Match Day Thread Hartlepool United v Sunderland AFC - Friendly - Tuesday 1st August 2023 - KO 19:30

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Tony Mowbray's side make the short journey to the Suit Direct Stadium to face Hartlepool United (KO 7.30pm).
Sunderland are gearing up for another Championship campaign after reaching the play-off semi-finals last term, and having recently bolstered their ranks by signing former Blackburn forward, Bradley Dack, and Eliezer Mayenda from Sochaux.
Hartlepool United suffered their first defeat in pre-season when they were sunk 2-1 by a late Harrogate Town winner.
Opposition
John Askey's side have two wins, a draw, and a loss so far in pre-season, and they'll want to finish strongly when the Black Cats come to town.
History
Pools and Sunderland have met 14 times in the past, including first-class matches, friendlies, and benefit games, Pools having won twice, lost nine times, and drawn three times. In last year's pre-season game, the sides played out a 1-1 draw. After Danny Batth turned the ball into his own net to give Pools the lead, Eliott Embleton scored a penalty for parity.
Team News
Sunderland are expected to rest the starting 11 from Saturday's friendly against RCD Mallorca which finished 1-1.
Pools Mani Dieseruwve and David Ferguson both sat out Friday evening's match with Harrogate, but both could be involved against Sunderland. Kieran Wallace has a broken toe and will miss out, but Alex Lacey made his return from injury against Harrogate and is again available for selection.
Expected Teams
Sunderland: Young, Huggins, Triantis, Batth, Gooch, Ba, Pritchard, Taylor, Bennette, Lihadji, Dack
Subs: Johnson, Crompton, Watson, Kelly, Gardiner, Spellman, Tuterov.

Hartlepool: Dixon, Dodds, Onariase, Pruti, Seaman, Crawford, Cooke (captain), Mancini, Paterson; Umerah, Grey.
Subs: Lacey, Burton, Cook, Dolan, Hastie, Wreh, Dieseruwve, Ferguson.

Tickets for tomorrow's game are sold out, but supporters can watch our final pre-season friendly on #SAFCLive. Passes are priced at £4.99 and can be purchased by clicking here!

 

Ha'way the Lads. 0-4

 

No injuries please, not bothered about the result, the real season creeps ever closer, thanks RTB.

 

Amen to that, no injuries, a good fitness work out and a chance for the young lads / ones left out Saturday to stake a place for Sunday

 

Yeah no injuries and a chance to see some of the younger fringe players impress.

If Prichard and Dack are getting minutes, if I was the DM for Hartlepool, I would be having a tight groin minutes before kick off

 

A hatful tonight, a good work out, and no injuries would make my day

 

Not sure of the expected team as listed above. Surely the lad Scott has now left so won't be on the bench.

 

glad Batth starts

 

Obviously not set in stone however I think this may indicate O’Nien is starting CB on sunday over Batth. Not sure how I feel about that

 

Possibly but not guaranteed - see how it pans out...

 

they forgot to put subs on first tweet

 

No lihadji at all, suprised at that as he needs games

 

Surely its either he has a knock n hes been rested or hes off - as you said he needs minutes

 

Link to that man United kid appeared the other day wonder if he could be earmarked as a replacement if lihadji was to go, his name escapes me though think he scored in pre season early on I want to say against leeds, in the time it’s took me to type this I could have probably just googled his name

 

Aye probably, think it was emeran (or something like that)

 

That’s him! Dunno how I feel about lihadji can’t say I’ll be too bothered either way

 

Love Onien, but Batth is an absolute beast in this league and if fit should start.