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Match Day Thread Sunderland v Portsmouth - Saturday 11th May - KO 19:30

Discussion in 'Sunderland' started by RTB, May 6, 2019.

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Your prediction

Poll closed May 11, 2019.
  1. Home win

    40.6%
  2. Away win

    28.1%
  3. Draw

    31.3%
  1. RTB

    RTB Well-Known Member

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    Sunderland host Portsmouth in the League One play-off semi-final (first leg)
    SAFCvPFC.GIF
    Last time out Sunderland lost at Southend and Portsmouth drew with Accrington
    This two-legged affair will be the fourth and fifth times the Black Cats have met Pompey this year, with the pair having already faced-off twice in the regular season alongside their meeting at Wembley in the Checkatrade Trophy final. Sunderland have failed to win any of those meetings, leaving Pompey fans and some players with the belief that their side have a big psychological advantage ahead of the first clash between the duo on Saturday.
    Sunderland can still get to that Wembley final and still be promoted, all they have to do is turn up on Saturday night and give their best possible chance of going into that second game at Fratton Park with a big advantage.
    Jack Ross:
    “It was a reality check for some of us, individually and as a team, and a reminder of the levels we need to be at. We haven’t dipped below them all that often this season but today we were well below them and we were beaten by a hungrier team."
    "We have not gone into the play-offs on the back of a positive feeling because our performance at Southend was a long way short. We didn’t play well, not by a long stretch. It was a reality check for some of us, individually and as a team, and a reminder of the levels we need to be at."
    "You are always judged on the end result, and in the last few games we have either drawn them or lost them. The performance has been ok so that has been a bit more positive, but when the two go hand-in-hand (poor performance and poor result) I can be a lot more critical.”
    Kenny Jackett:
    "In terms of our game, I do think we’ve gone off our responsibilities a little bit. The lines have been blurred between who’s doing what and we have to get back to that."
    "I do think our full-backs have been high and wide and we’ve been open. Matt Clarke coming out as well has meant two of our back four have been up and around their box on a regular basis. If we’re doing all that and keeping clean sheets I’m fine, but we’re not."
    ‘It has to swing towards making sure our defenders can defend and keep clean sheets, our midfielders can compete and the ball runs through them, and then the front three get a good service to score and provide assists."

    Form.GIF
    Prutton predicts: meh
    Match Appointments:
    Referee:
    ANDY WOOLMER
    Assistants: James Mainwaring and Lee Venamore
    Fourth Official: Darren England

    Team Line ups
    Sunderland:
    McLaughlan, O’Nien, Dunne, Ozturk, Oviedo, McGeouch, Cattermole, McGeady, Maguire, Morgan, Wyke
    Team.GIF
    Subs: Ruiter, Baldwin, Hume, Honeyman, Power, Sterling, Grigg
    Injured: Love, Watmore

    Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Walkes, Burgess, Clarke, Brown; Naylor, Close; Evans (c), Curtis, Solomon-Otabor; Hawkins
    Subs: Bass, Thompson, Haunstrup, Vaughan, Morris, Bogle
    Injured: tbc

    Betting Odds:
    Home
    23/20 Away 9/4 Draw 23/10

    My two pence:
    We certainly don’t believe in taking the easy route, so here we are with two games against Portsmouth and the prospect of a Wembley final against our old friends Charlton Athletic.
    After a disappointing performance and result at Roots Hall it’s time for the players to step up and take control of their own destiny. We need to beat this lot once and for all.
    My guess is a 2-1 home win

    Ha’way the Lads

    Sadly football is not top of my priorities this week
    RIP Dad <rose>
     
    #1
    Last edited: May 8, 2019
  2. Best uncapped Keeper

    Best uncapped Keeper Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for taking the time and effort for such a good post amid the family grief, and my sympathy for your loss.
     
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  3. The Norton Cat

    The Norton Cat Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for another excellent match preview RTB. I think that lineup is probably one of the best we can put out at the moment.

    My sympathy to you and your family at this sad time.
     
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  4. Sunderpitt

    Sunderpitt Well-Known Member

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    Hmm I think I would have 09 in midfield and Matthews RB

    Condolences on your loss
     
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  5. Deletion Requested1

    Deletion Requested1 Well-Known Member

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    Sorry to hear about your dad RTB and well done for the preview under difficult circumstances.
     
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  6. cumbrianmackem

    cumbrianmackem Well-Known Member

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    Thanks again RTB and sorry for your loss.
    Is it just me but has our decline in results recently and the inclusion of Ozturk been a complete coincidence.
    How many goals have we conceded from crosses in the past five games?
    Bring back Baldwin and Flanagan for the play off fixtures.
     
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  7. flandersmackem

    flandersmackem Well-Known Member

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    Deepest sympathies RTB....Prayers and thoughts with you and your family
     
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  8. Vincemac

    Vincemac Well-Known Member

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    Sorry for your loss
     
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  9. master-simpson

    master-simpson Well-Known Member

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    Cannot see us getting to Wembley as our current form is GASH!!

    Think the best we can in the home leg is draw, and we must not lose!!

    Got a hunch it’ll be 0-0, then all to play for down there. But it will end in tears.

    I actually think JR has lost the dressing room a bit - hope I’m proved wrong.

    Bart.
     
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  10. LAMackem

    LAMackem Well-Known Member

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    Sorry to hear of the loss of your father......RIP....god bless.
     
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  11. LAMackem

    LAMackem Well-Known Member

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    This is way I look at the play offs. All positive and excitement....would have snatched hand off to get in this position at the start of the season. If we go into the game with a woe is me attitude or they're better than us we will get f*cked. Three games now for promotion and all to play for. Said many times faint hearts win f*ck all. All the talk this season of how good a squad we have etc counts for nothing if we can't get the business done now. The players have had unbelievable support this season, huge support off the field by the new owners so it's time for the players to give back by their performance on the pitch. It's all there for the taking....if the players want it bad enough. As the Nike advert says...."Just do it".
     
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  12. Dorset

    Dorset Well-Known Member

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    Cheers RTB. My condolences to you and your family at this sad time.
     
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  13. gelders pie

    gelders pie Well-Known Member

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    Thoughts and prayers for you and the family
     
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  14. Jack TheLad

    Jack TheLad Well-Known Member

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    Condolences to you and the family @RTB.

    Here's hoping the lads can pull it out of the bag for him.

    Great thread as always.
     
    #14
  15. FTM Dave

    FTM Dave Well-Known Member

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    Brilliant thread as usual RTB.

    Sorry to hear of your loss.
     
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  16. rooch 3

    rooch 3 Well-Known Member

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    Sorry to hear your news mate take care.
     
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  17. Gil T Azell

    Gil T Azell Well-Known Member

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    Condolences to your good self and your family RTB.
     
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  18. marcusblackcat

    marcusblackcat SAFC Sheriff
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    I think Matthews was awful on Saturday! Really poor. Looked like he had nothing to play for
     
    #18
  19. Gil T Azell

    Gil T Azell Well-Known Member

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    Looked disinterested to me. Is his contract up? He must know he isnt going to get a big money offer so surely playing for a new contract with us would be his best choice.
     
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  20. Wooperts_duck

    Wooperts_duck Well-Known Member
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    RTB - very sorry to read of the sad loss of your father RIP <peacedove>
     
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