Sunderland host Bristol City at the Stadium of Light in the Championship Last time out Sunderland beat QPR and Bristol City drew with Wigan The Black Cats made it 2 wins in a row with goals from Luke O’Nien scoring from close range and a brace from Jack Clarke to seal a 3-0 away win. Dan Neil and Eduard Michut could return to the team after being rested in mid-week. Tony Mowbray has confirmed that Lynden Gooch remains a fortnight or so away from a return to action, with the American aiming for an early March comeback. Niall Huggins is back on the grass at the Academy of Light but is not yet match-fit, whilst long-termers Corry Evans, Ross Stewart and Elliot Embleton remain out. Bristol City have now gone 10 games without a defeat in all competitions although they drop to 16th in the Championship on 40 points. The Robins drew 1-1 at home to Wigan on Wednesday. Tony Mowbray: “It shouldn't surprise anyone, he has been amazing all season. I genuinely think now when they (the opposition) get a penalty, that he is probably going to save it. “I'm not stood there thinking, 'Oh god, it's 1-1'. That was an amazing save - he filled the goal with his body and kicked it away. “It's not just that, look at how well he deals with those long, high balls into the box. He's doing fantastically well and he deserves huge credit for helping the team get the result tonight.” “You can see how small we are in numbers, we have lost some key players who are really big for our football team, so these young lads that we have signed, 18 or 19, they have to step forward. “Yet of course when Amad goes on the pitch, you can feel the extra threat. The substitutes who came on made a big difference - we got the job done.” Nigel Pearson: "A bit disappointed that we didn't win the game. We had a couple of moments where we switched off and the goal was a poor one for us to concede; no pressure on the ball, scruffy cross coming in, players missing it, and it falls for them. "We conceded too many set plays against them and that was going to be their way back in, I felt, because they never really opened us up at all. "After recent performances where we've performed at a very high level, with changes as well, we didn't always get our rhythm for long periods, but I thought we actually grew into the game very well and when we took the lead I thought it was very well deserved. "We finished the game strongly too, so there's lots to be positive about but we're frustrated that we've dropped two points tonight. "Even me saying something like that is an indication of where we've got to now from where we were, that we are 10 games unbeaten now, which in itself is a good thing but we're very disappointed that we didn't win tonight." Match Appointments: Referee: GAVIN WARD Assistant Referees: Robert Hyde and James Wilson Fourth Official: Thomas Kirk Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Alese, Batth, Ballard, Hume, Neil, Michut, Roberts, Pritchard, Clarke, Gelhardt Subs: Bass, Cirkin, Amad, Bennette, Ekwah, Lihadji, O'Nien Injured: Embleton, Stewart, Evans, Gooch, Huggins. Bristol City (4-3-2-1) O'Leary, Tanner, Vyner, Atkinson, Pring, James, Williams, Weimann, Scott, Mehmeti, Cornick. Subs: Dasilva, King, Sykes, Bell, Wells, Kalas, Haikin Injured: tbc Betting Odds: Sunderland 1/1 Bristol City 11/4 Draw 12/5 Prutton Predicts: 2-1 My two pence: Another slow start at QPR but we eventually got into the game and had a few opportunities before we scored from the corner. We looked pretty comfortable for most of the game. The penalty save was a crucial turning point and the two goals from Clarke were the least we deserved, it really could and maybe should have been a lot more. Bristol City gave us a good game at the start of the season and are in decent form having beaten Luton, Preston and West Brom recently. This will be a tough test for us, but I think we will have enough to beat them. They are also in that magical 16th place... I’m going for a 2-0 home win. Live Stream: https://safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Due to EFL broadcast restrictions, SAFC Live streaming is only available to overseas-based supporters. Ha’way the Lads
I'd go along with that team, or maybe Cirkin will get an hour and Alese gets a breather. Looking forward to this one, they are in decent form so hopefully they have a go at us unlike Reading which should suit us. 3-1, Gelhardt, Neil and Pritchard
Tony's Presser: Injury Update: “We’re trying to manage the players’ workload at the minute and assessing a few – it’s about getting the balance right,” Mowbray said. “Niall Huggins was back on the grass, but we’ll be easing him back in with a week’s training. “Lynden Gooch will hopefully be ready in another couple of weeks – he’s still in the treatment room, but fingers crossed it won’t be too long before he’s back involved. “We have the longer-term absentees in Corry Evans, Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart, but apart from that everyone seems okay.”
Cheers mate, these threads are a highlight when they land. Your team will do for me. I could equally see ONien instead of Michut for this one, with Michut on the bench. Case for Cirkin is always strong in my opinion. As good as Alese is playing I think Cirkin is just a premier league level player and makes us so balanced. I try not to dislike coaches, but Pearson is really easy to dislike. I would hate him at our place so I hope he is moaning like mad about getting nowt at big clubs after this.
No more injuries according Tony. I'm surprised after the way QPR played, Ballard got caught late again with a strong challenge and was feeling his ankle for a few minutes afterwards. Cirkin was lucky not to be seriously injured after THAT tackle. Jack Clarke and Roberts both got hacked down too. Anyway there will be a few options to rest a few other players.
Yeah. He had hinted at needing Jewi to play but I can't see him resting Clarke after scoring 2 goals. He loves Pat and Amad playing together so maybe Amad come back for Pritch after being injured just to be safe with Pritch. A midfield of Ekwah and Onien wouldn't worry me either tbh.
I'd love to see Ekwah get a start, and Bennette or Lihadji to torment their tired defenders. I'm sure Tony will make the right choice.
There's usually goals in this fixture and it's TMs job to make sure we get more than them, it's a simple game is football really. If they come and want to play open football then bring it on. Great thread again RTB, bet you enjoyed your night out in Tuesday.
I think itll be the same team as last Saturday, probably harsh on onien but i think michut n neil will start. Amad has to come back in after having a wee break on Tuesday, i like pritchard coming off the bench for the last 25 mins as the game opens up and he can control the game
I certainly did, but I went straight after work and drove to the nearest train station but I had a bit of a faff on paying for the station car park, so I managed to miss the train and ended up going straight to the ground Apart from that it was a wonderful night watching the wizards. Excellent support as usual - and thanks to the Sunderland lad who pointed me in the right direction for Shepherd Bush station on the way back
Great thread again RTB...we are privileged. Im nervous on this one. I think we'll nick the win but won't be easy Ill go 2-0 to the lads but both goals will be late on, and we will have to survive some scares Hawaaaaaay
I'd like to say Sunderland win, but the last time I said that we got beat off Bolton 6-0, so I'll stick with my pessimistic view and say 1-1
I agree but wouldn't be surprised to see Alese given a breather and Cirkin come in. With Mitchut coming back who out of the 18 from Tuesday will drop out?
Interesting one this. We are on form, but so are they. League positions would suggest that this is a regulation home win, but I don't think it'll be that straight forward. They score plenty, but they concede plenty too Get an early goal and we'll be ok. Probably need 2 or 3 to win it
They're a good team and we've been starting sluggishly for a little while now. We're also not good enough at home. 2-2 after coming back from 0-2 down.
Hope to win, but right now I'd brush off a defeat. Just loving the season so far, set backs don't even bother me nowadays.
7-2. Geldhart x 5, Bath n Ballard. I think Bristol will come to win and not be cloggers. That will be their downfall. The mighty SAFC cuddlies will rip them apart.....I hope . The usual cheers RTB for the now expected superb write up.
I'd keep o9 in. Never known a player whose effectiveness & effect on the rest of the team is so consistently under rated..
