Sunderland Vs West Brom Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread please log in to view this image Making predictions this Premier League season has been tantamount to putting a pin into the race card on Grand National day - occasionally you do come up with a 100-1 winner! Such odds could certainly be applied to Sunderland's chances of staying up following their home loss to Everton on 12 April. The defeat seemed to sum up the fortunes - or perhaps more accurately misfortunes - of the seemingly inappropriately named Black Cats as a Wes Brown own goal 15 minutes from time left them seven points adrift of safety with only six games to play. That result, coupled with victories on the same day for both Fulham and Cardiff, appeared to signal the inevitability of Championship football - a look at their subsequent fixtures merely appeared to confirm their doom. Yet, less than a month later and courtesy of a spectacular run of 10 points in four games, they now require just a draw to ensure they complete the miracle even manager Gus Poyet stated they required. If they should secure their top division status against West Brom there would be a sense of kismet about it as it was a humbling defeat at the Hawthorns back in September which ended Paolo Di Canio's tempestuous managerial reign. The 3-0 capitulation that day left Sunderland bottom of the table and featured some unforgettable scenes as the beleaguered boss marched over to his disgruntled supporters to "discuss" their plight - he was sacked soon after. That victory was the Baggies' first of the campaign, that they've only won six more accurately explains why they've spent so much of the season flirting with the drop themselves. An inability to win, or perhaps more accurately a propensity to draw, has blighted them throughout. They will visit the Stadium of Light in the knowledge that they are safe - barring a mathematical miracle - and with the hosts close to joining them. Perhaps a draw would be the most predictable result? But then again, in this campaign, anything's possible. Match Appointments REFEREE: Lee Mason ASST. REF. 1: S Bennett ASST. REF. 2: A Holmes 4TH OFFICIAL: N Swarbrick. Sunderland Team News Sunderland have no fresh injury concerns with Gus Poyet likely to name an unchanged side to face West Brom. Long-term absentees Ki Sung-Yeung, Steven Fletcher and Carlos Cuellar remain sidelined. WBA Team News Baggies right-back Billy Jones is set to return, having been rested for the defeat at Arsenal on Sunday. Fellow defender Gareth McAuley returned to training last week and could also be fit to play. Head to Head please log in to view this image EPL Form please log in to view this image This Seasons Reverse Fixture please log in to view this image Last Season's Corresponding Fixture please log in to view this image What the 'Experts' Say please log in to view this image Lawrenson Couldn't be arsed, yet again Merson Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd - Sunderland have taken seven points from their last three away games. Unbelievable. If Arsenal had done that they could have won the league! You look at Sunderland's team, though, and you think 'what were you doing down near the bottom anyway?' Back at the start of March, in the Capital One Cup Final against Man City, they should have won. It was only two extraordinary strikes from Toure and Samir Nasri. Bar that, Sunderland didn't look like losing that game. They then lost some silly games, their confidence got shot and they slipped down the table. But now the confidence is sky high again and the manager has done brilliant. I thought West Brom did well at Arsenal, though, and were very comfortable. I'm going for Sunderland to win in front of a packed house but I still think West Brom will be well alright, too, in terms of staying up. PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 Stats n Facts Head-to-head Sunderland won their first Premier League game against West Brom - 4-0 at the Stadium of Light in December 2008 - but are winless in the eight league meetings since (L7, D1). West Brom's 3-0 win in the reverse fixture earlier this season was Paolo Di Canio's final game in charge of Sunderland. He was sacked two days later. Sunderland Victory for Sunderland would secure their Premier League survival. A draw would leave Norwich needing a mathematical miracle to overhaul them on the final day. Sunderland could seal a fourth-successive Premier League victory for the first time since December 2000. They have taken more points from their last three league games (nine) than in the previous 11 (eight). Sunderland's 4-0 victory in their last home match was a first win in five league games at the Stadium of Light (L3, D1). The Black Cats have the worst record in the Premier League against bottom-half opposition, earning just 11 points from 16 matches. Connor Wickham has scored five and assisted one in his last four Premier League games. West Brom West Brom need a point from their last two games to guarantee their Premier League safety. Two defeats would still likely be enough to beat the drop with Norwich's goal difference currently 19 goals worse than the Baggies. The Baggies have drawn the most Premier League games this season (15), but their last away league draw was back in December. West Brom have yet to have a player sent off this season; Sunderland lead the Premier League with seven. Stephane Sessegnon scored on his West Brom debut in the reverse fixture in September - he's only managed three goals in 25 appearances since. Betting please log in to view this image Links http://www.safc.com/fans/visiting-fans Streaming http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=257290&part=sports
Did i read that correctly... Not beaten them since dec 2008, 10 games ago..Wouldn't have guessed that.
Been one of our boogie teams for years have WBA. We've been shrugging off these boogie team curses this season. Hopefully we'll sort this one out.
Right bogey team and I was at half a dozen of those games Mind you, remember Bardo's screamer in the 3-2 loss at the SoL? Worth the ticket price that day, by itself.
And we'll be dancing all the way to the Transfer window! (Sorry Bri - couldn;t resisit!)! I also remember the 4-2 where Steve Clarke used the excuse of them "Deserving the win" for Ridgewell's blatant dive which got them the penalty even though we were all over them at the time and only 2 behind and looking likely to get back into it
Got draw written all over this A draw would essentially mean both teams are safe so it just makes tactical sense... Hopefully we win though! Wickham to score anytime and us to win is 3/1 Sunderland to receive a red card is 7/1 Wickham + 4-0 to SAFC is 120/1... Hopefully the place will be bouncing again!
3-1 to Sunderland for me .......... to be fair I've probably predicted that scoreline before every home game for 10 years I bet Wickham and the Sunderland players can't wait to get on that pitch. They'll get a fantastic welcome from a big crowd, are bang on form and won't want to go into Sunday on the back of a defeat. West Brom have just become safe so dragging up to the NE for a might match will be a huge anti-climax. 3-1 to Sunderland for me ........ Haway Lads!!!!!!!
Another possible sell out! http://safc.com/news/ticket-news/2014/may/seats-selling-well-for-midweek-clash More than 40,000 tickets already sold for visit of West Brom. There's still time to get your ticket for Wednesday evening's big game against West Brom at the Stadium of Light (KO 7.45pm). A win would see Gus Poyet's Sunderland retain their Barclays Premier League status and once again the red and white army are rallying around. Over 40,000 tickets have already been sold for the clash and supporters are advised to secure their seats as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. “It is important to have an incredible atmosphere again at the Stadium of Light," Poyet said. “It’s the last effort – I asked the players a few weeks ago for a last effort from everyone, and I have to ask the fans for the same.” 2013-14 season card holders can take advantage of a special ‘friends and family’ ticket offer for the game, where they can buy up to two additional tickets at a reduced price of just £10 each.
I'll be nervous until weve got the game sewn up! Chelsea v Norwich and Palace v L'pool just show you cant take anything for granted.
It still hasn't sunk in, how the hell has Poyet managed to cobble together a team spirit from these lot?
As said on another thread lads : It's a ****ing miracle. Never seen anything like it before. It was almost worth getting into the **** to watch us fight our way out of it
