Sunderland travel to Home Park stadium to face Plymouth Argyle in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland beat Birmingham and Plymouth lost to Leeds. Sunderland went into the international break after an encouraging 3-1 home win against Birmingham with goals from Jobe, Sanderson (OG) and Aouchiche. Parick Roberts signed a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2026. Tony Mowbray should have Luke O’Nien available for this game after his one match suspension, but Dan Ballard is doubtful after picking up an injury. Dennis Cirkin will not travel, Chris Rigg and Jewison Bennette have returned from international duty but will not feature. Plymouth got off to a great start in the Championship but are now struggling to maintain that early season form and currently sit in 19th position after 1 win in their last 5 games. Ex Black Cat, Bali Mumba is expected to start for Plymouth. Tony Mowbray: "We were so dominant for 30 minutes but, from being totally on top, when we could have been three or four up, we got a bit easy-osy and let them break on us. We need to learn from that. "We try to do a lot of work on people arriving in the box - and hopefully we can get better at it and carry on scoring goals like that. We should be timing our runs better. "I was very pleased with Nectarios Triantis. He was only thrown in two minutes before kick-off when Dennis Cirkin was injured in the warm-up. "Ultimately it's Dennis' hamstring. He woke up this morning and said it felt fine but then he felt it in the warm-up. He will go for a scan on Sunday.” Steven Schumaker: "The only disappointing thing in the first half was the two errors we made right in front of our own box. "We've paid the ultimate price for that, giving the ball away twice in two poor areas against a top team with quality players. That was the only thing I was disappointed about in the first half. "We've come here and competed and that's what we want to do, but unfortunately it's gone against us again. "When Ben Waine came on I thought he did well. He gave us that focal point at the top end, and we scored a great goal." Match Appointments: Referee: JAMES BELL Assistant Referees: Akil Howson and Sian Massey-Ellis Fourth Official: Charles Breakspear Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Hume, Seelt, O’Nien, Huggins, Ekwah, Neil, Clarke, Jobe, Roberts, Rusyn. Subs: Bishop, Triantis, Dack, Ba, Pritchard, Hemir, Aouchiche, Mayenda, Burstow Injured: Evans, Alese, Matete, Pembele, Embleton, Cirkin. Plymouth (3-4-3) Cooper, Pleguezuelo, Scarr, Gibson, Mumba, Randell, Houghton, Kesler-Hayden, Whittaker, Cundle, Azaz Subs: Gillesphey, Butcher, Edwards, Wright, Warrington, Wright, Hazard, Waine, Issaka Injured: Earley, Hardie Betting Odds: Sunderland 21/20 Plymouth 11/5 Draw 29/10 Prutton Predicts: 2-2 My two pence: Hopefully Dan Ballard is OK after he trained on Thursday but we do have suitable replacements to step up if he is not ready. I’m going for a 3-1 away win. Live Stream: This game is available on SAFC LIVE for overseas fans https://safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Argyle are not a dirty side and as far as I remember nor are Sunderland. I have read that Saturday's Ref has issued 47 yellows and 2 reds in 10 games so far this season. I hope he isn't one of those who thinks the game is more about him than the football potentially on show. I see you have sold your allocation which isn't a surprise is it so safe travel for all of you and I hope the game is worth the trip if not the score line.
If Ballard is fit I'd play him. I think I'd shoehorn Aouchiche in there too - maybe for Ewkah Patterson Hume Ballard O'Nien Huggins Jobe Neil Roberts Aouchiche Clarke Rusyn
Should be a straight forward win for us. 1-3 to the lads. Don’t envy the lads travelling down there, down a 26 hour round trip on the daft bus a few years ago. Absolutely mangled I was.
Head to head we're usually good against these so hope that continues on Saturday. You've not mentioned Hardie, up front for them RTB. They reckon he could return after a hamstring injury, he's tall and mobile and could cause us problems if he plays. Been a long two weeks and hope Tony has the lads raring to go, safe journey to those going and thanks RTB once again. Can't wait HTL.
Ryan Hardie and Mustapha Bundu could both be involved after hamstring injuries - but equally they could be given more time to recover.
Different ref named on twitter . Either way I hop we smoke them. I'll go 1-3 Ruysn, Neil and Roberts.
Keith Stroud will sort this **** out. Hopefully it's him. By saying "Hopefully " I really mean I hope he's nowhere near our game.
If RTB's right that bench will have more threat than a Friday night taxi queue in a downpour* ... ... the starting eleven already has goals in it so I'll be amazed if we don't score, surprised if we don't win. No disrespect to Plymouth but it's always a decent atmosphere and the fans will want them to attack. That's the perfect scenario for Sunserland and should make for a good game we should win. It's ridiculous how confident I feel, before every game, but if we really click we could do 'a Southampton' and win by four or five goals. I like Plymouth but I hope that long dark journey back is a happy one for another sell out away end. Ha'way the Lads!!! *I don't go into town drinking these days so perhaps everyone is terribly civilised.
Get in the lads are back, I really hate international breaks. We should be able to field a strong 11 with plenty of options from the bench, Adil, Rusyn and Hemir to score in a comfortable 0-3 win for the lads
Great thread again @RTB. Im going for a handsome win. Its time Rusyn bagged a brace and also Roberts to contribute to the end product Hope its a good game of football
See this as a 1-3 win with Rusyn getting his first. As stated earlier Plymouth started well but have struggled recently, from what I have seen of them they look like an attack minded team so do not think they will sit deep so I expect our high press to be crucial as if we win possession high up the pitch it could be their undoing. On the flip side they do look fairly good on the counter so I think they may sneak a goal.
Not a bad side these and solid at home, think it will be close but if we play anywhere near our best we should win it
Many thanks for your efforts RTB Great thread hopefully we manage a comfortable win well done all those travelling long bloody day but I’m sure it’ll be fruitful 1-4 to the lads be safe and enjoy COME ON
RTB's Match Day Thread returns and its great to get meaningful games back on track, after another bleak two weeks footy wise. 3 points is the aim, but wont be easy against a team I'd otherwise like to see do well, its my guess is our subs will swing the game after 60 mins. OaU.
Seems ages until the next Saturday home game. By the time we play WBA it will have been about a month since the Birmingham game - I know we play Huddersfield midweek, but those games always feel like a **** on to get to
One of the lads I travel with organises the trains, accommodation, etc and gets some cracking deals. He's just had a row with the train company after the Stoke match and wouldn't let it lie. He's agreed to let the matter drop in exchange for travel to Plymouth. Hes just sent me this message ... .... This train guy is mental…. He’s done me 5 x 1st class return to Plymouth. Total cost would have been £3,426.70
