Stoke City Vs Sunderland: Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread please log in to view this image BritaniaStadium please log in to view this image Sat Nav: ST4 4EG Team News etc Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan could return to the starting line-up, having been nursing a hamstring strain before the international break. Manager Mark Hughes has not reported any fresh injury concerns. Sunderland pair Andrea Dossena and Lee Cattermole remain unavailable as they complete three-match suspensions. Wes Brown will be assessed, having only recently returned from a two-year injury lay-off, but he is expected to play his fourth successive match. Close Match preview Twelve months ago, Mark Hughes was relieved of his duties as he attempted to keep QPR in the Premier League, while Gus Poyet was continuing his challenge of trying to get Brighton into it. Now the former Chelsea team-mates meet as managers in the top flight for the first time - with their new clubs - well aware of the importance of gaining three points. Both have two wins each so far. Poyet , though, has recorded them in just four games in charge of Sunderland, while Hughes has had 11 matches at Stoke. That record means he'll be looking at this fixture even more as the one to end an eight-match winless streak and record a 100th victory as a Premier League manager. The Welshman has only been able to add a handful of new faces to the squad that 12 months ago only won once in their first 10 matches. It was never going to be an instant change in fortunes at Stoke. They scored only 34 league goals under Tony Pulis last season and have only 10 on the board so far in this campaign, three of them in their last match at Swansea. However, Stoke face the club with the worst defensive record in the league. Sunderland finally kept their first clean sheet of the season in the win over Manchester City which, together with victory in the north east derby, will have injected much-needed confidence into the squad. The question is whether they can now improve their away form? They've gained just one point from the last 21 on the road and that has to improve if they are to play in an eighth successive Premier League season next year. A first away win of the season would lift Sunderland above Stoke in the table. The home team need to restore the fearful reputation of the Britannia Stadium, where they've won only twice in 11 matches. A win for either team would be extremely timely. Close Match facts Head-to-head The 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light in May marked only the second time in 10 Premier League meetings that both sides scored. Stoke have failed to score in their last two home games against Sunderland (D1, L1), having won the previous four meetings at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke City Stoke are winless in eight league games (D4, L4). It's their worst run since an 11-match streak between April and September 2012. They have only won two of their last 11 home league matches, against Norwich and Crystal Palace (W2, D4, L5), and failed to score in six of those games. Stoke have gone four games without a home victory, one shy of their worst ever Premier League run when they drew five successive matches at the Britannia Stadium between April-September 2012. The Potters have dropped a league-high seven points from winning positions. Sunderland Sunderland became the final Premier League side to keep a clean sheet this season when they beat Manchester City 1-0 in their last match. They have conceded 22 goals, the most in the division. The Black Cats have lost four consecutive away games since drawing at Southampton in their first Premier League trip of the season. They have only managed one point from seven away fixtures dating back to April. They have lost all seven games in which they conceded the opening goal, and have also failed to outscore the opposition in the second half of a match this season. Sunderland have mustered only 26 shots on target this season, the lowest tally in the league. Poyet- "We needed something, it was victories and coming against Manchester City, there's no bigger one than that. "It's another situation where it couldn't be better and we've won two in a row which shows that it's the right time, let's see if we can put that on the pitch." "What we don't need now is to relax and that's part of my job and (against Stoke CIty) it's another great opportunity to get points and we need to go there thinking that we can win the game." Brown Vs Crouch please log in to view this image I think it's safe to say that we are relying on Wes at the moment which is frightening really considering he's made of glass. This weekend he will no doubt be put on Giraffe duty to deal with the pain in the arse that is Crouchie. Wes time and time again shows me he's the best defender to wear a sunderland shirt since Steve Bould, in my opinion anyway, and I expect him to be able to deal with Crouch. Unless of course Stoke are allowed to hit the byline regularly which usually makes Crouch unplayable. Colback Vs Adam please log in to view this image Hughes is busy installing his new philosophy at Stoke which should see them playing less direct and more down the middle then what we've been used to seeing from our previous encounters with the Potters. This will make the battle in the park much more interesting with Adam looking to run the show on home turf. This is a big game for Jack as he'll be charged with the task of breaking up play, installing composure and playing it out. Last 4 Meetings 06 May 2013 Sunderland 1 - 1 Stoke 27 Oct 2012 Stoke 0 - 0 Sunderland 04 Feb 2012 Stoke 0 - 1 Sunderland 18 Sep 2011 Sunderland 4 - 0 Stoke What the 'Experts' Say please log in to view this image Lawrenson Norwich cannot buy a goal but they are not alone - Stoke are in the same boat and have managed only 10 in 11 Premier League games this season. Stoke don't just struggle to score, they struggle to create too, but I am going to go for a Potters win because I am not totally convinced by this Sunderland revival yet. At home, the Black Cats have been brilliant under new boss Gus Poyet but it is away where they need to improve if they are gong to have more than a slim chance of survival. Lawro's prediction: 2-0 Merson Sunderland beat Manchester City a fortnight ago and who'd have predicted that? I've been very impressed with the way Gus Poyet has started and I think he's got things spot on tactically (just look at how well they performed against Hull with nine men). Unfortunately I don't see them winning this game and I am just going to go for Stoke. If they can turn their possession into more goals then they could be a force and I think this game could kick-start them a little bit. I'm going for them to win narrowly. PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 What the Phallus says Poyet is gonna to set yo ass on fire! Biatch! Betting please log in to view this image Links http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=226951&part=sports
Is there no one who can produce a decent match thread .............. tba tba tba, yes mate Totally Bloody Awful
No problem mate, that's what it's like in real life! Check out the 'header photo' on the Stoke board .......... it was taken at half-time of one of their games.
One way I know Gus is doing the business, he's ruined our formation porn and guessing the line up. We pretty much know what the team will be barring injuries. Haven't been able to say that for years.
I'm at Stoke this weekend so don't put money on us to win. In the 20-30 ish games I've been to over the last three seasons I've seen us win once.
The law of averages tells me you are due a victory then!! I'm down there for the weekend, kipping at one of my sons digs as he at Uni down there..
Quote Originally Posted by MrRAWhite View Post Behind bars will be the mighty MrRAWhite: full of drink and roaring at the custody sergeant..We cannot lose... Have one for me mate. Cheers Smug..If I do get locked up, I'll never forgive you..
Just been looking at the table and other fixtures this weekend What a truly massive game this could be if we win and it's real '6 pointer' this early in the season. Assuming we do, I'm hoping Palace win at Hull ..... I still believe Palace will go down but it would continue Hull's slide and put us within 4 points, of them, and a home game against them to come. I'd take a Swansea win at Fulham who are in a right mess and we'd go level on points and a similar goal difference. West Ham losing at home, to Chelsea, would be a blow and they have a match against Fulham the week after which could help us. Sadly, I'll be looking for a flukey home win for Newcastle against Norwich who look worse than Sunderland. A thumping home defeat for Cardiff, against Man Utd, would end their 'honeymoon period' and bring them right into the dogfight. Their managerial upheaval can't be helping but could help us. West Brom play Villa, on the Monday night, so someone will be dropping points, perhaps both as I expect. That would make a massive difference to the way the table looks. There could be 9 teams separated by 5 points which, at this stage of the season, would do nicely. We still have home games against EIGHT of our relegation rivals ............ Palace, West Ham, Hull, Norwich, Villa, Stoke, West Brom & Cardiff. 10 West Brom 14 (15) 11 Aston Villa 14 (15) 12 Hull...........14 (14) 14 Cardiff.......12 (12) 15 Norwich.....11 (11) 16 West Ham..10 (10) 17 Stoke .......10 (10) 18 Fulham......10 (10) 19 Sunderland 7 (10) 20 Palace ..... 4 (7) (This could all be wrong without checking but one of the clever lads will no doubt correct any errors.)
If the team can carry a bit of confidence over I think we owe them to show some to. Without disrespecting stoke, they will see how we've played lately and will be going out to stop us putting our foot on the ball and retaining it. But we must see this as winnable. I do anyway.
