Sunderland host Lincoln City in the SkyBet League One Play-Off Semi Final.
Lincoln City lead 2-0 from the first leg.
Sunderland welcome back 10,000 fans to the Stadium of Light in one of the most important games in the club’s long and famous history. The Black Cats need to score three goals without reply to reach the play-off final. A two goal advantage after 90 minutes would force the tie into extra time and a penalty shootout if they are still level.
Denver Hume and Conor McLaughlin have been ruled out of the remainder of Sunderland's Play-Off campaign, it has been confirmed. Lee Johnson delivered the news following our semi-final first leg at Lincoln City on Wednesday night, a match in which McLaughlin did not feature due to a stress fracture of the back, and Hume was withdrawn early with a hamstring injury.
According to the Chronicle, Aiden McGeady may not start, however Lee Johnson has since confirmed that he is available.
Lee Johnson:
"It’s half-time, simple as that, and we’re 2-0 down. We created numerous chances today, and their goalkeeper has had a worldie.”
"We’re still in this, but we’ve got to be more vigilant than we were at the back and we’ve got to be clinical up top.”
"They (the fans) will have to be our extra man, then it’s up to the boys. Listen, we can score two goals. I’ve got no doubts about that. We can score four goals, we’ve done that against these before, but we’ve got to be vigilant at the back, and we’ve got to make sure that we’re not just chasing it. You can score two goals in five or ten minutes, especially at home with the crowd behind you.”
"We have to write our own story now, and it could be one of the biggest nights in the club's recent history if we turn this around."
"Denver has a hamstring injury, a disappointing one and something that has happened to too many players too many times this season.”
"It's something that we have to just get on with. Conor is out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture to his back.”
"We've got what we've got, and we have to get on with that for the second leg."
Michael Appleton:
“I said to you (the media) in the week, we had to have the mindset of winning both games,” said Appleton after the win.”
“If you do that you give yourself the chance of getting through. We’ve got a very good away record, the best in the league. Hopefully that will continue on Saturday.”
“We’ll go there and try and win the game. If we go there and try and get a draw, we’ll end up doing what we did for 20 minutes after we took the lead, defending on the edge of our box and allowing them to put balls in.”
“That definitely won’t be the mindset. We’ll try and be a bit more possession based, like we were in the first half, and try to win the game.”
“I thought that we played quite well in the first half. I thought that we were the better side and created better opportunities. They never really threatened the goal in the first half.”
“Once we scored, they came into it. They had a spell of 20-25 minutes where they put us under a bit of pressure.”
“We had to deal with that. When we couldn’t deal with it, Joe made a couple of good saves for us.”
Match Appointments:
Referee: MICHAEL SALISBURY
Assistant Referees: Mark Pottage and Steven Meredith
Fourth Official: Darren Bond
Team Line ups
Sunderland: Burge; O’Nien, Wright, Younger; Jones, Leadbitter, Scowen, Diamond; McGeady, Gooch, Stewart.
Subs: Matthews, Vokins, Winchester, Power, Hawkes, Maguire, Wyke
Injured: Xhemajli, Willis, Sanderson, Hume, McLaughlin
Lincoln City: (4-3-3) Palmer, Poole, Montsma, Jackson, Edun, McGrandles, Bridcutt, Grant, Johnson, Hopper, Rogers.
Subs: Eyoma, Walsh, Scully, Sanders, Bramall, Morton, Long
Injured: none
Betting Odds:
Sunderland 19/20 Lincoln 14/5 Draw 23/10
My two pence:
Having watched the U23s run their socks off, chasing everything and pulling off an excellent away win in their play-off semi on Monday night, I was shocked and disappointed at the lack of effort in the first half against Lincoln. The second half was better, but we seem to be our own worst enemies and gifted them two goals just as we were creating chances at the other end.
At least their usual keeper, Palmer, should be back in goal so this could be a completely different outcome.
It’s certainly not over yet and with 10000 fans behind the lads we can still do this.
I’m going for a 2-0 home win after extra time and penalties
Live on Sky Sports Football
Ha’way the Lads
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Lincoln City lead 2-0 from the first leg.
Sunderland welcome back 10,000 fans to the Stadium of Light in one of the most important games in the club’s long and famous history. The Black Cats need to score three goals without reply to reach the play-off final. A two goal advantage after 90 minutes would force the tie into extra time and a penalty shootout if they are still level.
Denver Hume and Conor McLaughlin have been ruled out of the remainder of Sunderland's Play-Off campaign, it has been confirmed. Lee Johnson delivered the news following our semi-final first leg at Lincoln City on Wednesday night, a match in which McLaughlin did not feature due to a stress fracture of the back, and Hume was withdrawn early with a hamstring injury.
According to the Chronicle, Aiden McGeady may not start, however Lee Johnson has since confirmed that he is available.
Lee Johnson:
"It’s half-time, simple as that, and we’re 2-0 down. We created numerous chances today, and their goalkeeper has had a worldie.”
"We’re still in this, but we’ve got to be more vigilant than we were at the back and we’ve got to be clinical up top.”
"They (the fans) will have to be our extra man, then it’s up to the boys. Listen, we can score two goals. I’ve got no doubts about that. We can score four goals, we’ve done that against these before, but we’ve got to be vigilant at the back, and we’ve got to make sure that we’re not just chasing it. You can score two goals in five or ten minutes, especially at home with the crowd behind you.”
"We have to write our own story now, and it could be one of the biggest nights in the club's recent history if we turn this around."
"Denver has a hamstring injury, a disappointing one and something that has happened to too many players too many times this season.”
"It's something that we have to just get on with. Conor is out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture to his back.”
"We've got what we've got, and we have to get on with that for the second leg."
Michael Appleton:
“I said to you (the media) in the week, we had to have the mindset of winning both games,” said Appleton after the win.”
“If you do that you give yourself the chance of getting through. We’ve got a very good away record, the best in the league. Hopefully that will continue on Saturday.”
“We’ll go there and try and win the game. If we go there and try and get a draw, we’ll end up doing what we did for 20 minutes after we took the lead, defending on the edge of our box and allowing them to put balls in.”
“That definitely won’t be the mindset. We’ll try and be a bit more possession based, like we were in the first half, and try to win the game.”
“I thought that we played quite well in the first half. I thought that we were the better side and created better opportunities. They never really threatened the goal in the first half.”
“Once we scored, they came into it. They had a spell of 20-25 minutes where they put us under a bit of pressure.”
“We had to deal with that. When we couldn’t deal with it, Joe made a couple of good saves for us.”
You must log in or register to see images
Match Appointments:
Referee: MICHAEL SALISBURY
Assistant Referees: Mark Pottage and Steven Meredith
Fourth Official: Darren Bond
Team Line ups
Sunderland: Burge; O’Nien, Wright, Younger; Jones, Leadbitter, Scowen, Diamond; McGeady, Gooch, Stewart.
You must log in or register to see images
Subs: Matthews, Vokins, Winchester, Power, Hawkes, Maguire, Wyke
Injured: Xhemajli, Willis, Sanderson, Hume, McLaughlin
Lincoln City: (4-3-3) Palmer, Poole, Montsma, Jackson, Edun, McGrandles, Bridcutt, Grant, Johnson, Hopper, Rogers.
Subs: Eyoma, Walsh, Scully, Sanders, Bramall, Morton, Long
Injured: none
Betting Odds:
Sunderland 19/20 Lincoln 14/5 Draw 23/10
My two pence:
Having watched the U23s run their socks off, chasing everything and pulling off an excellent away win in their play-off semi on Monday night, I was shocked and disappointed at the lack of effort in the first half against Lincoln. The second half was better, but we seem to be our own worst enemies and gifted them two goals just as we were creating chances at the other end.
At least their usual keeper, Palmer, should be back in goal so this could be a completely different outcome.
It’s certainly not over yet and with 10000 fans behind the lads we can still do this.
I’m going for a 2-0 home win after extra time and penalties
Live on Sky Sports Football
Ha’way the Lads
Last edited:
RTB, let's hope its not the last...
