim but at the moment I'm as fit as ****, and as I've just said in the PL forum, I'm confusing everybody because of how fit and healthy I look. It may well be that the end might be very fast but I'm a long way from that right now! So I'm still going to be boring the **** out of you guys for a while yet.
12.15 pm kick off if I had my way ! that team line up is fine, take Maja off with 20 mins left switch for Gooch, bring on McGeady where gooch played, Oviedo for Cattermole 2nd half, O Nine for Hume 2nd half. No change in defence.
Power in for McGeoch for me. Don’t think he’s done enough to keep Max out. As ever, will take a point away but with the huge SAFC fan presence would be great if we can win it.
Shameless seldom replies.. Read your post above, great to see you battling the ****, I really hope it continues..
We're gonna sort out a meet up mate. And I'm picking you up on the way up. So the pair of us has to sort out a home game when you're free. If you're not there I'm not there!!
Will have to find a stream over in Feurturventra and tho only sports bar is showing a Spanish game, fair enough, the Man U game and the Ryder Cup. But not our game, so she f anybody gets any decent streams let me know.
The safsee steam won't work as it's being shown on Sky, that's why I am looking for a different stream. Thanks for the thought
Of course mate. Us 2 old crocks can sort something out. These fit young buggers will just have to wait.