Sunderland host Sheffield United in the Sky Bet Championship. Last time out Sunderland lost at Barnsley, while Sheffield United beat Derby at home. Simon Grayson could make a few changes with his three deadline day signings pushing for a place in the team and Aiden McGeady returning from international duty with a hamstring injury. Sheffield United could give debuts to deadline day signings Clayton Donaldson and Ben Heneghan. Striker Leon Clarke serves the final game of his three-match ban while fellow forward Caolan Lavery (fractured cheekbone) is out for a month. Simon Grayson: "Sheffield United are a good team but we must start winning games. We must show energy and quality." "I have not looked at the table. There is a long way to go. "Teams in the bottom half have been promoted at the end. It is where you finish not where you start." On Duncan Watmore "We have got to be careful with him. We will look to get another week in then Man City U23s next Saturday. To have him back would be a major boost." On summer transfer business "I am pleased with it. A lot of clubs have spent more money but I am pleased with what we have brought in. We have got some exceptional talent. If you are in the right market with the right contacts you can get quality players. "The players couldn't get here quick enough when we mentioned it to them. They want to show people what good players we are. Players have come here too often for the wrong reasons." Chris Wilder: “What Simon did there (PNE) proves you can do it without large amounts of cash. Organisation, good characters and a great team spirit can take you a long way. You can have the most expensive (players) out there but, if you don’t have those qualities, you won’t get very far.” “We won’t change our approach. We’ve played two very tough games on the road. Middlesbrough are everyone’s favourites to go up and Cardiff City, the early leaders, have started off like a house on fire. But we were in both games and certainly, at Middlesbrough, should have taken a point.” “We’re a team that likes to attack, that likes to get forward and play exciting football,” Wilder added. “That’s not going to alter. I don’t think our fans would want us to and I don’t think it should.” Match facts: Sunderland have won seven of their last eight home matches against Sheffield United (D1) in all competitions since a 1-0 defeat in the top flight in March 1991. The Blades have not scored in any of their last five trips to the Stadium of Light in all competitions. The last Sheffield United player to score there was Gareth Taylor in a 4-2 defeat in January 1998. Sunderland have not won a league match in September since 2012, enduring a run of three draws and nine defeats since a 1-0 home win over Wigan. Sheffield United have failed to score in either of their away league games this season, having only failed to score in one of their previous 22 on the road in league competition. Only Martyn Waghorn (3) has scored more away goals than Lewis Grabban (2) in the Championship this term. Billy Sharp is the only Sheffield United player to score a goal in the Championship this season, netting four of their five in total. Form: Sports Analytics Machine – Home win Prutton predicts: 0-2 Referee: JEREMY SIMPSON Assistants: Tony Peart and James Mainwaring Fourth official:Nick Hopton Team Line ups Sunderland Subs from Steele, Matthews, O’Shea, Browning, Williams, Gibson, Rodwell, Asoro Doubtful Galloway (ankle) Injured McNair (knee, Sep), Watmore (knee, Sep), Maja (knee, Sep), McGeady (hamstring, Sep) Sheffield United Blackman, Basham, Wright, O'Connell, Freeman, Coutts, Duffy, Flleck, Stevens, Sharp, Evans Subs from Lundstram, Carter-Vickers, Lafferty, Eastwood, Brooks, Carruthers Injured Lavery Suspended Leon Clark Betting Odds: H 6/5 A 23/10 D 23/10 My two pence: One of my favourite games at Roker Park was the 6-2 win against the blades in 1979. We needed to win by 4 goals to go top on the league, Wilf Rostron scored a hat-trick, Barry Siddall saved a last minute penalty and Alex Sabella scored an absolute wonder goal. Back to reality… after the defeat to Barnsley the lads need to put on a good display and get the crowd behind them, Sheff Utd have made a good start with 3 wins and are full of confidence. I am going for a 3-2 win. Ha’way the Lads
Going for the win. Buoyed by Grayson's comments in the last week and nothing else! Nice one again RTB
I voted for a win basing my logic purely on we surely must win a home game in 2017. To be honest I am not massively confident.
Not yet mate (as such). My wife and daughter will be staying with my sister and brother-in-law. Daughter will start school at Shotton Hall Academy on Monday. It's looking good for exchange date of next Friday with a completion date of the following week. Thanks for asking, it's appreciated.
Nice thread as per marra. Really hate shoehorning Gooch or Honeyman out wide but with Aiden probably out we're forced into it.
Watch for Basham tomorrow, playing for Sheffield Utd. He's a Hebburn lad and Sunderland daft. All of his family are still season ticket holders at the SOL. He's played against twice now and never been on the losing side. I've backed us in the predictions league, but I think this could well be a draw. These are solid team in this league. Edit: He might not have played against us twice but he's definitely played at the SOL and I think whoever he was playing for won.
I hope it's Williams in place of Vaughan if that was the team tomorrow, I've not got much confidence in him, tbh. Just to be pedantic, also swap Kone with Wilson.
I've always found golf to be unbelievably boring, but now I'm getting a bit older I've been thinking for a little while now about going to a driving range and giving it a go. I like the ideas of golfing holidays with the lads etc. On another note, would anybody be up for a few beers and a game of foot-golf. I really want to try that, it looks fun!
Could anyone suggest where is best to purchase tickets; hopefully has a half decent view but more importantly, I have my 14 year old daughter with me. Any help appreciated.
Family enclosure, mate. My daughter is just a couple years younger and it was fine in there. Just outside your turnstiles, there's always bands on and Kevin Ball and another ex pro usually say a few words and it's a good atmosphere. You can pay on the turnstiles tomorrow.
@farnboromackem I've just read the website and its £30 entry to everybody on the turnstile. Go to the ticket office and you'll get your daughters for a tenna.
