Sunderland travel to Cardiff in the Skybet Championship please log in to view this image Last time out Sunderland lost at Middlesbrough and Cardiff drew with Mansfield in the FA Cup. Chris Coleman confirmed his first signing – Jake Clarke-Salter on loan from Chelsea. Leading scorer Lewis Grabban has returned to Bournemouth, Vaughan and Mika have also gone. N’Dong, Kone, Cattermole and Matthews all returned to training this week. Cardiff City Stadium will be extremely familiar to Chris Coleman, the Sunderland boss having enjoyed many successful nights at the ground as Wales manager. Former Bluebird and academy graduate Adam Matthews is also making a return. The Black Cats are seeking their first win in January, after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend, and a 1-0 loss at home to Barnsley on New Year’s Day. Chris Coleman: "We are bottom of the league, we have been here six months with this team. What is the point of keeping things the same, we have to change things. Simple as. It is an area that we have to change." "I'm happy with the targets that we've got. As of yet, only one has come to fruition, but I will be happy if we can get the other targets that we've been in touch with." "It's common knowledge that Didier wants to leave. He sees his future elsewhere, but we have got to do what's right for us." "We have had a couple of enquiries about Didier, but just loan deals and that's not something that's for us unless there's an absolute guarantee at the end of it" "What do we get out of a player leaving on loan? If it's a loan deal and he has to play 75% of games for a fee to be involved, he will probably only play 73%. They must think we have fallen off the back of a lorry. " Neil Warnock: “You don’t just leave Wales to go to any club, but I’m like Chris, Sunderland’s a massive club. I once had an opportunity to go there and wouldn’t walk out on Notts County I think it was at the time." “When I look back I should’ve just got in a taxi and gone, it’s a great club. For all the fact they are where they are and scrapping for points, I understand why he went there because it’s a big club." “I’ve done it myself the last few years and gone to clubs struggling at the end of the table, so that part doesn’t surprise me either. It’s tough; you have two or three good results and then you go backwards and you have to keep fighting." “But, like I say, it is a massive club with a huge fanbase, one Chris is clever enough to use to his advantage rather than the disadvantage it has been.” Form: Match facts: Cardiff have not done a Football League double over Sunderland since the 1970/71 season - the Bluebirds won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light earlier this campaign. Sunderland have won two of their last three away league trips to Cardiff (D1), with this their first Championship visit there since March 2007, a 1-0 win via a Ross Wallace goal. Neil Warnock has lost four of his five home league matches as manager against Sunderland - he won the other in September 2004 as Sheffield United boss. Welshman Chris Coleman has managed eight Football League matches against Welsh sides and won none (D3 L5), with this his first since a 2-1 defeat to Cardiff in March 2010 as Coventry manager. Cardiff have lost their last four league matches, which is Warnock's worst run as a manager since January 2009 when he was Crystal Palace boss (also a run of four) - he hasn't lost five consecutively since August 1995 (one with Huddersfield, four with Plymouth). The Black Cats have kept clean sheets in three of their last four away league games - as many as in their previous 40 combined. They haven't won back to back away league games without conceding since March 2007, with the second of those wins coming against Cardiff. Sports Analytics Machine – home win 55% Prutton predicts: 2-1 Appointments: Referee: ANDREW MADLEY Assistants: Mark Russell and Steven Meredith Fourth Official: Oliver Langford Team Line ups Sunderland: Ruiter, Matthews, O’Shea, Browning, Wilson, Oviedo, Embleton, Honeyman, McManaman, Asoro, Maja Substitutes: Steele, Robson, Love, Clarke-Salter, Beadling, Vaughan Injured Watmore, Williams, Rodwell, Cattermole, McNair, Gooch, Gibson Cardiff City: Murphy, Ecuele Manga, Bamba, Connolly, Paterson, Peltier, Ralls, Bennett, Healey, Hoilett, Zohore Subs from: Richards, Tomlin, Pilkington, Halford, Mendez-Laing Injured: Bryson, Harris, Peltier, Connolly, Gunnarsson Betting Odds: H 8/11 A 4/1 D 13/5 My two pence: An early start for our longest away trip makes no sense at all. I did the mini bus trip to Ninian Park once in the early eighties, but I will be sat in front of the telly this time around. The match is live on Sky Main Event from 12pm. My guess is a 1-1 Draw. Ha’way the Lads
I've given up trying to predict our performances, in terms of managerial eyebrows we have two more so maybe two nil to us. I wouldn't mess about and I'd put Clarke Salter straight into the team. We got him for a reason I assume and if he's good we should try to benefit immediately.
If we get off to an offensive start with Maja and Asoro playing I think a Suprise result. But it comes to something when you rely on our highly rated but inexperienced kids to take you forward. I also think we need JCS alongside JOS from the onset . Barnsley did OK with a young team. But if we keep picking known underperforming experienced failures
The opposition are on a bad run. Say no more . Home (easy) win. But wouldn’t be surprised if we shock ourselves.
First time in years I cant even do a predicted line up as theres more players injured than available :-/
NDong might play (depends on where his head is at) and he could start with Clarke-Salter. Maybe something like: ---------------------Ruiter --------- O'Shea Wilson Browning Oviedo Honeyman Embleton McManaman Matthews -------------------Maja Asoro
Montgomery Irwin, Ashurst Harvey, Hurley, McNab Crossan, Herd, Sharkey, Mulhall, Maja (couldn't remember the other lad...lol) Subs Turner, Bennett Phillips Quinn Rowell Holden (got to have Mel in) Hawley I except there's a bit of experience in this line up so going for a win late in the game...
