Sunderland visit Cardiff City in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland drew with Hull and Cardiff beat Blackpool. The Black Cats conceded an injury time penalty to draw 4-4 with Hull in a highly entertaining game on Good Friday. Jack Clarke was outstanding and was heavily involved in all four goals. Tony Mowbray hinted that he could make a few changes to the starting line up with the quick turnaround between Easter games, the players will be assessed today (Saturday) and unused subs Cirkin, Ba & Lihadji could feature against Cardiff. Mowbray also confirmed that Dan Ballard has aggravated his hamstring injury and is unlikely to play in the next 3 weeks. Cardiff City are in 19th place with 42 points. Cardiff won 3-1 on Good Friday with former Black Cat, Connor Wickham opened the scoring with his first goal for the club and provided an assist as the Bluebirds stormed to a 3-0 lead in the first half. Cardiff City’s top scorer Callum Robinson could be ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring problem. Tony Mowbray: “It took us 20 minutes to get started, then a frenetic spell and we ended up at 2-2 within a 10 to15 minute spell. They are a good team, we said that, we have been watching them, they play through you, they caused us problems, we didn’t quite get the press right.” “We lost it at the last minute, I’ve said to them there, it’s almost like we are learning at the coalface, we have to learn our jobs, experience tells you when to tackle and when not to stick your leg out and force the referee to make a decision.” “We are frustrated and disappointed, but we have been involved in an amazing football match and I hope the fans can see a team that was right there fighting against a pretty good footballing team.” “It’s a learning process, that’s what we can take from today.” Sabri Lamouchi: "It's a massive result to come here in our situation and win against a team behind us, it was a really important game for them too. "We didn't start so well, and it was very strange. We scored three goals in the first half. We were clinical. We didn't control the game. To be honest, I'm happy with the massive result. But less happy with the performance. In our situation though, as I said to the players, it is three big points. “We need to have some rest and then we'll think about Sunderland. It will be a tough month. We have a lot of games to play. We are not safe. We know that.” "To be safe, we need a lot of ingredients. We need mentality, a determination, a desire to play and fight together and that's exactly what we saw today." Match Appointments: Referee: THOMAS BRAMALL Assistant Referees: Derek Eaton and Steven Meredith Fourth Official: Lee Swabey Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Hume, Batth, O’Nien, Cirkin, Neil, Ekwah, Clarke, Pritchard, Roberts, Amad Subs: Bass, Gooch, Ba, Gelhardt, Michut, Lihadji, Anderson Injured: Embleton, Stewart, Evans, Ballard, Alese, Bennette, Huggins, Rigg Cardiff City (3-4-1-2) Allsop, Ng, Kipré, McGuinness, Romeo, Sawyers, Wintle, Ralls, Philogene, Wickham, Kaba Subs: Alnwick, Ojo, Simpson, Colwill, M Harris, Rinomhota, Davies Injured: Robinson, Etete, Adams, Collins Betting Odds: Sunderland 15/8 Cardiff 29/20 Draw 23/10 Prutton Predicts: 1-1 My two pence: An entertaining game on Friday but we couldn’t hang onto the 3 points. After a brilliant defensive performance against Burnley if was a shame that we just didn’t match those levels of concentration against Hull. I think Tony might give Michut and Gelhardt a rest but we shall see. If Cirkin starts then Gooch drops to the bench. We did create a lot more going forward and we play better away, so I think we can do what Cardiff did to us earlier in the season and nick all 3 points. I’m going for a 2-1 away win. (Connor Wickham is bound to get their consolation goal) Live Stream: https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Also on the Sky red button Ha’way the Lads
I'll go for a 1-2 win for this one, I agree we will see some fresh faces, I'd be amazed if Pritch doesn't come in and Goochy had a tough afternoon yesterday so maybe Cirkin for an hour.
Our record against these isn't good, but having won at our place could mean they're due a home defeat which I fully expect to happen, depends on how we rest up, doesn't help its a fair trek down to Cardiff. HTL.
Great thread as usual RTB. I think we can pull a rabbit out of the hat for this one. I think he will stick with Joffy, but will give Cirkin a start. Im going for a 2-1 to the lads Hawaaaaaaaaaay
I’ve seen some on twitter complaining about our lack of a striker from the game yesterday. We scored 4 goals! Not Having a striker had zero impact on the outcome of that game. You try to explain that and get abuse! So I’ve given up
I think we will win this one but I also think it has been a long hard season for a lot of the team especially the younger lads who have had little yo no experience of first team football. That said we play with a swagger and a confidence that some fans seem to ignore. I think we are well placed for a push up the league next year as long as our young stars stay and we add possible 2 or 3 more to what is building in to a very good squad. So for this one I will go for a 0-2
Whatever happens I'm sure we'll see some more great football. A Liverpool mate messaged yesterday and said he prefers watching us on TV than them, loved it yesterday.
1-2 to us. Tony says he might sell one or two of our top players ! well i would swap Patterson for Simms for starters, if Everton sell Pickford i would not swap Clarke for even Rice he is going to do a Henderson i hope with us though.
Great thread again. I would keep Gelhardt in. Thought he was imstrumental in our goal threat against Hull. Gooch maybe loses out to Cirkin if he is ready. Love Gooch but he looked lost against Hull and in particular the ball in behind. Pritchard looks a bit beyond it now to me. He has been great for us, but with 7 games left and him certain to move on I wouldnt be putting him in ahead of any young lads now. Injuries have slowed him down a bit this year but he has another move left in him, so he goes with my thanks.
I'd definitely be bringing Cirkin back in, surprised Mowbray didn't do it v Hull If it means Gooch drops out then so be it - he's not a left back I'd go: Patterson Hume Batth O'Nien Cirkin Neil Michut Roberts Amad Clarke Gelhardt Subs: Bass, Anderson, Ba, Ekwah, Pritchard, Lihadji, Gooch
I’m replying in a pointless way, but you eprealise that Tony does not have a say in who we keep or sell. So he won’t be selling anyone
Good set up that to get us in the game. Would like to see Lihadji maybe come on at half time and give the lad a decent run out. I think this lad in time has something special in his locker. 3 - 1 to the lads!
Don't want to see Neil or Michut in the middle together. Need more steel. One needs to be benched. Cirken needs to be back in if ready.
Depends on whose fit really, and the numbers aren't great. Certainly we looked vulnerable through the middle against Hull in the first half, but that I think was also to do with us not squeezing them properly. They got through the first line and outnumbered us a few times, though we sorted that in the second half. Sure we'll see changes, though it might not strengthen us. We'll see, but we are playing well a lot of the time and when we get it right we look too much for most in this division. But as TM says, the team is clearly learning as they play.
I nearly replied to one of his posts yesterday but managed to stop myself. I'm like an addict most days the pull is too strong and reply to his nonsense! He will be saying we need to get AN back soon. Which I have noticed even if we ignore how he left here etc... Monty always has this idea that we can get anyone we want player or manager and wif we aren't signing them it's because the club are failing!
A mere 0-4 to the cuddlies. I expect a few changes inc Cirkin, Pritch and Ba to start. Methinks its time to start experimenting with the lads who will be here next season and give them game time. Hopefully we stumble on a winning formula with the lads we have who are still fit.
RTB Although Tony Moany has said there may be a few changes, imho the bench is a little thin. Does Cirkin get a start? Drop Gooch? Clarke was MoM for me against Hull, but Neil was a good second, becoming a very able footballer the lad. Saturday was for the defence a one off. 0-2, Clarke Amad
