Sunderland host Middlesbrough in the Sky Bet Championship please log in to view this image Last time out Sunderland lost at Bolton and Boro beat Hull Middlesbrough make the short trip up the A19 to face Sunderland looking to boost their Championship play-off hopes. They face a Black Cats side who are now rooted to the bottom of the table, with one win in nine, and plagued by off-field problems. Sunderland may have full-back Adam Matthews and midfielder Ovie Ejaria available as they look for a vital win against local rivals Middlesbrough. Matthews missed their defeat by Bolton with a hamstring injury while Ejaria is suffering with a thigh problem. Middlesbrough could have Ben Gibson back after he missed their midweek 3-1 win against Hull through illness. The defender's 85-game run without missing a match came to an end after he was withdrawn during the warm-up. Chris Coleman: "You don't want players like wheelbarrows who are only good or useful when you push them. First bump in the road they fall over anyway." “I’ve never spoken to the chairman, I think I have been here three months and I’ve never had a conversation with him." “I’ve no idea about the price he wants to sell and I’ve no idea if there is someone out there interested or if anything is close. I couldn’t tell you anymore than that to be honest.” “I don’t think this is a derby match - Middlesbrough are a club down the road. Newcastle are our derby.” “We’re in hard times now, we’ve been written off, we’re a hopeless case – fine! “Let’s see if we can come through that little bit of adversity and prove people wrong.” Form: Match facts: The Black Cats are winless in three home games against Middlesbrough in all competitions (D1 L2), since a 2-0 win in September 2008. Middlesbrough have won their last five matches in all competitions against Sunderland, conceding just one goal in this run. Sunderland have won two of their last six home league games (D1 L3), more than they had managed in their previous 22 at the Stadium of Light in league competition (W1 D8 L13). Boro are without a draw in 10 away league games, winning five and losing five. The Black Cats have shipped 11 goals in their last five league games, with 10 of these coming before half-time. Middlesbrough are the only side not to lose a single point from leading positions in the Championship this season, winning all 15 games in which they have been ahead. Sports Analytics Machine: Away win (48%) Prutton predicts: 0-2 Match Appointments: Referee: TIM ROBINSON Assistants: Andrew Fox and Matthew McGrath Fourth Official: Darren England Team Line ups Sunderland: Camp, Matthews, O'Shea, Kone, Clarke-Salter, Oviedo, Cattermole, McNair, Asoro, McGeady, Maja Substitutes: Steele, Love, McManaman, Browning, LuaLua, Jones, Honeyman Injured Watmore (Cruciate – out for season), Ruiter (Dislocated finger 5-10 weeks), Gibson (Groin 5 weeks), Wilson, Ejaria (Calf) Middlesbrough: who cares... Subs from: meh Injured: as many as possible Betting Odds: H 29/10 A 21/20 D 11/5 My two pence: This is the time to just go for it - all out attack and hope that Cattermole finishes the game without a red card. Ha’way the Lads
I'd go 442 and play a young side without any old timers. Browning and Clarke Salter at CB, Robson and/or McNair in CM. Stryjek in goal. It's worth a shot. I know we'll stick with O'Shea, Catts and Camp but it's time to try something different.
Hopefully Slavens done our team talk for us. I hate this Scotch Prick...... Middlesbrough legend Bernie Slaven has stoked the fires ahead of the Wear-Tees derby at the weekend by claiming Sunderland are ‘cannon fodder’ – and says a draw would be a disaster for the Teessiders.The former Boro striker is calling on the visitors to be ruthless and finish off the Black Cats as they struggle against relegation. Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at Bolton left Sunderland bottom of the Championship and staring League One in the face. Slaven, writing in his column for the Teesside Gazette, admitted Boro will have to be wary of a wounded animal, but says it’s a game Tony Pulis’ side should win if they want to finish in the play-offs this season. Slaven said: “Sunderland are rank bad, the club is in turmoil and they look destined for the drop. “So Boro have to go there and win. It’s that simple. They have to win. “A draw would be a disaster against such a poor side with a woeful home record. “Boro have to win for their own pride and for bragging rights. And they have to win to keep the pressure up on the top six. “If they have serious play-off ambitions they have to go there and be ruthless and put Sunderland to the sword. “They may be struggling but Sunderland are wounded and desperate and they look like the walking dead but it is still a derby game so Boro will have to play well. “To be fair, Boro have a good record this term when it comes to beating the cannon fodder. They have to keep that up. “But they need to start doing it against the top teams too. They need to do it in the big games and big atmospheres that we’ll see in the run in. “That’s what we signed these players for.” Few would disagree with Slaven’s appraisal of Sunderland, but his words could help inspire Chris Coleman’s men ahead of a crucial clash. Slaven also questioned whether Sunderland – and Newcastle – were a bigger club than Boro, given their lack of success in recent years. While Sunderland haven’t lifted a trophy since 1973, and Newcastle have to go back to 1969 for their Fairs Cup triumph, Boro won the League Cup in 2004. Slaven wrote: “Are Sunderland bigger than Boro? Their supporters certainly think so. “And maybe historically they are. They have a big passionate fanbase and they have won a lot of trophies over the years. They have a lot of history – but it is all in black and white. I heard their last cup win was shown live on Pathe News. “It is the same with the Geordies. You have to be knocking on a bit now to have actually seen them lift a cup. “But Boro fans can all remember how fantastic it was winning the Carling Cup at Cardiff. It was brilliant. “For me big clubs win trophies on a regular basis and none of the clubs in the North-East do that. “Boro won the Carling Cup in 2004 but it was the first trophy in 128 years. The Mackems last won something in 1973. For the Geordies it was the Fairs Cup in 1969. Their last domestic trophy was in the 1950s. “That is a poor return for a region that calls itself a hotbed of football.”
Does that mean that if you put £21 on you win £20 and get your stake back? I'm not the most active gambler in the world
We have a poor record against the nappy rippers but a decent record against Pulis. We ae sh*te they are starting too look decent. Everything points to an away win and if it is nobody is surprised. I fully expect Catts to score an own goal or get sent off. BUT we are Sunderland so I voted for the win.
Would like to see; -----------------------Steele--------------------- -------Browning--Konè--Clarke-Salter----Matthews------McNair-----------Oviedo --------------------Honeyman------------------- -------------Asoro---------Mcgeady----------- -----------------------Maja-------------------------- Never thought we'd get a worse keeper than Steele but step forward the homeless looking midget Lee Camp. Oshea Jones and Catts out of the side could mean we don' gift Boro a couple of goals in the first 10 minutes.
I normally agree with your team picks more or less but Steele? He's absolutely awful. If you're not happy with Camp or Ruiter then surely Stryjek is worth a go ahead of Steele.
Yep. It's like pissing in a cider bottle when you're pissed during the night cos somebody else who is handicapped like my old mam is in the bathroom. Then you get up the next day & think oh, there's a bit cider left & cos you forgot & swig it. Steele is **** like.
