Sunderland travel to Oxford United in League One Last time out Sunderland beat Wimbledon and Oxford drew with Burton. Sunderland travel to Oxfordshire to face Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium for the first time in over 20 years. A home game for Stewart Donald & Charlie Methven who both grew up watching the U's. Will Grigg will travel with the squad, but Lee Cattermole remains unavailable. Bryan Oviedo is also a minor doubt for the game, Denver Hume is on the way back from injury and could be rested after playing for the U23s this week. Oxford are expecting their biggest crowd of the season so far with around 12,000 to fill the 3 stands. Jack Ross: “I’ve said a lot about my relationship with Stewart. He, as a person, genuinely gets excited about owning this football club and all that goes with it. He has been very supportive of everything I’ve tried to do at the club and he was wanting to make sure that we left the window in a strong position, and I feel that he has managed to do that.” "Lee picked up an ankle injury on Thursday, He's likely to be out for a week or two." "Yeah he (Will Grigg) should be fine, he should be fine to travel. He’s trained for the majority of the session on Tuesday, he trained all of the session today, so unless there’s any adverse reaction..." "Generally, fitness-wise he’s fine, obviously he hadn’t missed a great deal, but you temper that with, like Grant and like Lewis, having not played a huge amount this season." "Now there’s two sides to that - one, it’s trying to get the legs up to speed if you like, the challenges that you face in a game twice, three times weekly, but also there’s gonna be a freshness about them. So, in terms of the actual injury itself, he’s all good to go at the moment." Karl Robinson: On Jerome Sinclair - “I think he’s fallen below what was made of him, I think the move to Liverpool affected him a little bit. It was probably too big too soon. That’s happened to a lot of people.” “He had a half-decent loan at Sunderland. He had an injury early on, but we watched him play against Bradford and he was excellent.” “We saw him play in two games at the Stadium of Light as well, so we know that we’ve got a very talented player who has a point to prove. There’s a hunger to come here and play, which is important.” "They’ve got some unbelievable players, but every team is beatable. They’re not invincible, previous results tell you that, so we’ve got to make sure we go into it positively and the players and fans stick together." "They will be a little wary of coming here, I am sure, after our results against Portsmouth and Barnsley." Match Appointments: Referee:SCOTT OLDHAM Assistant Referees: Rob Smith and Kevin Morris Fourth Official: Gregory Read Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlan, Matthews, Flanagan, Baldwin, James, Leadbitter, Honeyman, O’Nien, Morgan, Grigg, McGeady Subs: Ruiter, James, Dunne, Power, Sterling, McGeouch, Maguire Injured: Love, Loovens, Cattermole Oxford United: Eastwood, Hanson, Nelson, Dickie, Ruffels, Mousinho, Brannagan, Whyte, Henry, Graham, Sinclair Subs: Garbutt, Carutthers, Mackie, Long, Sykes, Stevens, Kashi Betting Odds: H 8/5 A 13/8 D 21/10 My two pence: Another tough away game. If you have a look at Oxford’s last few games they beat Portsmouth and drew with Barnsley on home turf. Jerome Sinclair will be eager to show what he can do for his new club. Hopefully we have had some more valuable time on the training ground and a bit of shooting practice. From what I have seen so far, I like the look of Morgan and hopefully Will Grigg will be on fire this weekend. On his last visit to the Kassam Stadium he scored a hat-trick. My guess is a 2-2 draw. Ha’way the Lads
Game two in our six game February odyssey. Won the first one and I fancy us again on Saturday. It won't be easy as Oxford will be no pushover, but we now have a squad which should deliver. 2-0 to the lads and another clean sheet. Howay the lads.
I think Ross sees O'Nien as either RB or AM for some reason but I'd say his best position is CM, he's got the legs to get box to box and can tackle and finish. I think he's a waste further forward given the attacking talent we have. I'd be looking to cement him at CM alongside Leadbitter. Sounds like Grigg is ready to go and I know he's bang up for it so I reckon we'll score a few. No team is a pushover but we do have the advantage in quality and it clicks from time to time.
That does look incredibly strong for league one. I have to say, JR should really be getting that team up at the first attempt. There are no real excuses, now.
2 - 1 to the lads....tough one as they all are away from home. Grigg and Morgan....both ona breakaway....haway the lads!!!
McLaughlin O’Nien Flanagan Dunne James Power Leadbitter honeyman Morgan Grigg mcgeady Subs rueter Stirling Mathews Baldwin gooch Wyke Oviedo Maybe
I don't look at other boards, these days, but surely our match day threads are among the best ... .... unless the Mags have sacked off the 9 year old, who used to do theirs, I can't see much competition there. Of course this won't be an easy game but Oxford may not treat this as the usual 'Cup Final' we usually encounter. They've just had Portsmouth and Barnsley there so the adrenaline may not be as high. Ross seems to favour the 'let the home side tire themselves out' approach but this is the time to be brave and go for 3 points in every game imo. I'm expecting another hard fought 1-0 but as I'm going will say 4-2 to the Lads. I'm in need of a spare ticket if anyone can help, thanks.
Couple of good reads https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spo...jack-ross-dismisses-calls-sunderland-15797981 ( calls for 2 strikers) https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spo...committed-professional-inspirational-15797418
0-3 to the lads, O’Nien, Gooch, and Grigg in no particular order. Reckon Sinclair will have a blinder against us, usually happens with ex players
Probably, it must have stung his ego badly not being deemed good enough for a league one side and being sent packing. Little to no goal threat but Sod's law cares not for that. Edit: To be fair to him just read a brief interview with him and he doesn't sound bitter about being sent back, he says the pressure got to him a bit and he was overawed by it all.
[QUOTE="Vincemac, post: 12548174, member: 1000780"]McLaughlin O’Nien Flanagan Dunne James Power Leadbitter honeyman Morgan Grigg mcgeady Subs rueter Stirling Mathews Baldwin gooch Wyke Oviedo Maybe[/QUOTE] I like this team, and it does look good on paper, maybe a reshuffle to accommodate Mathews by moving O/9 in midfield in place of Power could be argued, but its a very close call and we now have real competition in all departments. No Watmore for instance and Baldwin now on the bench when he has been our best defender for most of the season its a sign that you have to deliver to keep your place, its onwards and upwards from here.
Those odds equal to 64/40 Oxford , 65/40 Sland. Bookies a bit undecided. Looks a good bet for us, but I'll resist rather than put my betting curse on them
