Match Day Thread Sheffield Wednesday FC v Sunderland AFC – Wednesday 10th August 2022 - KO 19:45

Last time out Sunderland beat Bristol City and Wednesday beat MK Dons
The Black Cats return to Hillsborough in the Carabao Cup after their play-off semi final success in May.
With another league game at the weekend, a lot of the fringe players will be looking to start this game.
Akin Famewo picked up a muscle injury at the weekend and is a major doubt for the Owls.

Alex Neil:
"I thought that the two of them were unbelievable, they absolutely ran the back three ragged all day for me. Ellis Simms scores, Ross scores, Ellis should have got another one and they had opportunities and chances throughout the game as well.
"I thought that the two of them were an absolute handful. They were brilliant, really, really good. Ellis was really strong, everything that went up to him he held the ball up and linked the game for us.
"Equally he is a rare player in that when you are that big and that strong and you can link the game, normally that comes with a lack of mobility, but he is quick - really quick - and strong, and he can finish as you saw today.
Darren Moore:
"We've gone for a mix of experience and youth, that's really important for the blend of the team. If you look at the types of players we've gone for, in terms of knowing the level they've certainly played at and been successful at the level, but then we've brought in [midfielder] Tyreeq Bakinson who's 23, [defender] Akin Famewo is 23."
"We've got some wonderful leaders, I can see that David Stockdale is a leader, Ihiekwe, Smith, I can go on and on, aided by some of the existing players that we have here. We've just got to keep that momentum moving forward.”

Match Appointments:
Referee: TOM REEVES
Assistant Referees: Grant Taylor and Lewis Raper
Fourth Official: Thomas Kirk

Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: (3-5-2) Bass, Alese, Wright, Winchester, Roberts, Matete, O’Nien, Hume, Embleton, Diamond, Dajaku.

Subs: Carney, Richardson, Taylor, Sohna, Kelly, Simms
Injured: Huggins

Sheffield Wednesday: (3-5-2) Stockdale, Ihiekwe, Heneghan, Famewo, Palmer, Dele-Bashiru, Vaulks, Johnson, Bannan, Windass, Paterson
Subs: Iorfa, Byers, Bakinson, Dawson, Hunt, James, Sow
Injured: Famewo

Betting Odds:
Sunderland 17/10 Sheff Wed 6/4 Draw 9/4

My two pence:
A good performance and a fantastic debut from Ellis Simms at Brissle,
I’m not sure if Alex Neil will give the reserves a run out or stick with a stronger first 11, but I’m expecting a change of line-up and a chance for the second string to shine through.

I’m going for a 1-1 draw and we win the shoot-out.

No Live Stream as it’s Live – On SKY
League Cup - First Round, Sky Sports Main Event (19:00), Sky Sports Football (19:00)

Ha’way the Lads

 

Looking forward to seeing the line up. Should be decent game.

 

I don't expect the entire first team to get dropped. Isn't there even some rule about that?

 

A free hit to get the fringe players some game time. If we win then happy days, if we don’t it really doesn’t matter - concentrate on the league.

 

Great thread as always @RTB.

Opportunity for the squad players to stake a claim for a starting spot, almost like another friendly in my eyes

 

Think we'll go back to a back 4 for this to get Roberts in the team. Alese and Wright centre backs. Bass in goal. Hume right back. Embleton on the left. Hopefully Matete starts too.

 

RTB

As you indicate the 'reserves' will probably get a run out... imho we do not have a full squad of players yet.

This season we will concentrate on the league.

 

I think we’ll want a cup run, and field a strong team. They on the other hand will definitely be focusing on the league.

So if that’s the case, 0-2 to the lads.

Bart

 

Never want to go into a game not wanting to win or give it a decent go, think AN will mix it up so line up will be interesting, give it a real go and see what happens HTL.

 

Anywhere decent to watch the game in Norwich?

 

Changed.

 

Top thread again RTB., placed my prediction before reading yours and see we are thinking along the same lines, win win . .
Its anybody's guess what AN's team will look like, hence the draw prediction. This one is a free hit in some ways, but they will try hard to bury the play off defeat, that was a close thing, this one will probably be similar . OaU.

 

.

 

If we play Diamond and Dajaku up front then I'm walking out the stadium and going home

 

I'd make a couple of changes personally, wouldn't go all out:

Patterson
Hume Wright Alese Cirkin
Matete Neil
Gooch Embleton Clarke
Simms
​

Subs: Bass, Ballard, Winchester, O'Nien, Stewart, Pritchard, Roberts

 

Diamond and Gooch would be more interesting, and even less likely .

 

Don't we have to play 6 or 7 from the last match day team / squad or did I dream that rule?

 

That was a rule for the papa johns iirc

 

For some reason I'm really looking forward to this game. Perhaps it's the lack of pressure, the chance to see a different team or Wednesday's desperation for revenge. RTB's team looks good even though it's a massive change from Saturday ... shows how far we've come imo.

I'm sticking to my belief that Dajaku will score goals and become a good player for us. I'd also like to see Hume prove his worth as a wing/full back. Gooch, as much as I like him, can't be trusted in defence imo.

Ha’way the Lads, two for Dajaku and a clean sheet would do nicely.