Sunderland travel to Leeds United in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland drew with Bristol City and Leeds lost at Coventry. The Black Cats maintained their position in 13th place with 52 points after a much improved performance. Mike Dodds made 3 changes as Rigg, Hjelde & Clarke came back into the starting XI. The Black Cats played well but could not find a way past the Robins goalkeeper Max O’Leary. Alese, Roberts and Clarke could all start. Evans, Embleton, Cirkin, Rusyn, Seelt and Huggins remain unavailable. Leeds lost in the league for the first time since 29 December despite dominating possession and creating a lot more opportunities. Ellis Simms netted his 18th goal of the season early on before Haji Wright doubled Coventry's lead four minutes into the second half. Substitute Joel Piroe scored his 12th goal of the season for Leeds to give the visitors hope, but the Sky Blues held on for a crucial win which ended Leeds' 15-game unbeaten league run. Mike Dodds: "We had 20 shots on goal. If their goalkeeper isn't man of the match I'll be amazed. "It was a much more positive reaction to the previous game which psychologically for the group is really important because that last game was completely unacceptable. "I'm disappointed because I think we deserved to win the game. "That should be three points and I think the goalkeeper has earned a point for Bristol there. "Daniel Farke: "We played a really good opponent, it's always difficult on the road. "We dominated in terms of possession which is good, we had more expected goals than them, more shots on target. "We lost the game, this is decisive. Today was one of those days." Form: Match Appointments: Referee: TIM ROBINSON Assistant Referees: Darren Cann & Neil Davies Fourth Official: Michael Salisbury Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Alese, Ballard, O’Nien, Hume, Neil, Ekwah, Clarke, Rigg, Ba, Jobe. Subs: Bishop, Pembele, Hjelde, Styles, Hemir, Aouchiche, Dack, Roberts, Watson. Injured: Huggins, Cirkin, Embleton, Seelt, Rusyn, Evans, Matete. Leeds United (4-2-3-1) Meslier, Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo, Gruev, Kamara, James, Rutter, Summerville, Bamford. Subs: Cresswell, Cooper, Piroe, Anthony, Byram, Darlow, Gnonto, Roberts, Joseph. Injured: Gyabi, Dallas, Struijk, Shackleton. Betting Odds: Sunderland 8/1 Leeds 1/3 Draw 17/4 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: A much better team performance against Bristol but again we were unable to put the ball in the back of the net despite creating numerous opportunities. Leeds are chasing an automatic promotion spot and will be looking to make up for the loss at Coventry, this. will be a tough test I’m going for a 2-2 draw. Live Stream: This game will be shown Live on Sky Sports Football Ha’way the Lads
Reckon we’ll get stuffed 3 or 4 nil. Back from Cyprus early hours Tuesday and going to the game. Not looking forward to it but it’s a catch up with mates.
Don't fancy us at all TBH. Leeds need a big performance at the weekend and we have nothing to play for. After going all out first half against Bristol, the second half was on the beach. Hopefully we get them on the counter but I think Leeds will simply overpower us.
Miss another game still away but on nights and being 5hrs behind I’m hoping to find some sort of establishment that can show it,I’ve been impressed with Leeds all season but I’ve gone for the draw and heart is hoping for a sneaky win. Thanks as always RTB great thread COME ON
Another top summary RTB , I hope your team gets a chance but fear Roberts and Burstow for some unfathomable reason will be preferred to Ba and Watson. Even so I hope we have it in us to spring a surprise. OaU
Leeds look to be feeling the pressure recently, losing at Coventry and struggling to beat Hull at home with a last minute penalty. By kick off Leicester might already be ahead which puts more pressure on them. Sunderland have nothing to lose and it'll obviously be a defend & breakaway game for us ... ... we'll get half a dozen opportunities imo, let's make a couple count.
Leeds’ list of strengths is daunting and it will be a huge test for the lads. There can’t be any passengers in the 11 and we need big games from a few players. If Ba has got the bit between his teeth after being left out, I’d like to see him on the right wing. We could do with fresh legs and minds in the side but I don’t think we have the quality to rotate that much. Let’s hope Leeds have some players who are not quite at it and make sure we take advantage of that. Thanks for the quality match day thread again, RTB.
I think we'll get battered. Leeds desperate to win while we are on the beach. Would start Ba for his defensive work and the fact he can actually do something with the ball. Patto Hume O'Nien Ballard Hjelde Alese Ba Neil Ekwah Clarke Jobe Similar set up to when we beat them at the SoL. Leeds 4-1, Clarke to score.
Poor bugger. That will have been booked when we were doing ok. It must be like getting tickets for your favourite band and then finding out they're only playing the new album.
This and West Brom are the reverse fixtures of the ones that we won under Dodds earlier in the season. So if he doesn't know how to set up against them, there's a problem. Leeds have a prize to play for, whereas we are only playing for pride. That pressure might tell, and for that reason, the first goal will be crucial. They score and the pressure is lifted, we score and the pressure ramps up. For that reason, it's a difficult one to predict, so I'll sit on the fence and say 1-1.
