Sunderland visit Bristol Rovers in League One Last time out Sunderland beat Gillingham and Bristol Rovers drew at Portsmouth. Sunderland face Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium in a dress rehearsal for the Checkatrade Trophy semi-final. Chris Maguire is unavailable after suffering a fractured fibula on Tuesday and is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks. Lynden Gooch has a hamstring injury, but Duncan Watmore and Jack Baldwin should be available. Rovers are fighting for their League One status and took the lead against Portsmouth in mid-week before being pegged back. Tom Lockyer has recovered from a bloody nose after an altercation with former Black Cat James Vaughan. Jack Ross “Duncan had a slight groin problem on Tuesday. We could have risked him, but all being well he will be back on Saturday in the squad.” “Jack was just a rest, we took him out to give him a rest mentally and physically. He has played a lot of minutes. Mentally it has been a big change for him this season, and he has coped with it in the main really well.” "Chris has a fractured fibula, so he will be out for between six and eight weeks. He has another appointment next week to confirm that he doesn't need surgery, and hopefully that is the case.” "It's a blow for us as he's been important in terms of goals and assists." Graham Coughlan “Sunderland are a team that will, more likely, get promoted. They’re one of the bigger teams (in League One), massive, massive tradition and massive fan-base. Again, they’ve got big wallets so I guess Sunderland will have class all over the pitch. They’ll have quality all over the pitch, that’s what you pay for, that’s what you get when you put your hand in your pocket.” “We’re based on honesty, we’re based on hard work, and we’re based on grafters.” “As I said earlier, you can smell the big games, you can smell the occasions and as a player you get a sense and you get a feeling for that. I think we’re all looking forward to it.” “I dare say, the crowd will be looking forward to it, to be honest. It’s nice, it’s a nice occasion. They’re reasons why players want promotions, why players want to get to the next level, because of games against Pompey, against the Sunderland’s and Charlton’s of this division.” Match Appointments Referee: JAMES LININGTON Assistants: Robert Merchant and Darren Blunden Fourth Official: Gary Parsons Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlan, O’Nien, Flanagan, Baldwin, James, Leadbitter, Cattermole, Honeyman, Watmore, Grigg, McGeady Subs: Ruiter, Matthews, Dunne, Power, McGeouch, Morgan, Sterling Injured: Love, Loovens, Oviedo, Maguire, Gooch Bristol Rovers: Bonham, Partington, Lockyer, Craig, Clarke, Sercombe, Upson, Ogogo, Holmes-Dennis, Clarke-Harris, Jakubiak Substitutes: Nichols, Lines, Reilly, Smith, Sinclair, Matthews, Kelly Injured: Rodman Betting Odds: H 2/1 A 13/10 D 9/4 My two pence: Another tough away game with the Pirates having a full squad available and starting to pick up valuable points. I was chatting with one of the Pompey fans at work and he said that Rovers were unlucky not to win, they scored an own goal and hit a penalty into row Z. Hopefully we can build a winning run and Pompey can do the business on Barnsley. My guess is a hard fought 2-1 away win. Ha’way the Lads
Another toughie but feel it's clean sheet time for the lads and am going for a 2-0 win. The club has a great interview with O9 on their website worth a look at, he says the squad are up for the run in and Tuesday's win has bolstered confidence within the camp.
Just need to follow up the win against Gillingham, with an away win which will keep the pressure on those around us, as well as giving the team a huge confidence boost. Got that feeling that we’ll do it!! 1-3 to the lads. Bart
Not going to this, but I am the semi later on. I'm looking forward to standing on a terrace again, to be honest, so I'm chuffed that their ground is a bit crap. They're supposed to be moving to a new all-seater near a university at some point, so get it while you can! As for the game, it'll be tough, but winnable, although knowing us it's heading for a 1-1 draw. Still, maybe Grigg really will be on fire...?
I would maybe change Watmore for an extra defensive player to start with, maybe Power, although this is contrary to what most people would like to see. It's how JR usually sets his teams up away from home, and its not a bad option, to be able to bring the quicks on fresh from the bench against a tiring home team. OaU
You won’t be thinking that by half time you will be thinking bugger me how do I get to them seats over there I’m crippled
i thought their ground was called eastville, last time in the old 3rd div we lost 4-0 I remember that game, as the away changing room got wrecked ! John McPhail was there I think hehe. Still went up as champs though with 93 points, and the team above is very strong. Watmore down the right and Mcgeady down the left should be very attacking.
1-5. Now Grigg has scored and is off the mark I expect a hat trick............. as a minimum every game plus McGeady & Dunne. The mighty SAFC bandwagon kicks in now.
But pessimistic there mate. Hatrick from Grigg, Catts and Wyke. 9-1 (I'm not so crazy as think we'd get a clean sheet, that's just mad talk)
Bristol Rovers have played at the Memorial Stadium since 1996, having previously played at a number of stadiums including the Eastville Stadium and Twerton Park. The Memorial Stadium itself was opened in 1921 and was dedicated to the memory of local Rugby Union players killed during the First World War. https://www.awaygames.co.uk/away-day-guides/bristol-rovers-away/
Another tough one away. Going for 3 - 2 to the lads. Grigg, Watmore and McGeady. If we can't get the win I will take the point happily.
