Sunderland visit Charlton in League One Last time out Sunderland beat Blackpool and Charlton beat Walsall. Lee Cattermole picked up his tenth yellow card of the season in Sunderland’s 1-0 win against Blackpool and will now serve a two-game ban. Sunderland, already without George Honeyman, will be without Cattermole for Saturday’s trip to Charlton and the visit of Luton Town the following weekend. Cattermole will also be unavailable for the Checkatrade Trophy match against Newcastle United U21s next Tuesday. Sunderland closed the points gap to second-place Luton to just two points, with two games still in hand. Skipper Honeyman has missed the last couple of games with an ankle injury and is a big doubt for the next two League One games. Charlton are unbeaten in their last 7 home league games with 5 wins their best run on home soil since the 2011-12 campaign. Reeves has a hamstring injury, Sarr and Bielik are also doubtful with fitness issues. Jack Ross: “It’s a blow (losing Cattermole) because we’re a bit stretched for numbers and he’s been influential this season. You saw that from our substitutes’ bench – we had a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old on the bench because that was all the fit players we had.” “It’s part of his game. If I’m being entirely cynical, his yellow card was probably one that myself and James [Fowler] would have taken in our careers because they were going on the counter-attack.” “It’s just the nature of playing in his position and being the type of player he is. It comes with the territory. “I think earlier in the season I would have had complaints about some of the bookings he picked up because he was an easy one to caution, but it’s just an accumulation of bookings and we’ll deal with it.” On Honeyman, Ross added: “He won’t be fit for Charlton, probably not for Luton as well. “In the period that Lee is out we won’t have George either. It is tough for us, but we have coped this season admirably well when we have had important players out for various reasons, and we will do the same again.” Lee Boyer: “Dills came in today and I thought he was outstanding. I don’t know if Dill would agree with this but I think he is a better keeper now than he was at the start of the season. He’s better with his feet, he’s better all-around for me, from what I see every day, he looks fitter. “ “I’m lucky to have someone as good as Dill sitting on the bench. I’m very fortunate. Dill will play and keep doing what he did today and he’ll keep playing. That’s the way football is, you get chances and you grab them.” “Young Albie Morgan today, I knew I had to freshen it up and I knew the way we had to play. I wanted to have him in the middle of the park because he can play football.” “Was I worried out of possession? Yes and that was the gamble I had to take today. Did he let himself down? No. I thought he was outstanding today in and out of possession. He’s 18-years-old, spraying the ball all over the place. I thought he worked his socks off. I’m over the moon.” Form: Match Appointments: Referee: STEPHEN MARTIN Assistant Referees: Robert Hyde and James Wilson Fourth Official: Lee Collins Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlin, O’Nien, Flanagan, Baldwin, James, McGeouch, Power, Gooch, McGeady, Maja, Wyke Subs: Ruiter, Oviedo, Ozturk, Maguire, Kimpioka, Mumba, Watmore Injured: Love, Hume, Robson, Loovens, Honeyman, Matthews Suspended: Cattermole Charlton Athletic: Phillips, Dijksteel, Bauer, Sarr, Stevenson, Bielik, Morgan, Reeves, Fosu-Henry, Taylor, Grant Subs: Marshall, Clarke, Prattley, Ajose, Maynard-Brewer, Hackett-Fairchild, Solly Injured: Cullen, Aribo, Page, Vetokele, Pearce, Forster-Kaskey, Lapslie Betting Odds: H 8/5 A 8/5 D 9/4 My two pence: Not quite the upsurge in form that I’d hoped for but it was a great win at Blackpool. Charlton have lost a few away games recently but have won against Walsall and Portsmouth so this will be a very tough test. I’ve got tickets for this one, so apologies in advance for the lack of in game updates. My guess is a 2-2 draw. Ha’way the Lads
We will do exceptionally well to bring 3 points back from the Valley. We haven't been too convincing over the Xmas and they are a good side at home We live in hope however
It’s gonna be really important not to lose this one, I feel. So I’ll be settling for a draw, but hope we don’t sit back, otherwise I fear the worst!!! 1-1 for me. Bart
Lee Bowyer, one of my most hated people in football. However, he has been the best manager in this league by a country mile, imo. He's come into a club where the fans are staying away, the chairman won't spend and every week they have to hope that the subs bench will be filled as the squad is that bare. Getting the first goal is critical as they don't have much, if anything, on the bench to turn a game around. Charlton should be mid table, at best. The fact he's got them going for automatic promotion is outstanding. I think we'll do them, though. 1-2
Got to keep plugging away, don't give them any help like we did at our place with the penalty and we should be ok, fancy us to sneak it again like Blackpool so onwards and upwards.
We're long over due a full team performance and I think that this will be the game. A tight 1-2 (Wyke & Maja).
They have the 2nd best ground in this league, and are good at home so I will take a draw, no matter what though next week's game is the biggest of the season, then Barnsley away will be the next.
Remember the time wasting tw*ts the 1st game of the season? We got the winner in the 96th minute. hahahahahaha. I would settle for a point now but obviously hoping for the win.
Gonna be a tough game. Hopefully no self-inflicted implosion and we are clinical on the counter as I suspect they’ll come at us hard and fast. Got my ticket and looking forward to it.
Never seen this board so sober in its outlook. We all see Charlton as a tough game and must be alive for the full 96 minutes. But there is something about S/land this season and I think the home supporters will not be fatasticslly optimistic about us coming coz we are hard to beat. So I like many others would be ok with a draw, extatic with 3 pts. KTF
We generally tend to show up for the big games this season (Pompey aside, though we were well in that until the red card). Think we can definitely go there and do something.
That was my thought too. We played well against Barnsley and Portsmouth (until we had a man incorrectly sent off) and we generally seem to play better when we play against a decent footballing side. Will be happy with a point mind
Our team, on paper, should be going there with confidence. If we play as we should it should be 3 points but we'll have to work for it.
I have a ticket but not sure if I can make it, only just back from Blackpool. I'll ask for a ticket in the morning but if I can't get you can have mine. Someone will meet you at the ground.
Right Sid, sorted a ticket for you. Someone is bringing it down on Saturday and will meet us at the ground, he's 100% reliable.
Cheers mate! I can't shout at the moment as I have a chest infection, but l shall be doing me best. Let me know where you're meeting
