Sunderland welcome Plymouth Argyle in the SkyBet League One. Last time out Sunderland beat Morecambe and Plymouth drew at MK Dons. Sunderland thrashed lowly Morecambe at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night. The Black Cats started well with two early goals and could have put the game to bed in the first half, but Morecambe had some really good opportunities, failing to take them. Sunderland face Plymouth Argyle at the Stadium of Light this coming Saturday as Lee Johnson aims for back-to-back wins. Plymouth came from behind to draw their first game under the management of Steven Schumacher after Ryan Lowe resigned from his position on Tuesday to accept a managerial role at Preston North End. The draw ended a run of three straight League One defeats and maintained his team's place in the play-off places. Lee Johnson “We kept pushing. There were a lot of heavy legs out there, the pitch is a bit heavy at the minute. The ground staff are fantastic, but if you gave me a million pounds to spend in January, I’d spend it on the pitch. "It’s hard to play ice hockey on a cabbage patch. It’s not that bad, the ground staff are the best I’ve worked with, but in the long term we want that pitch that really gets us fizzing the ball around and at the moment, we haven’t got it.” “He’s (Broadhead) a good player,” Johnson said. “He can drive at people and he’s obviously quite flexible in his positioning. “He’s a really good finisher, which you saw at Cambridge away and today for his two goals. “He’s tactically bright as well, and we’re very happy to have him. "We’re pleased that Everton have entrusted us with his development. As I said before, it was embarrassing that he wasn’t in the starting XI, but he’s there now and he’s getting a good run.” Steven Schumaker: “I spoke to people who I respect in the game. They gave me advice and said 'I think you are ready, I think you can do it. Then, it was the toughest part of all, just making that decision and telling Ryan what I had to do. In the main, I think the last two-and-a-half-years since we have been down here has been pretty positive. "Everyone is disappointed that their manager has left and now there is a new manager in charge. That's football, it changes. A big thing about our owners is that they have got a plan, they want sustainability, they want succession planning. "To do that, they put me in charge. There is not too much that needed to change. Now, I don't think they have given it to me because they are sentimental and they don't want change. "They obviously see something in me that they believe I can do the job and have given me the opportunity to manage this great club. "The work that I have done over the last couple of years has obviously been recognised and that's great." Match Appointments: Referee: SCOTT OLDHAM Assistant Referees: Conor Brown and Chris Isherwood Fourth Official: James Oldham Team Line ups Sunderland: Hoffmann, Doyle, Wright, Flanagan, Dajaku, Neil, Winchester, Pritchard, Gooch, Stewart, Broadhead. Subs: Patterson, Xhemajli, Younger, Embleton, Wearne, O’Brien, Kimpioka. Injured: Willis, Huggins, Hume, Cirkin, McGeady, O’Nien, Evans, Alves, Harris Plymouth:(3-5-2) M.Cooper, Wilson, Scarr, Gillesphey; Edwards (capt), Camara, Houghton, Broom, Grant; Jephcott, Hardie. Subs: Burton, Mayor, Ennis, Garrick, Agard, Law, G.Cooper. Injured: Galloway Betting Odds: Sunderland 17/20 Plymouth 29/10 Draw 5/2 My two pence: A great performance and an excellent result against Morecambe. I don’t want to jinx anything, but - we seem to be back on track. Luke Jephcott has recovered from injury and is back in the Argyle side so we need to keep an eye on him. I’m going for a 3-1 home win Live Stream (Overseas fans) https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Great thread as always thanks mate! Going for 2-1 with Stewart opening scoring, Jephcot equaliser and Dajaku wonder goal to seal the points
Brilliant thread RTB, to follow up on the excellent one in midweek. Two tough away games this week and a lot of travelling for Plymouth to do. If we start well, this could take it's toll. Their form has dropped off lately and our tails are up again, with a dominating second half performance against Oxford, followed by an impressive 75 minutes against Morecambe. All the factors point to a home win and I think we'll get it if we push Plymouth back like we did against Morecambe. 3-1 to the Lads and who knows what the table will look like on Saturday night.
Wonderful stuff as always. I'm confident of a good win on Saturday. I'm going 3-1 and we march on. ****ing Ha'way you beautiful Red and White bastards.
Not been to a game for a bit because it's been one thing after another illness wise. Kids have been suffering, nothing serious. I'll be digging out the long johns for this one though, I fancy us to go on a run now.
a corker and good read mate put us down for a win my confidence back we just have to keep the upfield pressure on and not relax, Plymouth are not a bad team, expect a tight match with us nicking it, however if we run riot ill be even happier
I've bought some waterproof trousers in preparation mate, the long johns will go on underneath. I'll be waterproof from head to toe Might not get scouted by any modelling agencies but it's a risk I'm willing to take.
Having a settled side, albeit patched up, can only help. Broadhead and Stewart need time to develop an understanding which only comes with match practice. And when Gooch starts to run make sure he has options otherwise he has to check back and try to hold the ball, not his strong point. This is a long trip for Plymouth and I'm expecting them to go home on the back of a 1-0 defeat
Yeah good points I'm hoping we have everyone fit for Saturday. Broadhead looked like he was limping at the end of the game but we'll find out tomorrow.
HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM An important game for us I think. Fingers crossed for the win. Could be pivotal. Anything can happen in football but I think we'll really push on if we get a win now. Players seem to be stepping up to fill gaps Coooooomon.
Whatever you think about Johnson he's somehow managed to pull things round from a terrible run of results. There's no way he's 'lost the dressing room' imo. To have instilled that confidence, during an injury crisis, gives him until the end of the season without further calls for his head. He won't be sacked, and we'll buy in January, so it's time to just support the team and put the pitchforks back in the barn.
Going for 3-2. We finally seem to have settled on a formation. We have 2 upfront which is creating more and the wing backs are doing their job in getting crosses over and helping the defence when necessary. Plymouth will bring a few up as there away support is pretty decent. I hope we send them that long way home on a downer. PS, and the obligatory cheers RTB.
Massive game tomorrow. 8 of the top 11 in the current table are playing against each other… Lots of points to be dropped. If we win we’d be consolidating our place in the top 6.
Can’t argue with that mate. I also said last week a mate at the training ground said there’s no issues at all with the players and LJ.
Great thread again RTB. any win will do me, it's all about the three points especially against teams in and around us, send them home with their tails between their legs, but be wary of Jephcott.HTL.
