Sunderland visit Fratton Park to face Portsmouth in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland beat Burnley and Portsmouth drew with Boro. Sunderland made one change to the expected starting 11 with Romaine Mundle replacing the departing Jack Clarke. The Black Cats won their third league game in a row and are yet to concede a goal. Alan Browne is expected to return to the side while Dan Neil serves a one match ban for his dismissal against Burnley. Wilson Isidor and Ian Poveda could be on the bench. Dan Ballard will replace the injured Aji Alese. Portsmouth had to settle for a point after taking an early lead against Middlesbrough and were leading 2-1 for most of the match but Boro fought back with a last minute penalty. Pompey have 3 points and remain unbeaten on their return to the Championship. Portsmouth have been busy over the summer with a lot of new signings and seem to be following the KLD model of buying young players with potential. They have a few injury concerns in defence with both centre backs unavailable. Regis le Bris: "Our first 25, 30 minutes were very good. We played the game we wanted to play - we only scored one goal and that is my only regret. "We pressed high, we recovered the ball high, we created many chances and a lot of danger in the opponent's box. "The game was different second half. But I liked the way we defended at the end because the team spirit was good and we felt that we wanted to protect our goal and keep that clean sheet." Presser at 1pm Thursday : John Mousinho: “We're obviously going to be disappointed - a bit like Elland Road where we came away from the game going into injury time with the lead and it transpires that we end up drawing the game. “There’s a lot of disappointment from that point of view, but from the balance of the game Middlesbrough deserved to win it and we didn’t quite do enough in the second half to hold on to our lead. “We played really well in the first half for large spells, I thought thoroughly deserved the lead going into half-time “I think naturally when you come away to places like this you do sit deep and probably there’s a bit too much panic on the ball, we didn’t really quite settle down enough. “It’s really good lesson as we go up through the levels and play against sides likes this that when we’re on it we can compete, but as soon as we drop even five per cent then sides like this do punish you.” Match Appointments Referee: SAM ALLISON Assistant Referees: Andrew Fox & Robert Hyde Fourth Official: Ruebyn Ricardo Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-3-3) Patterson, Cirkin, Ballard, O’Nien, Hume, Browne, Rigg, Jobe, Mundle, Mayenda, Roberts Subs: Moore, Triantis, Hjelde, Aouchiche, Poveda, Ba, Ekwah, Rusyn, Isidor. Injured: Huggins, Seelt, Alese. Suspended: Neil Portsmouth: (4-2-3-1) Norris, Swanson, Williams, Towler, Ogilvie, Pack, Dozzell, Lang, Saydee, Lane, Sorensen. Subs: Archer, Stevenson, Moxon, Devlin, Kamara, Ritchie, Clout, Blair, Yengi Injured: Poole, Murphy, Farrell, McIntyre, Bishop Betting Odds: Sunderland 19/20 Portsmouth 11/4 Draw 12/5 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: Another fantastic display against Burnley, another win and another clean sheet. I know it’s early doors, but we just look so much more confident than last season Pompey have a had a tough start with some difficult opening games but remain unbeaten. I’ll probably regret not going to this one but I really hate going to Fratton Park. I’m going for a 2-0 away win. Live Stream: https://www.safc.com/live for overseas fans Ha’way the Lads
Class as always @RTB Really looking forward to this one. Early train from Durham with a few of the lads Portsmouth have drawn all 3 games so far in the league and I’d be content if they drew another. It’s definitely one we can win though! Ha’way the lads
Can’t see past another win for the lads. I’m going 2-0 as well, with another clean sheet to add to the collection. I also fancy Wilson to get a goal to start off in style.
Think this one is a difficult one to call. Pompey have proven to be stubborn opponents in all 3 of their games so we will have to be up for this one, and it's at Fratton Park where they do tend to do well. That all said we seem to be confident in possession and organised out of possession so I think we may just scrape this one. I am going for 0-2 and hopefully another clean sheet.
Another excellent match day thread, after 3 draw predictions with the lads winning all 3, I'm sticking with the same and hoping for the same result
Thank you as always @RTB for a cracking match thread. Need to get after them from the first minute and not let them settle, hopefully an early goal or 2 and keep them pinned back. 0-2 Roberts and Rigg
if any of you are coming down to the south coast, the Park and Ride just off the M27 may give a different option to park, Park and Ride Portsmouth ~ the easy way into Portsmouth by car
I'm sure RLB will not allow our players to underestimate Pompey, they're record at home against us is pretty decent so we'll have to be up for this. Our style could smother them and shut they're crowd up, if so another 3 points is within our grasp. Great thread again RTB. HTL.
HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM Going for a 1 - 2 away win for the lads. My only day off between 6 x 12hr nights FFS so hopefully I'm not to cream crackered and hopefully another win keep the momentum going. . Cooooomon.
Weirdly, our toughest test to date I reckon. Newly promoted side, only their second home game so still riding the crest of a wave to an extent and they’re undefeated against three of the favourites for promotion (only denied two victories by stoppage time equalisers). I think a lot of our fans are underestimating the test. Having said that, as RTB says they are struggling with injuries, particularly in defence so I don’t know how the team they field will compare to that they played agains Leeds, Luton and Boro. Rumours that they may have Paul Dummett in by Saturday, or George Edmondson.
Sets the scene brilliantly as always. Will follow this on Saturday as I appears I can't buy the stream over here for some reason. I reckon we will beat them. All the old 'rivalry' bollix they whipped up L1 is a distant memory. RLB babes will produce a comfortable victory imo. I reckon we will get Simic, Mendy and the 2 midfielders done as well
Cheers RTB. Like you, I thought of going down for this one but hate the place. Will stick the wireless on instead and enjoy my morning round of golf big vague these injury mentions, for us and them, but hopefully we can stick to our style and get another win. 2:1 to us
This will be a tough game, they've been a sticky team so far getting 3 draws against good sides If we are on it we win, player for player we are better than them. Its weird to say as Ballard woukd be coming back in but Alese would be a huge miss, him n o9 have played really well as a 2 and seem to perfectly fit RLBs system. Be unbelievable to get 4 wins from 4 going into the international break
I think we will land 4 of our targets, so competition for places will be red hot and the lads who are playing will all want to be holding on to their shirts, so I expect us to be up and at them. These are not to be underestimated - draws against Luton, Boro and Leeds are testament to that. However, the latter two have been very patchy, to say the least, so far this season, so maybe Pompey played them at the right time. If we play like we have been this season, we will win comfortably. Like others, I've predicted a draw, as that has served me well so far this season, but I do think we'll win 3-1.
