Sunderland travel to the Stadium MK to face the MK Dons in the Papa John’s EFL Trophy. Last time out Sunderland drew with Gillingham and MK Dons beat AFC Wimbledon. Another battle between two Sky Bet League One sides sees 2019 Finalists Sunderland AFC travel south to take on MK Dons. The home side will be looking for a repeat of their 2-1 league win against Sunderland in November - their first ever victory against the Black Cats - but it's Lee Johnson's men who will be the favourites to progress here. Sunderland's high-scoring road to the Quarters has included wins against Oldham Athletic and Port Vale, while MK Dons have knocked out Norwich City U21s and Northampton Town en route to the last eight. Bailey Wright will return to training on Monday but can't play in the EFL Trophy game because he picked up bookings in previous rounds against Port Vale and Oldham so he will be suspended. The Black Cats are also unable to play Sanderson, Winchester or Vokins in this game because they have already appeared in the competition with their previous clubs. MK Dons will be in confident mood after inflicting defeat on their fierce rivals at the new Plough Lane - a result which saw Glyn Hodges lose his job. The Dons have just sold defender Regan Poole to Lincoln City and lost Richard Keogh to Huddersfield Lee Johnson: “I’m frustrated because it was naivety in the final five or six minutes. We have generally been good at dealing with that.” “We obviously didn’t have Bailey back there (concussion rules), so you lose that organiser and talker in there.” ”They had a line of five and we had a line of four for the goal – work that out. That is the boys needing to organise it in that situation.” Russell Martin: “It's a big win for us, another really strong performance, and I'm really pleased for the fans, of course - the only disappointment is that they weren't here to enjoy it.” “We spoke before the game about matching the intensity that they would bring because of this game and being at this stadium. The chairman spoke to the players about it all too, which I felt was important.” “We're really difficult to play against, but our downfall has been when teams have real energy at the start of games and we've given them goals. When we don't do that, we get more control.” “The players dealt with them brilliantly. We had to grapple for control in the first half, but once we gained control we dominated the game and we didn't let up. Match Appointments: Referee: tbc Assistant Referees: tbc Fourth Official: tbc Team Line ups Sunderland: Patterson, Power, Flanagan, Willis, McFadzean, O’Nien, Leadbitter, Neil, Gooch, Jones, Wyke. Subs: Matthews, Younger, Embleton, Stewart, Maguire, Curry, Diamond. Injured: Xhemajli, Kimpioka, Hume, Grigg. Suspended: Wright MK Dons: Fisher, O’Hara, Darling, Lewington, Laird, Thompson, Fraser, O’Riley, Harvie, Mason, Jerome. Subs: Nicholls, Gladwin, Brown, Sorensen, Freeman, Sorinola, Johnson. Injured: Williams Betting Odds: Home 22/21 Away 12/5 Draw 23/10 My two pence: Now that we have signed a few new players it would be good to see some of them starting on Tuesday night. MK Dons can pass it about a bit so it should be a lot different to the game on Saturday. I’m going for a close 2-0 away win. Live stream £10 https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
I'll be watching this in a different way to league games when I just want us to win by any means and lose track of what's actually happening. I'll be spending time looking at the full backs, then the keeper, then the wide players. I'll be trying to figure out why we have periods when we lose control of the game as we did after McGeady scored on Saturday. We have enough talent, imo, we just need more concentration and application. I can see Johnson losing patience, with certain players, if they don't deliver. Diamond has the talent and was given an opportunity he didn't grasp. His job is to stretch the opposition and get crosses into the box, he hesitated too many times imo. Hopefully we now have a coaching system that can identify and rectify these problems. 3 nil to the lads and Jones motm.
Aye, that was a bit of a **** pen on Sat. McGeady's wasn't much better in the Pizza Cup game either. Still, as long as we score I suppose.....
Good chance for a few to make a case this one. One big problem I think the team has under Johnson's system is centre midfield. I think the games are catching up with Leadbitter and Scowen is just awful and constantly gives possession away which means we cant control games or build momentum/attacks. McGeady I'd save for Saturday. I think it's a good game to give Jones and Stewart some game time. Not the pressure of a league game but they get some proper minutes under their belts with their new teammates and a dress rehearsal for the league game there on Saturday. Good game also to being Onien back in and I'd slot him back into right back to compare how that side operates compared to when Power has stepped in. The keeper situation remains an issue so I'd now give young Patterson a run out between the sticks to have another look at him. We are struggling for defensive numbers and the u23's play today so that might effect a few being involved but I hope Neil is saved for the 1st team, likewise Patterson. Few cup tied (Vokins, Sanderson, Winchester) --------------------Patterson---------------------- O'Nien------Willis-----Flanagan---McFaz ------------------Power----Neil-------------------- Gooch-----------Embleton----------Jones ------------------------Stewart---------------------- Burge Wright Younger Leadbitter Scowen Obrien Wyke
Good thread as usual @RTB , I suppose this game throws up a bit of a conundrum in terms of Saturday's game. Do we show our hand on how we play in this one and put most of the first team out or does LJ go with an "under strength" side and save people. We have a squad that can deal with the latter but I think it'll be interesting to see how LJ deals with this.
RTB IIRC MK Dons do not play physical and balls in the area like Gills and many other teams against us. We did try to match Gills but all we managed was a draw with them getting a late equaliser...tbf this looked likely. I do expect a response from us for Saturday and a win is on I reckon. New signings to play I reckon!
Thanks again RTB for your splendid work in giving us this format. With all the in-eligible players, and the heavy programme etc., its hard to say what team we will put out, but it would be good to see a few of the fringe players like Patterson, Younger , Neil and Curry given a chance to stake a claim, if not for a starting eleven immediately, but to get them more regularly involved from the bench in future. I would also like to see us play a form of 3/5/2 at some stage soon, as we have the players and just as important the cover, for such a formation that we don't have at present with a flat back 4, not at least, to give me any real confidence, as was clearly stated, and observed last time out.
Younger and Curry not named in the U23s so I would expect they're part of the squad tomorrow night please log in to view this image
If the keeper was on his line at the point of impact, the penalty hits the side netting. It was a very good penalty but the keeper moved about a yard forward before he took it
I thought it was a good pen, only thing wrong was it was at that height which makes it easier for the keeper. I always feel like Grant's going to score from the spot he's very focused and has great technique.
It was right in the corner/ would have hit the side netting possibly even inside of the post. Keeper actually may have been on his line but he was miles across to that side. Leads head was down so he wouldnt know i guess and the keeper guessed right. Height normally doesn;t matter when it's that close to the corner - if you freeze the video between 8 and 9 seconds you can see how far the keeper has moved before the ball is kicked but he does appear to be on his line
