Match Day Thread Middlesbrough FC v Sunderland AFC – Monday 3rd February 2025 - KO 20:00

Sunderland visit Middlesbrough in the Championship.
Last time out Sunderland drew with Plymouth and Middlesbrough lost at Preston.
Sunderland made 2 changes with Samed and Roberts starting in place of Rigg and Mayenda. The Black Cats started well but didn’t create many clear-cut chances against a deep sitting Plymouth defence. The Pilgrims grew in confidence and took the lead via a deflection off Patterson, the lead did not last long as Isidor lashed in a shot from close range. Hume looked as if he’d secured the 3 points but Plymouth equalised in the 90th minute.
Naz Rusyn has joined Hajduk Split on loan for the rest of this season. Adil Aouchiche could join Portsmouth on loan.
Huggins, Mundle, Browne, Watson & Alese remain on the injured list.

Middlesbrough's promotion push faltered after they were beaten 2-1 by Preston North End at Deepdale. Stefan Thordarson's solo strike gave the hosts a deserved lead at the break.
When Delano Burgzorg levelled just after half time, it looked as though the visitors would go on to win the game. However, Emil Riis struck a late winner to secure a third win in four for the Lilywhites.
Top scorer Latte Lath is a major doubt after being subbed off with a groin injury after 11 minutes at Preston. New signing Morgan Whittaker could make his debut.

Regis le Bris:
"At the end I think we were a bit lucky to win a single point.
"I think we started well because the first half was OK, but we were faced with a very compact block and we found some solutions sometimes, but we didn't create many chances.
"During the second half I think we made many mistakes and we opened our shape and they found solutions to create chances and they scored.
"It was deserved from them and we came back in the game - but at the end it was more direct for them and we didn't manage the end of the game properly."
Press conference:

Michael Carrick:
"Today I thought it was there for us. We started well, defended well and took control for large parts.
"There were a couple of moments where we shot ourselves in the foot. The boys are devastated, I'm disappointed. It is a horrible day to be sitting here with nothing.
"We were really good for a lot of the game; when Delano scored, the emotion was great to be part of. We thought it was coming again and it went to other way.
"He (Latte Lath) felt his groin, how badly and to what extent I don't know as yet, we'll have to wait and see. It was a blow but I felt we dealt with it well and should have won the game."

Form:


Match Appointments
Referee: STEPHEN MARTIN
Assistant referees: Blake Antrobus & Carl Fitch-Jackson
Fourth official: James Bell

Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: (4-4-2) Patterson, Cirkin, O’Nien, Mepham, Hume, Neil, Jobe, Le Fée, Rigg, Mayenda, Isidor

Subs: Moore, Hjelde, Ballard, Samed, Jones, Aleksic, Poveda, Roberts, Ogunsuyi.
Injured: Huggins, Browne, Mundle, Watson, Alese.
Middlesbrough: (4-2-3-1) Glover, Ayling, Fry, van den Berg, Neto Borges, Morris, Hackney, Doak, Aziz, Burgzorg, Forrs.
Subs: Engel, Clarke, Barlaser, Connor, Finch, Gilbert, Giles, McCabe, Palmer, Whittaker.
Injured: Coburn, Lenihan, Latte Lath.



Betting Odds:
Sunderland 3/1 Boro 7/3 Draw 17/5

Prutton Predicts: meh

My two pence:
A poor result against Plymouth, given that Burnley walloped them 5-0 but the championship continues to throw up very strange results.
Boro are in 6th place on 44 points. New signing Morgan Whittaker could replace injured top scorer Latte Lath.

I’m going for a 2-1 away win.

Live Stream:
Live on Sky Sports Football
Free to view on ITV4 & ITVX
https://www.safc.com/live

Ha’way the Lads

 

About time we won down there, they’ll be bang up for it like, 1-1 is my feeling Whitaker and onien

 

Balls to them being up for it, they’re supposed to be up for every game. They’ve lost twice the games, scored ten less and conceded five more than us …

… they looked second best at Sunderland and I’d expect them to have to attack more on Monday.

Ha’way the Lads!!!

 

Game is on ITV4 too for those that don’t have sky

 

hopefully we can change our utter ****e record there really need a win

 

Hope they do come at us tbh, leaves us gaps to exploit were lightening on the counter these days

 

Avoid defeat and that'll do for me, obviously 3 points would be very nice. HTL.

 

Due to our fairly poor record against them I have went for a draw. You have no idea how wrong I want to be and to beat them on their own patch.

 

They wont know what hits them. When we sat off in the Home game they didnt have a clue what to do and i expect RLB to have another tactical masterclass Monday.

 

Score draw for me

They’re good going forward but dodgy at the back

 

Would go with the same team as RTB posted but with Roberts playing instead of Rigg.

Should be a perfect game for us to sit in and counter attack.

They are excellent going forward with some really top players, Doak and Azaz in particular. However, they can definitely be got at defensively with some poor players in that area. I really wish Mundle was fit to run at Ayling who I think is one of the worst fullbacks in the league this season.

Going to predict a 3-2 defeat. Entertaining game. Mayenda x2.

 

if top 3 win we got to win to stay in touch but hopefully they will drop some points

 

Doak v Cirkin will be a key battle I reckon, could be where the game is won or lost. Fancy us though the game will suit us on the counter. Hope it’s the 3 of Neil, Jobe and ELF with Mayenda on the left this game is screaming out for him and Isidor countering together.

3-1 the lads. ELF to get his first

 

Never fancy us against The SMOGGIES, especially at their Cesspit, so it’s 2-1 for my prediction.

Also predicting more defensive errors leading to goals.

Sincerely hoping that I’m wrong.

Bart

 

Great thread once again @RTB

Im nervous about this one but think we can get the win. I agree with the other posters on here who think two up top is key, attacking on the counter and pace

They will want to and need to attack - as much as to save Carrick's embarrassment so he can spout utter ***** after the match - as to win the game.

Lets hope RLB has been doing some work with the defensive unit

Ha'waaaaaaaaay!

 

1-2 we will get at them.

 

We have a poor record at their gaff, so I'm hoping we avoid defeat and come away with at least a point.

1-1 for me.

 

Think we can win this 2-0.

 

Yeassss. Let’s Frigan have them!


(No I haven’t heard anything)

 

Doak is a great little player but he's been looking tired recently, Scotland and Boro have worked him hard for a 19yo.

It's supposed to be us that does that.

I'm pleased Latte Lath isn't playing ...

... not for his goal threat, more because of how the commentators love saying his name at every opportunity.