Match Day Thread Scunthorpe United v Sunderland - Saturday 19th January - KO 15:00

Sunderland visit Scunthorpe United in League One

Last time out Sunderland drew with Luton and Scunthorpe beat Walsall
Sunderland will undoubtedly be the biggest threat to Scunthorpe United’s unbeaten start to 2019. Many from the outside looking in would chalk it down as an away win, with the Black Cats having the third best away record in the division, coupled with the Iron’s mediocre home form. But looking at recent results, this game could be a lot closer than some people would expect. Sunderland comprehensively beat the Iron 3-0 at the Stadium of Light back in August, but expect this to be a much different game this time around.
Scunthorpe have a different manager, different players and a new found confidence. There is also the respective form of the two sides. It will also be an intriguing battle in the middle of the park, especially if Lee Cattermole returns for the Black Cats. Pair the tough tackling midfielder against James Perch, who has nine yellow and one red card to his name and it could be a tasty battle in midfield. Jon McLaughlin, in between the sticks, has been one of Sunderland’s best performers this season and Lee Novak will have to use all his know how and experience if he is to find a way past the Sunderland stopper.
Jack Ross expects to have Matthews, Oviedo, Cattermole and Maja back in the squad. Chris Maguire is also available after the red card was rescinded. Honeyman is not available.
Jack Ross:
“There is an opinion that we would be best served to wait until after that. I value George highly and having him in my squad. We will just see how it unfolds this week with regards to him. George is still out for Saturday’s match, a blow for us.”
“George is club captain but Lee would captain the side in his absence, so they are two influential figures we haven’t had in the dressing room on a matchday, at least having Lee back in this weekend is a big bonus.”
"Duncan hasn't trained with the group but I'm hoping that he will train tomorrow, "Ordinarily that would put me off a player being involved [on the Saturday] but he hasn't been out for long. It's only been a week and a half, I think.”
“Josh is back from illness. There's been a bit of illness going around, Josh obviously had it at the weekend. A couple of players were affected earlier in the week and we have a couple affected by it at the moment.”
"So it will depend how they got through the next 24 hours. We'll assess them over the course of Friday. Squad wise we are not that dissimilar to last weekend.”
Stuart McCall:
"We are in a good run of form and everybody's looking forward to it, naturally yeah it will be great. As we've seen, Sunderland travel in great numbers and have got fantastic support but our support has been great recently"
"I noticed in the last home game and against Coventry as well, there were more numbers and certainly got behind the players, which was great and yeah everyone's looking forward to it, a tough game but one that we are ready for"


Match Appointments:
Referee: CRAIG HICKS
Assistant Referees: Matthew Parry and David Benton
Fourth Official: Richard Wiggleswor

Team Line ups
Sunderland: McLaughlin, Matthews, Dunne, Flanagan, Baldwin, Oviedo, Cattermole, Power, O’Nien, Wyke, Maja

Subs: Ruiter, James, McGeouch, McGeady, Gooch, Maguire, Watmore
Injured: Love, Hume, Robson, Loovens, Honeyman

Scunthorpe United: Alnwick, McMahon, McArdle, Burgess, Borthwick-Jackson, Sutton, Perch, Ojo, Thomas, Novak, Wootton
Subs: Webster, Lund, van Veen, Lewis, McGahey, Flatt, Hammill

Betting Odds:
H 14/5 A 19/20 D 23/10

My two pence:
I’ve been busy doing a bit of spying and can confirm that Scunthorpe have put together a great winning run and are currently one of the in-form teams. As we have seen so far this season, there are very few easy games in this league.
My guess is a 1-1 draw.
Ha’way the Lads

 

Good work RTB! Fancy a Catts inspired comprehensive win this weekend, think we're due a good performance. Based on nothing but blind optimism of course

 

Another difficult out away game...aren't they all.
As long as we don't underestimate the opposition then I think we can win this and I'm going for 2-0.
Our squad has this never say die attitude which I feel will be really tested by an inform Scunthorpe but we will prevail again. Nice to have Catts available again and would like to see O9 pushed into midfield. Come on....

 

Think we’ll get beat!!

Time to put the Maja pish to bed, Sign or Go!!

Bart

 

I like the look and shape to that team. C'mon lads lets give them a battering!!!!

 

I'd like it with Grigg instead of the Maja, everyone singing from the same hymn sheet. A bad egg will distract from the target.

 

Another top thread, much appreciated as ever. My team would be:

McLaughlin
Matthews Dunne Baldwin James
Power O'Nien
Gooch Maguire McGeady
Maja

Bit harsh to drop either Flanagan or Baldwin but if we don't try the new lad we won't know how much he could help us.

 

As much as i crave a win i wouldn't play Maja, think he could **** up the team spirit,

 

Hard to say how the rest of the team are going to be like with him though, they may well accept that he is ambitious and young - especially if he is still putting his all in during training etc. I think Bri may be correct when he suggested Maja could play in the away games but 'have a knock' in the home games.

 

think the crowd could be on his back in home games

 

Yeah I think so. In the nicest possible way there are sections of your crowd who have a bit of history with getting on the backs of players when they'd probably be best not doing so - I'd have thought the best thing to do with Maja is just to cheer him and make him feel loved as it's the best chance of getting him to sign (unlikely though that now seems) and at the very least he has been important in firing you towards the Championship and could continue to be so.

 

I don't think there'd be a problem with Maja as long as he's seen to be putting a shift in which I think he will do. The atmosphere around the club is too positive to be booing our own players.

 

I hope so.

 

have this nagging doubt that his agent is a **** and has turned the lads head for his own goals, this game ok, but i would rather play the guys that want to be here

 

another bad trait we learnt from up the road

 

THIS

I wouldn’t be playing him - back with the U23s or kids - he’s taking the pi$$!!

Bart

 

I know what you're saying mate and it's what I think myself. I just think that if he plays, does well and scores, which he usually does, any issues will be forgotten and he'll be cheered to the rafters. If he slouches about he'll get a bad reception but I can't see that happening.

To be honest as long as he's not poison in the dressing room which I don't think he is for a second then I'd rather he kept on playing up until the moment he goes because his goals are invaluable. Wyke doesn't look up to it and we ain't got anyone else.

 

He does not want to be here next season - why should the club continue his development.

Time to drop him or is he bigger than the club!!

Continue to play him and lessons have NOT been learned.

Bart

 

I get what you're saying but when you've got one of if not the highest scoring players in the league you play them if you're serious about promotion. He sounds like a nice lad according to Ross and I don't think his contract situation will affect anything within the squad.

 

Agree with this really. I get the impression Maja is still training well and generally liked (I can't back that up, it's just an impression I have!) and I think your alternative strikers aren't good enough to win you games often enough (Wyke hasn't convinced me at all). Without Maja or an adequate replacement I reckon your in the gamble of the play-offs whereas with him or someone good up front you're automatically up. What has happened to the Will Grigg story?