Sunderland host Walsall in League One Last time out Sunderland drew with Barnsley and Walsall lost to Portsmouth. Sunderland have faced Walsall three times already this season and have yet to taste victory, which will add some extra spice to Saturday’s game at the Stadium of Light. The Saddlers have just four league wins in their last 19 games. That run of form has left Dean Keates’ men just two points clear of the danger zone heading into the game at the weekend. Sunderland fans should not expect a walkover this weekend, and they will remember vividly our previous three games against the Saddlers which resulted in two draws and a rare home defeat in the FA Cup second round. Walsall winger Matt Jarvis could miss the visit to the Stadium of Light. The former Wolves and West Ham wideman, on loan with the Saddlers from Norwich, has a minor ankle problem. Striker Andy Cook returns from a three-match ban. Duncan Watmore is out for the rest of the season with ankle ligament damage. Flanagan, James and Honeyman all returned to training this week, but Honeyman will miss this game as he starts a 3 match ban. Jack Ross “We have no new injury concerns, we had a number unavailable for our midweek trip to Barnsley, but we have since had Tom Flanagan, George Honeyman and Reece James join back in with training.” “George continues to be out through suspension, but Reece and Tom are back fit and training.” “At this stage of the season the pressure increases all the time as the games become less. You have to be at your freshest, both physically and mentally. There’s a variance of the teams I’ve played this season, some I didn’t play at the start of the season, but I play now.” “It’s a case of managing the players through this period, there will be times when that’s reflected in my team selection, and times when it will be reflected by the players who are fit and healthy to play. “We have nine games in a very short space of time after the cup final, and we are going to need all of the squad very much to help us to get through that period.” Dean Keates: “The endeavour, the work rate, it was all there and on another day we could have got a point. I’m just disappointed with the goals we conceded. Portsmouth didn’t have to earn their goals." “Other than the goals I thought we had some decent phases of the play. Second-half we told the players to be a bit braver on the ball and they were. “We’re disappointed not to take anything from the game, but we will re-group. We have now got to get something at Sunderland.” Match Appointments: Referee: ALAN YOUNG Assistants: Nicholas Cooper and Wayne Grunnill Fourth Official: Simon Clayton Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlan, Hume, Baldwin, Dunne, Matthews, Leadbitter, Cattermole, O'Nien, Morgan, Grigg, McGeady Subs: Ruiter, Flanagan, James, Gooch, McGeouch, Sterling, Wyke Injured: Love, Loovens, Maguire, Oviedo, Watmore Suspended: Honeyman Walsall: Roberts, Edwards, Leahy, Dobson, Guthrie, Devlin, Imail, Kinsella, Ferrier, Cook, Scarr Substitutes: Dunn, Fitzwater, Norman, Osborne, Laird, Oteh, Blackett-Taylor Injured: Jarvis Betting Odds: H 1/2 A 5/1 D 3/1 My two pence: After the draw with Barnsley we could do with getting maximum points before our trip to Wembley. We've still not won against this lot this season and they beat us here in the FA cup, so not to be taken for granted. Having said that I think we will get back to winning ways. My guess is a 2-0 win Ha’way the Lads
We just have to win... all league games from now on are more important than the tinpot cup. Like the team, as I would like 09 to have a go behind Griggs also. If the problem with Ovideo is over he is also a good attacking fullback as a sub? We must give Griggs passes that he can work with... and score!
Feed Grigg and he will score it’s as simple as that really. Must win for me and I’m confident we will.
Donny v Barnsley is a massive game for us, real chance of dropped points. It’s on Sky if anyone’s interested. We should be.
See I disagree there mate - on the 31st March and in the week leading up to that the "tinpot" cup is the most important game. Before that and after then I completely agree
Home win 2-0 nothing else is acceptable at this stage of the season, it doesn't have to be pretty just effective.
its been a long time since i was up for a match this much,counting the hours until we are victorious, my brains saying a cautious draw, my heart is saying we will murder the twats, going with my heart for this one
Can't wait for this. Walsall have lost 17 games to our 2 and I don't believe in bogey teams, jinxes or Gypsy curses. We should beat Walsall whichever team we put out but I'd like to see McGeady and Morgan running past people and cutting the ball back for Grigg and whoever else is coming into the box ... if they're fouled we'll get free kicks or even penalties. And please, don't lump the ball upfield, play the ball into the channels or Grigg's feet. If we don't win this by two clear goals I'll be really disappointed. P. S. Excellent thread.
We aint beat them in 3 games this season , any win will do, they won't be s hitting themselves coming up here.
Doncaster look up to it. Up until the last 7 minutes of the first half, they looked to be in control and much more skilled. Barnsley are just so much bigger than Doncaster, they have begun to get numbers forward and are getting a lot of free kicks. 0-0 at the half btw.
