Sunderland welcome West Brom to the Stadium of Light in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland drew with Millwall and West Brom drew with Norwich. Sunderland welcomed back Ballard, Alese and Mayenda with Tommy Watson starting on the left. The Black Cats dominated the first half with Aaron Connolly scoring his first goal for the club. Milan Aleksic made his long-awaited debut after coming off the bench in the second half and had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 but Millwall broke on the counter to level it in the last minute. Roberts, Hume and Jobe are all available after suspension. Dennis Cirkin had surgery during the international break after breaking his wrist against QPR and is unlikely to feature. Hjelde was not on the bench and may not be available. Huggins, Seelt, Samed, Poveda, Mundle, Browne & Abdullahi remain injured. West Brom drew 2-2 at home to Norwich with all 4 goals in the first half, Josh Maja scoring his 10th goal of the season, Albion had the better of the chances after the break as a seventh draw in eight games sees them drop to sixth place in the Championship. Darnell Furlong picked up a 5th yellow card and will miss this game. Defender Kyle Bartley is back in training with West Bromwich Albion having missed Albion's past five games due to a knee injury but is in line to make his comeback at Sunderland. Regis le Bris: "I liked the first half with such a young team in such a tough place to play. We did well and we could have scored more because we had many situations to exploit. "During the second half, [it] was more difficult because they used their direct play. We struggled with the second ball to escape the pressure. "The scenario is difficult to digest but in the second half they deserved to score at least one goal, so it's not a big surprise [that they equalised] - but over the game I think we deserved the point and probably, with that scenario, we could have won." Press Conference: Carlos Corberan: "I think that in general there were things that I liked of the team, especially in attack, especially in the first 60 to 70 minutes of the game. "In these moments we were creating a lot of good opportunities - in the first half it's true that we gave them the option to create some good opportunities too. "But in the second half we kept creating chances without conceding chances. "But in the last 20 minutes we didn't use the control of the game that we had well enough to create something else - that for me is the difference, to have scored a goal that could have made the difference in the game." Match Appointments Referee: ROBERT MADLEY Assistant Referees: Blake Antrobus & Hristo Karaivanov Fourth Official: Tom Nield Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-3-3) Patterson, Alese, Mepham, O’Nien, Hume, Neil, Jobe, Rigg, Watson, Mayenda, Isidor, Subs: Moore, Ballard, Johnson, Roberts, Ba, Aleksic, Aouchiche, Rusyn, Connolly. Injured: Huggins, Seelt, Samed, Abdullahi, Browne, Mundle, Cirkin. West Brom (4-4-2) Palmer, Bartley, Holgate, Heggem, Styles, Fellows, Molumbi, Mowatt, Johnston, Maja, Grant. Subs: Cole, Diakite, Dobbin, Frabotta, Racic, Swift, Wallace, Whitwell, Wildsmith. Injured: Dike, McNair, Ajayi Suspended: Furlong Betting Odds: Sunderland 13/10 WBA 21/10 Draw 11/5 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: A disappointing result at Millwall but we are still joint top, but we could have been 4 points clear if we’d hung onto the lead from the last 2 games. Cirkin could be out for a few games recovering from a wrist surgery, but Aji Alese is a capable replacement as we saw on Saturday. Hjelde may also have a knock as he wasn’t on the bench, but he did travel. Maja and Fellows are their key men, and if we keep them quiet we should be fine. I’m going for a 3-1 home win. Live Stream: Live on Sky Sports Football https://www.safc.com/live Available to overseas fans only Ha’way the Lads
I just found discovered today that I booked trains, for this, ages ago Can't wait, no reason we can't beat West Brom ... ... live on TV, under the lights and players bursting to impress.
Been in Shields for past 2 weeks. Came back for father in laws funeral. Leaving Wednesday, so unfortunately this is the only game I’ll get to and hopefully I don’t jinx them. Most games I’ve seen over the past several years have been draws. Looking forward to a return to winning ways but West Brom are very good away from home and it is a tough one.
Hopefully get back to winning ways, jobe back is a huge boost and fancy him for first goal, we’re very hard to beat just need to get back to seeing games out, 2-1 win, jobe mepham maja
At home we have our most potential. Given their results and our results of late, it screams another draw. It is a must win for momentum I feel! I'd have O'Nien back central to allow for our attacks to build up at the back. Alese and Hume fullback, Cirkin hopefully back for Sheff Utd (I'd also put Ballard back in vs Sheffield but easier said than done). I'd bring Rigg out for Jobe, allow Connolly to play a similar role to Millwall game, let Rigg have an impact from the bench. Mayenda drops out for Roberts because I think WBA will be a harder nut to crack.
At least it will be warmer than the midweek game against them the other season. Coldest I have ever been at a game. Nice boost to have the 3 lads back from suspension and gives us some options, Jobe being back should give the midfield a big boost. 2-1 Jobe and Watson
Good shout on Jobe for Rigg, I did wonder if that might be a good option given we play again Friday and also the yellow card situation for them both.
There's a lot to like about the team RLB has posted. I think Connolly will be squeezed in somewhere though.
Would definitely start Roberts if styles is at left back/left wing back think he could get a lot of joy out of him with Hume overlapping
I think I would take the plunge and start Ballard and Mepo at centre back. I thought Ballard was outstanding on Saturday and he is simply too good to be a bench player. Jobe back is massive. Not sure Connolly will make it with that calf tweak but having Roberts and Mayenda available makes that a mute point. Will definitely have to use the bench with Sheffield on Friday. Otherwise will start to see more hamstring and calf strains due to excessive fatigue.
I think the team picks itself ……………..Patto…………….. Hume..Mepham..O’Nien..Alese ……………..Neil………………. ………..Rigg….Jobe………….. Roberts……Isidor……..Watson cirkin in if fit. need strongest team next two games we’ve been missing our best midfield for 3 and think we need two statement performances.
No midweek game the follow week is there? Friday night then Stoke on the Saturday? Sounds daft after the international break but we could use the extra days, 3 tough physical games in 6 days
