Sunderland travel to Burton in the SkyBet League One. Last time out Sunderland beat Lincoln to reach the final of the Papa John’s Trophy and Burton beat Northampton. Kyril Louis-Dreyfus finally has the approval from the EFL to take charge of the club as the major shareholder and the active role of Chairman. Sunderland will be in confident mood going into Saturday’s game with striker Charlie Wyke in a rich vein of form with 22 goals in all competitions, his partnership with Aiden McGeady reaping rewards. Bailey Wright is 50/50 to recover for the game but Dion Sanderson is likely to return to the centre of the defence. Luke O’Nien or Connor McLaughlin could be step in if needed. Josh Scowen is also doubtful with a tight hamstring. JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink’s new-look Brewers will be looking to make it three wins a row when Burton Albion host Sunderland at the Pirelli Stadium. Burton have won three out of their last four games and are a bit of a bogey team for the Black Cats who have failed to beat Albion in League One. Lee Johnson: "I thought Luke and Conor were brilliant, it was against one up top of course and we had a lot of the ball" "Conor is still nursing the back end of his injury in terms of that hernia operation, so he did a great job for the team and showed his warrior spirit, which I was pleased with.” "We've got Dion to come back now and Bailey is probably 50/50 for the weekend." "Oliver Younger should be looking to train on Monday or Tuesday, Tom Flanagan will likely be a little bit later. He's OK, he's feeling good but it's just a case of, if he is out running on the grass on Monday I'll be happy.” "Josh felt a tightness in his hamstring, he wanted to play on, but we just looked at the big picture," Johnson said. "We had players chomping at the bit (to get on) and we also needed a goal, but it was just an ideal opportunity to give Chris Maguire his shot and just have a couple more offensive players in those positions. "Carl Winchester is back, you've seen me play two number tens in those roles, so it's not too much of a worry if we need to rest him this weekend or bring him in from the bench." Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: "Michael Bostwick has got one of the hardest shots in the club and when the ball comes at that pace, it’s difficult to stand there and not turn or flinch” "It was a good hit, and we’ll take that. After that we managed the game really well and we actually played a lot better. We got stronger when we scored and made it 1-0.” "We knew what we were doing, we knew we had to get pressure on the ball and get behind them. We looked better after the goal, and looked the stronger team after.” "This was a big game for us and it’s a massive three points. You’re coming here with lots of pressure on you and you have to take that into account as well. "When that goal goes in, a lot of pressure comes off the player and you’re seeing that quality. You have to praise them for that." Match Appointments: Referee: CRAIG HICKS Assistant Referees: Lisa Rashid and Paul Evans Fourth Official: Ross Joyce Team Line ups Sunderland: Burge, Power, McLaughlan, Sanderson, McFadzean, Winchester, Neil, O’Nien, McGeady, Wyke, Jones. Subs: Matthews, Almond, Leadbitter, Maguire, O’Brien, Gooch, Diamond. Injured: Xhemajli, Kimpioka, Hume, Stewart, Flanagan, Willis, Wright. Burton Albion: Garratt, Brayford, Carter, Bostwick, Earl, Clare, Edwards, Smith, Broom, Parker, Akins. Subs: O'Hara, Powell, Varney, Hamer, Mancienne, Taylor, Rowe. Injured: Wallace, Hutchinson Betting Odds: Home 23/10 Away 13/12 Draw 23/10 My two pence: Thanks to @Smug in Boots , @Prehab26 for all the info shared on the takeover At last it's no longer a rumour. I am half expecting either an after the Lord Mayor’s show type of game or a continuation of that first half performance against Doncaster. Time to concentrate on the league and get more points on the board. I am going for a 3-1 away win Live stream £10 https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
On Doncaster thread last week I thought we'd be in trouble and looked likely to lose that and the Lincoln game so shows you what I know about football. Burton have improved and we'll have to be at it from the start, no reason why we shouldn't and a great time to register a first victory against them. Great thread as usual RTB, thanks.
RTB Injures on Wednesday, Scowen and Bailey Wright. CB is proving a problem...09 and Sanderson is McLaughlin fit? Unfortunately Burton after a bad run, with Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebank(sp) are now on the up. So this is going to be a tough game. Hopefully the great result on Wednesday will prove a spur not a drag. If we are to keep in touch with 6th place we have to win..Accrington, Doncaster and others, we need to lose. We are not near the end of the season but if we are to secure a play-off spot all games are becoming must wins.
Be a tough game this. Sounds like a few of our key men are suffering with knocks and fatigue. They have beat Hull at home not so long back and i am expecting a tricky game
I'm going for a tough 1-2 win. Probably a real grinding out of a result. Fingers crossed the good news keeps on coming on the pitch as well as off it.
I'm also going for a 2-1 win to the lads, ending what has been a fantastic week for the club, squad and the fans.
Cheers RTB. After the lord mayors show or Donny MarkII, indeed. Who knows eh, but a winning run for us would be very nice to see right now
Great thread RTB, if we can get Charlie into good positions in the box we can win this comfortably. It's up to the wide players to give him good service and he will continue his scoring run. Ha'Way The Lads. 2 nowt away win.
Always looking forward to these threads, and thanks again for another great effort RTB, so its back to the real world with a bang, more chopping and changing is the order of the day, but if LJ gets it right and can manages to retain that three man hub in front of the back four we should get the result we are all looking for. Again I like your team, but I would love to see that midfield of O/9/Power/Scowen together again asp. but to do this I think we would need 3 O/9s. atm
My gut feeling is that we're going to crack on now, the team look energised and determined and we know there's goals in them. They'll all be keen to impress the new owners and not fade into the background. I know it's typical Sunderland for them to take delight in pissing on our chips but I don't feel it this time. Defence is a slight worry hopefully Johnson's keeping his cards close to his chest and McLaughlin and Wright will be available.
Win 2 0. I will be well pissed off if we fluff this one after winning the tin pot semi.! Having said that @ 16.50 tomorrow I'm confident I won't be pissed off!!!
