Sunderland visit the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium to face QPR in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland beat Reading and QPR lost to Millwall. The Black Cats struggled to breakdown a resolute Reading defence until Patrick Roberts finally found the back of the net with a clever bit of skill and a fierce shot. Luke O’Nien and Alex Pritchard could return to the starting eleven, defender Dennis Cirkin may be available after following concussion protocols. However Embleton, Stewart, Evans, Huggins & Gooch remain unavailable due to injury. QPR dropped to 16th in the league on 39 points after a 1-2 home defeat to Millwall. Hoops manager Neil Critchley is under pressure having only won one of his first ten games in charge. QPRs home form has been poor this season so far having lost more games than they have won. New signing, veteran striker Chris Martin came off the bench and scored on his debut at the weekend. Free agent Martin was brought in to provide cover for injured striker Lyndon Dykes. Tony Mowbray: "I eulogise about Patrick Roberts. He scored two amazing goals against Reading down there in a 3-0 win. He's just said, he's happy playing against Reading because he always scores! It didn't really matter who scored today." "We're trying to get Joffey up to speed, he's got to learn how to play with this team and what types of balls we put in. But it'll do him good today to get 70 or 80 minutes in him. So let's just keep going, we found a way to win the football match. I said to them in there, it's important even if you don't play the best you find a way to win. We just keep the points total ticking along." "The attacking threat that we carry off the bench, all these young kids, the balance is do you start them and risk that they're not used to the intensity and they haven't been here long enough to know the way we play and their responsibilities out of possession? Then like today you have a game where you need to gamble, and we did that and it paid off. Great for those young lads who came onto the pitch and helped us get three points." "We're in tomorrow, we'll see how everybody is and we'll look at the bodies that are gonna be okay to keep going. Tomorrow they'll recover and rest and go in the pool and get a massage. And on Monday we'll train and we'll once again travel to London and prepare for Tuesday night." Neil Critchley: "The goals we conceded were really poor goals. We need to improve at both ends of the pitch. "I felt we were the better team in the first half and created some good opportunities, then from our throw-in around the halfway line we gave the ball away, we were too wide open and from their one moment in the first half they scored. "The second half was a bit more even. They had more free-kicks and corners and we defended them reasonably well but the one time we didn't, they scored. "We showed a great response, with a fantastic goal and then we pushed right to the end. The players gave it their all - there wasn't a lack of effort but things didn't go for us." Match Appointments: Referee: CHRIS KAVANAGH Assistant Referees: Dan Cook & Daniel Robathan Fourth Official: Will Finnie Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Alese, Batth, Ballard, Hume, ONien, Neil, Pritchard, Roberts, Amad, Gelhardt Subs: Bass, Michut, Ba, Bennette, Ekwah, Lihadji, Clarke Injured: Embleton, Stewart, Evans, Gooch. QPR (4-4-2) Dieng, Laird, Dickie, Dunne, Paal, Dozzell, Field, Chair, Martin, Armstrong, Lowe Subs: Kakay, Archer, Johansen, Gubbins, Adomah, Iroegbunam, Roberts Injured: Willock, Dykes, Richards Betting Odds: Sunderland 2/1 QPR 11/8 Draw 23/10 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: A slow and vey sloppy start to the game but we eventually increased the pace, created some clear scoring chances in the second half but left it late to claim the 3 points. The best thing is that this team just don't give up. QPR are struggling to find a win, in fact they have only won once in the last 15 games, hopefully that poor run continues. I’ll be going to this one and will try and see a few lads from here before the game. I’m going for a 2-0 away win. Live Stream: https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Agree with Onien coming in. I think he will freshen it up in midfield purely due to the schedule. I'd take a point and no injuries, rest and recover for Saturday. HTL. This is on Sky sports red button as well isn't it?
Cracking thread again. Looking forward to this one, as always. I think Tony might freshen things up a bit. Really hard to predict though. Pritchard in I think, and maybe ONien. No idea who misses out. I do trust Mowbray though.
I'd rest Amad and start Pritchard. I think this might help Gelhardt and Clarke get into the game more. Amad is amazing but if he's playing as the 10 he tends to drift out right more often than not and Clarke becomes isolated. It's no surprise Clarke's form has dropped since Cirkin and Pritchard have been in and out of the team. His understanding with those two seems to bring out his best. Also think Gelhardt would benefit with Pritchard as the 10 as he's more experienced in the position and more accustomed to looking for strikers more subtle movements. Anyway, I fancy us to win by a single goal 1 nil or 2-1
Yeah it's been tough on Clarke but he is pure class on his day. It's difficult to leave anyone out at the minute. Michut was fouled by Carroll just before he went off, it might be sensible to give him a bit of a rest for this one. We have lots of options apart from the obvious one. I'd like to see more of Ekwah - he is useful for freekicks too.
Off we go again, we’ve a decent return from our visits to Rangers and this might be a good opportunity to continue with that. Anybodys guess if TM will tinker with the team but our squad are really going to be tested this month. Great thread RTB, enjoy the match and safe travels to all those going.HTL.
Deffo harder game than next Saturdays imo. For that reason I will stick with a mere 0-5 to the cuddlies. Bath, Ballard, O9, Joffy n one of the new bloke's
Tuesday is a perfect opportunity to freshen things up. Pritchard, O'Nien and Bennette could come in for Neil, Amad and Clarke. We looked tired in the mind on Saturday and it's been a relentless schedule since Xmas
Another long London trip for the supporters so I'm not expecting a total sell out ... ... for those going, there'll be Sunderland here which is a 15 minute walk to the away end Sindercombe Social Greater, 2 Goldhawk Rd, London W12 8QD QPR are quite poor and under pressure from their home crowd so I'd expect us to take advantage and cause them more than a few moments of panic. I'm not sure who would take our penalty but I'm going for 1-0 with Pritchard from the spot. Ha’way the Lads!!!
Mowbray's already hinted that it might be a different looking team so it'll be interesting to see what he comes up with. RTB's team looks good, resting Clarke and Michut seems like a good idea. I wouldn't mind O'Nien starting in midfield. Bit of physicality, experience and he's not a bad footballer.
I expect some changes to protect from fatigue and niggling injuries. This, along with what version of QPR turn up with determine our points haul. They are in dreadful form but it's midweek and down south after our lads have put the miles in. Would love the big 3 but again, wouldn't be disappointed with 1 point and back on home soil Saturday.
Not an easy match this. Their poor form won't last forever and midweek matches in the Capital are always difficult. I'm expecting a couple of changes to include Pritchard,O9 and Lihadji or Bennette. Think the back 4 will stay the same and Joffy will start again.
RTB Generally our away form has been better than our home form. So 2 nil to us, Gelhardt and Amad to score. I think Michut may not start, 09 to be DM and Neil to be more attacking. Here's hoping!
I think we'll produce a solid performance and add Pritch and 0'9 to give that bit of experience. I like what I see of Mitchu but a rest could do him good. I'd also leave Amad on the bench. Another great thread RTB! 2-1 to the lads Hawaaaaaaaaay
Great thread again @RTB. Fancy us to be spurred on by them nicking a point in August. I’d agree with freshening things up a bit and could see starts for Pritchard, 09 and maybe Ekwah. Keep it tight early on and take the game away from them in the second half. 2-1 to the Lads.
