Sunderland welcome Bristol City to the Stadium of Light in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland lost to Blackburn and Bristol City beat Plymouth The Black Cats dropped to 13th place on 51 points after a shocking display and a 5-1 home defeat on Easter Monday. Mike Dodds made two changes bringing in Roberts and Mundle for Rigg and Ba, the Black Cats started well but faded in the first-half and Szmodics capitalised on sloppy defending helping himself to 2 quick goals. Things got much worse for the home side as Blackburn took a 4-0 lead before Mike Dodds changed his team. Chris Rigg came off the bench to snatch a consolation goal before Blackburn ran out 5-1 winners. Jack Clarke came off the bench and could start this one. Elliot Embleton, Dennis Cirkin and Naz Rusyn are out of contention whilst Jenson Seelt and Niall Huggins are both undergoing their rehabilitation programmes for their respective long-term injuries. Bristol City finished off the Easter weekend with two victories, having beaten Leicester on Friday they followed it up with a 1-0 win at Plymouth with veteran striker Nahki Wells heading in to score the winner. That win moved them above Sunderland into 12th place on 53 points. City will be in confident mood and looking for 3 wins on the bounce. Mike Dodds: "It's a bad result and probably an even worse performance. It's completely unacceptable, and I don't take it lightly when I say that - it's probably the best word I can find at the moment. "Someone asked me if it's a game to forget but it's not a game to forget, it's one we have to use to demonstrate to this young group that one week you think you've cracked it and then you get a complete humbling 48 hours later. "I'm really, really angry and trying to use my words correctly. "We can use the turnaround of games as an excuse, but there's no excuse for that. We felt sorry for ourselves, there was a huge amount in the game that I didn't like, in and out of possession, and Blackburn were deserved winners. "That's not acceptable for a club of this size and magnitude and as head coach I have to take responsibility for it." Liam Manning: "It was terrific to get another win and clean sheet. Huge credit to the squad, when you look at the demands of the game, it takes a lot out of you physically. "We knew Plymouth would get on the front foot and we did a really good job of weathering that first 20 minutes. They had some set-pieces but without troubling Max and after that it was a really good professional performance. "We changed it [defence] from a five to a four during the half, which I thought helped in terms of getting pressure higher up and wrestling back control of the game. "He's a top pro, Nahki - I can't speak highly enough of him. He'd probably want to play more than he has done but it was an excellent performance stepping on and delivering when required. He came on and had a real positive impact." Match Appointments: Referee: LEIGH DOUGHTY Assistant Referees: Nigel Lugg & Matthew Jones Fourth Official: Martin Coy Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Alese, Ballard, O’Nien, Hume, Neil, Rigg, Clarke, Aouchiche, Mundle, Jobe. Subs: Bishop, Pembele, Styles, Hemir, Ba, Dack, Ekwah, Roberts, Watson. Injured: Huggins, Cirkin, Embleton, Seelt, Rusyn. Bristol City (3-4-2-1) O’Leary, Pring, James (C), Twine, Mehmeti, Knight, Conway, Dickie, Tanner, Roberts, Vyner. Subs: Bajic, McCrorie, Knight-Lebel, Mebude, Williams, King, Wells, Cornick, Sykes. Injured: Gardiner-Hickman, Naismith, Bell, Atkinson, Benarous. Betting Odds: Sunderland 13/10 Bristol 11/5 Draw 11/5 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: A poor performance at home after a decent opening 20 minutes, but once Blackburn scored, we seemed to give up. It really was light and day from what we saw at Cardiff. There really needs to be a reaction after that display. Bristol City are starting to get it together now with 3 wins in their last 4 games. If you are reading this Mike Dodds – Bristol are most dangerous on the counter-attack with an emphasis on getting the ball quickly to the forwards. The wing-backs are also having a big influence on the play in advanced positions, especially down the left wing, Main threats are Twine, Mehmeti, & Conway. I’m going for a 2-1 home win. Live Stream: Available to Overseas fans https://safc.com/news/team-news/live-video If we lose 5-1 again, I’m blaming @Mikki Disco for missing this game Ha’way the Lads
I think there'll be a backlash to Monday's performance and we'll grab a 2-0 win. Hhhaaa'wwwwaaaaayyyyyy the lads
Take a dull as **** 0-0 after Monday, 3 points would be great given we then go to Leeds and West Brom
Just as likely to win out of nowhere as we are to get battered. We don't really do draws. Could be doing with a 'who knows' option.
Thanks for your efforts once again RTB this is another one I miss through been away with work might be for the best,but I’m hoping for a big reaction and a 3-1 win COME ON
Ignoring the current slump, especially the last game, the side you've posted should be capable of winning, at home, against another mid-table team. We were our own worst enemy against Blackburn and seemed overconfident after Cardiff ... ... our next manager may well be watching so everyone is playing for their future. It'll be tough but I'm going for a fighting 1-0 ... Ha'way the Lads!!!
If Clarke is back and can slot straight back in then we have a chance. The whole team owes us after Monday
Thanks for another brilliant match thread RTB. After Monday I thought you may not bother a little like the players. Haven't got a scooby what will happen Saturday I think a lot could depend on the 1st goal. I was due to miss this one to play in the opening 4 ball at the golf club but as the weather has put paid to that I'll be there. Come on lads let's have a performance from you. You owe everyone after Monday. Keep the faith lads and lasses.
Cheers RTB, bet these thread are a chore when we're in form like this! I'd go: Patto Pembele Ballard Hjelde Hume Onien Neil AA Rigg Clarke Jobe Just trying to look into the new season hence Pemebele, Hjelde, AA, Rigg get starts (Rigg deserves one anyways). Also tired of us getting cut through the middle so trying Onien in CDM for some solidity and to see if he can do a job at this level in midfield. Be surprised if we dont get a response. HTL
Thanks again RTB for your MDT. going for a win but a draw with an improved performance will suffice. Its strange that our next two games are away to Leeds and WBA, I cant help going back to those two games at home, a week when I thought Dodds had morphed into Mourinho.. Probably more like the Special One has turned into Morph since then. Here's hoping for another change in fortune as another meltdown at home would be so hard to bear..OaU
