Sunderland visit Bristol City in the Skybet Championship Last time out Sunderland lost at home to Ipswich and Bristol City lost away to Bolton. Sunderland will be without first-choice goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter for up to three months, the Dutchman having played 20 league games since his summer move to the Stadium of Light. Chris Coleman has Jason Steele and January arrival Lee Camp as goalkeepers in the squad for selection. Coleman provided the latest team news ahead of this weekend’s trip to Bristol City, and said that Jonny Williams and Paddy McNair are near to a return to first team action. Chris Coleman: “Adam Matthews is definitely out” “Robbin Ruiter will be out for probably eight to 12 weeks with a dislocated finger – a badly dislocated finger. “Marc Wilson is progressing nicely, and maybe next week he could be involved with the group again. “Paddy McNair, if he isn’t involved with the squad at the weekend, will possibly play an under-23s game, which is good for us.” “Jonny Williams played 90 minutes for us in the under-23s on Monday night so he is a bit closer.” “Lamine Kone, after he landed badly on his knee against Birmingham, although he completed 90 minutes, should be okay after this weekend." “We’re bottom three, away to Bristol City next week and we either succumb to it, think it’s too much for us, or we can’t match the challenge and become engulfed in it all or, alternatively, be bigger than that, not swallowing it." “It doesn’t guarantee you success, but it guarantees you an easy night’s sleep. As a manager the number of good night sleeps that you have during a season are not many." Lee Johnson: “blah blah” Form: Match facts: This is the first meeting between these teams at Ashton Gate in any competition since February 1999 - Sunderland won 1-0 that day with a penalty from Kevin Phillips. Indeed, Sunderland haven't lost at Ashton Gate since October 1993, when the Robins won 2-0 in a league fixture with goals from Wayne Allison and Ian Baird. Bristol City have lost six of their eight matches in 2018 in all competitions (W1 D1), having lost just six of their final 37 matches of 2017. Chris Coleman has never beaten Bristol City as a manager (D2 L2). Bobby Reid has scored double the number of goals that any other Bristol City player has managed in the Championship this season (12). Sunderland have conceded the first goal in 20 Championship matches this season and are yet to win any (W0 D5 L15). Sports Analytics Machine Home win (50%) Prutton predicts: 2-0 Match Appointments: Referee: JAMES LININGTON Assistants: Steven Meredith and Michael George Fourth Official: Adam Bromley Team Line ups Sunderland: Substitutes: Steele, Love, Robson, Gooch, McGeady, Asoro, LuaLua Injured: Watmore (Cruciate – out for season), Ruiter (Dislocated finger 8-12 weeks), Gibson (Groin 8 weeks), Wilson (Knee 2 weeks), McNair (Hip/Groin 1 week), Kone (knee 1 week), Matthews (Knee 1 week), McManaman (Knock 1 week), Williams (Shoulder 1 week) Bristol City: Steele, Smith, Flint, Wright, Bryan, Paterson, Brownhill, Pack, Kent, Reid, Diedhiou Subs from: Walsh, Engvall, Eliasson, Magnusson, Kelly, Wollacott, Diony Injured: Taylor, Pisano, Hegeler, O'Dowda, Djuric Suspended: Baker Betting Odds: H 7/10 A 13/5 D 17/4 My two pence: After Saturday I'm just hoping that the new lads have settled in a bit and the rest of the team have at least practiced a few set pieces and how to defend corners. I was tempted to go to this one as my lad's footy game is off this weekend, but I still haven't recovered from the new years day trauma. I'm going for a 2-2 draw, but I'm half expecting an away day thrashing. Ha’way the Lads
Home Win all day long - tho we are SAFC, and these are the games we win. I won so much last week, I'm having a sneaky bet on us, tho I do think we'll lose. Bart
If I was Coleman I'd use this game to ditch the 5-3-2 and just try to be attacking and look to find a system that wins games. ------------------------Camp-------------------------- Love---------Oshea-----Browning----Oviedo ------------Honeyman--Cattermole--------- Asoro---------------Ejaria------------McGeady -----------------------Fletcher--------------------- Steele, Clarke-Salter, Robson, Mcmanaman Williams, Lualua, Maja.
Bristol City are odds on with every bookmaker. BetFred are offering a paltry 7/10 & that's about as good as you'll get. Understandable really seeing as how ****e we are. I got 9/4 for Ipswich last week. Was like buying money. You can get as much as 5/1 for us this weekend if any of you fancy chancing your arm. Home win for me.
Bristol City flew out to Dubai for some warm weather training this week and have very similar current form to us. Anyway the forecast says it's going to rain all day Saturday so maybe we will be better prepared for the conditions. 5/1 might be worth a punt
I expect CC to get it right................ eventually. I'm the 1st to vote for the away win this week.
Fancy us this week When we're written off we normally pull out a surprise win . . . then get back to normal service!
Go for it mate. For me it's a bit like a lass coming on to you in the pub. She's a bit pissed but arl ower yer & you think, aye she's tasty like. So you gan back to hers & she turns out to be a **** shag.
We need a surprise result. Like going to Forest, winning and keeping a clean sheet. Didn't see that coming at all.
