Sunderland travel to the Coventry Building Society Arena to face Coventry City in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland beat Rotherham and Coventry drew with Swansea. Sunderland have won one of their opening games and are 15th in the Championship. Sunderland's Patrick Roberts suffered a minor hamstring strain and he will not be available for this game. Chris Rigg may not be risked either. Embleton and Seelt both returned to training this week and could be on the subs bench. Jewison Bennette is also unavailable after picking up an injury. Corry Evans, Ross Stewart, Jay Matete, Aji Elise and Eliezer Mayenda continue to recover from long-term injuries. After defeat in the 2022-23 Championship Play-Off Final, Coventry City have started the new season with a mixed set of results. An opening day defeat to Leicester City was quickly forgotten, as they secured an impressive 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside. Godden netted against Boro and he was on the scoresheet again on matchday three, netting in a 1-1 draw against Swansea City. 2022-23 player of the season Viktor Gyökeres recently departed for Sporting Lisbon and influential midfielder, Gustavo Hamer, has moved to Sheffield United. 12 new signings have joined Coventry City over the summer, including former Sunderland man Ellis Simms. Tony Mowbray: Embleton and Seelt: "If you see them on the bench, it doesn't mean they are going to play. It means we are integrating them back into the squad, travelling with the team, eating with the team, listening to the team meetings, getting back into the environment. Embo has been out for eight months, and he has been training for less than a week - three or four days - but I might still stick him on the bench.” "Jenson could probably do that as well, but don't expect them to come onto the pitch." "We're all working hard behind the scenes. We're all frustrated. "Everybody is working really hard to try and get deals and lots of deals feel like they're on the cusp. I feel like I've sat here for the last three or four press conferences and said tomorrow someone will be in and they haven't. I don't tell lies. Mark Robins: "We should have won but you can only win games if you defend properly. We didn't readjust quickly enough after we scored - the fact we conceded more or less straight away is really disappointing. "I think we're going to be good but at the moment we're just working our way through. "Everybody needs to be patient. We've got brilliant supporters and they understand. "But we've got to pick up points while we're going, that's the key. "When we've worked together a little bit longer I think you'll see a different side with more confidence, more fluidity and hopefully more goals and more chances." Match Appointments: Referee: Keith Stroud Assistant Referees: Matthew Smith & Graham Kane Fourth Official: Scott Simpson Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Cirkin, Ballard, O’Nien, Hume, Neil, Ekwah, Clarke, Dack, Gooch, Jobe Subs: Bishop, Triantis, Batth, Hemir Huggins, Ba, Embleton, Pritchard, Taylor. Injured: Stewart, Evans, Alese, Matete, Mayenda. Coventry City (3-4-1-2) Wilson, Thomas, McFadzean, Latibeaudiere, Kelly, Eccles, Sheaf, Dasilva, Sakamoto, Simms, Godden Subs: Binks, Bidwell, Howley, Collins, Stretton, Obikwu, Andrews, Ayari. Injured: Palmer, van Ewijk Betting Odds: Sunderland 5/2 Coventry 21/22 Draw 5/2 Prutton Predicts: 2-0 My two pence: We don’t usually do very well at Coventry for some reason, but I have a feeling that we will get something from this game. I’m going for a 2-2 draw Ah **** I forgot, Keith Stroud is the ref – 3-2 Coventry then. Live Stream: The fixture has been selected for international broadcast, meaning the game will only be available to a selection of overseas viewers on SAFC Live. Ha’way the Lads
Great post again RTB, think it's gonna be a hard game and hopefully we can come out on top but we'll have to do it without Bennette as well as Roberts https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spo...xEpKz_WMJEsF87kerooow7jsjuJIp0CMy9TaChQG0t28Q
What is the point of having players on the bench if Mowbray has already stated they will not get on the pitch???????????????????????????????? Add to them Batth, who it is rumoured will be transferred but we wont play him as he is on 49 league games and 50 triggers another payment to Stoke, so that would be 3 players on the bench who we dont want to play. Utterly stupid
Great match thread as always @RTB If jewi is injured then a choice between Ba and Gooch for the right midfield role you would guess. Going to be another tough game and a draw wouldn't be the worst result
We don't seem to tick against Coventry, awful team and fans. A 2-1 loss with probably a red, cannot get excited yet...
Though game thisnone, I'd be delighted with a point. Throw Stround into the mix and **** knows what will happen. HTL.
Tough game as it always seems to be against Coventry but I think we have a way of adapting to adversity now so with my positive SAFC heart I am going for 1-3 as I think last weeks result has lifted everyone and put belief back in the camp
I'll be Mid-Atlantic so probably won't find out the result til Sunday. No reason we can't go there and get at least a point.
Hopeful of a point, but we never do well at Coventry. Last league game we won there was 1985 Gooch in for Roberts, play a back 3 and smother them in midfield.
Thanks again rtb for another great thread. As has already been said we don't seem to play well against this lot. A few injuries and things still not firing on all cylinders so I'd be happy with a point at this stage but don't be surprised if we spring a shock. The bad run against these has to end sometime. Keep the faith lads and lasses.
We don't seem to enjoy playing this lot so time that changed, keep 11 on the pitch, please Mr Stroud...and it's time for 3 points against these. HTL.
Great thread as always and many thanks heading down for this one so hopefully see a decent performance and a goal or 2 in there net.Stroud Mmm not keen on him but we due a change of luck COME ON
Great thread as always @RTB. Thanks for taking the time. Much appreciated. Very tough game this. Hoping for a point. Not promising though given injuries and lack of movement in the market and our woeful record down there. Safe travels to all going as it’s not a welcoming environment.
Tough one to call, but I would never back the lads to lose a game, so I'm hoping for a score draw and if lady luck is with us an away win.
To be fair he does explain why and it doesn't sound too stupid to me tbh. They'll be carrying on from the training by listening to both team talks and the discussions after the game. Tactics keep evolving and in Emberton's case he'll need to bond with the new players in his position. Jobe played two positions, against Rotherham, for example. In my opinion this is better than just dropping someone straight back into unfamiliar tactics and new players ... ... it doesn't take long to concede and you wouldn't want a sub having to work out what's going on for ten minutes after he's come on.