Sunderland visit Morecambe in the Checkatrade Trophy Last time out Sunderland beat Port Vale and Morecambe drew with Halifax in the FA Cup. The Black Cats make their way to the Globe Arena to face League Two side Morecambe in the Checkatrade Trophy Northern Section Group A. With their Sky Bet League One clash at home to Wycombe Wanderers on the horizon this weekend, assistant manager Fowler said that changes are inevitable. Glenn Loovens has been in the last two squads since returning from injury, so he is likely to get some minutes, while Alim Ozturk, Max Power and Bryan Oviedo also provide Jack Ross other options to choose from. A host of academy youngsters could feature, after Jack Diamond and Lee Connelly made their debuts in their last group A match in October. James Fowler: “We are still going there with the intent to win the game. The competition will allow us to change a few players because we have some players who need game time." “We have Glenn Loovens back from injury, Bryan Oviedo is there, and there’s Alim Ozturk and Max Power who will play." “We want to go there and win the game. There will be permutations about how the group could pan out, but our aim is to win the game and we’ll pick a strong team to do that." “Our squad will be balanced off with some younger players to get some experience in a competitive environment. They play in the under-23s but in terms of playing in a competitive game it will allow us to see younger ones and where they are in terms of our short term or long-term project." Team Line ups Sunderland: Ruiter, Hunter, Bainbridge, Ozturk, Loovens, Oviedo, Hackett, Power (c), O'Nien, Maja, Diamond Subs: Patterson, Taylor, Connelly, Leonard, Neil, Kokolo, Young Injured: Watmore, Wyke, Hume, Robson, Cattermole Morecambe: Halstead, Conlan, Old, Lavelle, Mills, Cranston, Wildig, Oates, Mandeville, Leitch-Smith, Oliver Substitutes: Szczepaniak, Yarney, Tutte, Kenyon, Mendes, Ellison, Oswell Injured: My two pence: My guess is a 2-1 away win Ha’way the Lads
There’ll be a few changes, and the lads coming in will not want to be in the team that ends the winning run. So it’s a comfy away win for me!! 1-3 to the lads - KAY-SARA SARA WE’RE GOING TO WEMBERLEY!! Bart
Off to the Arena with Rooch tonight, it's a nice tidy ground and expecting a decent game and seeing some of our youngsters, 2-0 will do me.
Do the top 2 qualify then is it knock out? Surely we have already qualified as Stoke and Carlisle cant both overtake us?? Either way surely this is the best way to get to Wembley.
Sid Two sections (north and south) Each section has 8 mini leagues containing 4 teams The top 2 in each league moves onto phase 2 So the northern section has 16 teams remaining This is the knock out stage northern. League winners play at home against a second place team drawn out of the hat. Phase 3 northern now has 8 teams remaining and the are drawn out of the hat to play. Phase 4 is where northern (4 teams) and southern (4 teams come together
Hit the wrong button damn When the northern and southern sections are together they play a knock out to the final at Wembley.
Big turn out tonight evidently, even though it is a bit of a dead rubber it would be nice too keep the run going.
I'm not sure if he did save it but it certainly hit the post. "Woodwork denies the hosts as Ruiter was beaten by Kenyon but his shot rattled the post. Big sigh of relief from the Sunderland fans behind the goal."
Listening to BBC, they have hit the post and had one cleared off the line in the first half, we have not got out of second gear yet, but we are still in the game. Our senior players are not imposing themselves so far.
