Sunderland travel to Wycombe Wanderers in League One Last time out Sunderland beat Bristol Rovers and Wycombe lost at Peterborough. For Wycombe, it's the biggest crowd of the season so far, and potentially a sell-out. For Sunderland, it's a first ever visit to Adams Park with new fans favourite Luke O’Nien returning to his former club. Sunderland secured their place in the final of the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday night and return to the serious business of maintaining their winning run to keep the pressure on leaders Luton and Barnsley. Skipper George Honeyman is nursing a hip injury but is expected to be back in training tomorrow. Wanderers have had a tough run of games against the top sides in the league which has seen them lose their last 4 games in a row. The Chairboys could struggle to have a fit squad with a few players off with a virus this week. Matt Bloomfield will make his 500th appearance for the club. Jack Ross On Honeyman - " He’s good, he’s recovering well, he wasn’t out on the grass today, but it's more precautionary than anything else. As things stand, we expect him to train with the group tomorrow." “It was just an impact injury during the game, sore at the time but it’s healed well since Tuesday.” "Lee and Reece trained today, Alim (Ozturk) didn't travel to Bristol Rovers due to a slight groin problem, and that will probably rule him out this weekend as well." "Bryan has been back training this week, but he hasn't played for a little while so he is still playing catch-up, and there is real competition for places in that area of the pitch as well." "Other than that, we're pretty fit and healthy." "I tend not to think about injuries much, but if I did, the comforting thing would be that one, I've got quite a healthy squad and two, if you look at Tuesday night, Adam and Max, two players who I think a lot of and have done well for me this season, came in and were good." "So that's comforting. You know you've got not just what people would perceive as strength in depth, but actually players who when they get opportunities, play at their best." "I think the way we worked out, having that journey back after the game, it was a positive one because of what we achieved. In some ways it was good because players and staff spent a lot of time with each other, because it maybe allowed us to get that out of our system if you like." "Players rested yesterday, and Thursday was quite light. I think physically and mentally they feel really good, which is not surprising when they're on a good run. When you're winning games, these factors (leading to fatigue) tend to diminish." Gareth Ainsworth “Unfortunately money talks a little bit in this game, but you can’t buy the heartbeat of people, you can’t buy the desire and that team ethic. We’ve got all of those things going for us so it wouldn’t surprise me if the results go against the grain on Saturday, but at the same time, we’ve got to earn it.” “If there’s one black mark against this week’s training it’s the lack of players. We’ve had a few off ill just two days before the game now so we are struggling for the full squad to be fit. I think there’s going to be two or three who won’t be able to start.” “It’s Sunderland, it’s a full house and it’s almost a bit of a carnival atmosphere for them. We really want to try and break that. We want to give a fantastic account of ourselves as we have done against the like of Barnsley, Peterborough and Doncaster at home, so the big teams at home we seem to have done well against.” “On Saturday we’re facing the likes of (Aiden) McGeady and some other real fantastic players that we’ve got to contend with, but we’ve got some big names too and I look forward to pitting my wits against one of the best in the league.” Prutton predicts: Charlton 1 Portsmouth 0 Match Appointments: Referee: LEE SWABEY Assistant: Paul Kelly and Stuart Butler Fourth Official: Christopher Wade Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlan, O’Nien, Flanagan, Dunne, James, Leadbitter, Cattermole, Honeyman, Morgan, Grigg, McGeady Subs: Ruiter, Matthews, Ozturk, Gooch, Power, Watmore, Wyke Injured: Love, Loovens, Maguire, Oviedo Wycombe Wanderers: Allsop, Jacobson, Stewart, Jombati, McCarthy, Freeman, Thompson, Gape, Bloomfield, Akinfenwa, Samuel. Substitutes: Ma-Kalambay, Tyson, Bolton, Harriman, Cowan-Hall, Kashket, Bean Injured: tbc Betting Odds: H 13/5 A 1/1 D 23/10 My two pence: Back to the main event of League One and another 3 points up for grabs. Yet again the away allocation is sold out and the home team are expecting a record crowd. We seem to be growing in confidence and playing some decent football too. My guess is a 2-1 away win. I’ve got my tickets for the Beechdean Stand and I’m looking forward to visiting a new ground. Fan Guide for anyone going @Smug in Boots https://www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/news/2019/march/supporter-guide-wycombe-vs-sunderland/ Ha’way the Lads
Brilliant thread mate ... ... driving down and back so limited drinking. I have to admit my entire knowledge of Wycombe has come directly from this thread! Having said that I fancy us to win every game now that we're settling into Ross's way of playing. We're not missing Maja at all imo, Grigg is defending from the front and helping us to keep clean sheets .... and we have a variety of goals in us. Corners from Leadbitter, free kicks and penalties earned by running past people, putting Grigg through the channels, etc. The keeper is playing well, the midfield firing at last and we have good options on the bench. Sod it I'm going for 3-0 and some real momentum.
We are on fire, they will compete, they will try and come at us, but it’s 2-0 the lads. We are marching now lads, no ****ing mistake.
Great thread as usual RTB. Clicked the wrong option and took home win when meant away! Agree with sentiments already stated - building momentum, strong starting 11 with strong squad to keep them on their toes. As always will be happy with a point away but expecting to win. 3 -0, nother clean sheet bonus for big John and the defence
Just need any sort of win to keep the pressure on Barnsley before the “big-one”. 0-1 for me and a bit of a squeaky bum. Bart
They put on a good shorts at our place but can they do it again? 2-0 to the lads, it just feels were right on it at present which we couldn't have said six weeks ago. The January signings have made a massive difference.
Update from Jack Ross: Jack Ross has been quick to stress the importance of Sunderland’s next fixture following the high of Tuesday night’s Checkatrade Trophy semi-final win over Bristol Rovers. The Black Cats resume their Sky Bet League One campaign at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday as they look to make it five-straight wins in all competitions. But while fans continue to revel in the high of defeating The Gas to book their place in the Wembley final later this month, Ross has admitted the mood within the camp is pretty calm as the focus switches back to the league campaign. Sitting third and seven points off leaders Luton Town with 12 games to go, the Scot has talked about the need for his players to remain emotionally balanced as the race for promotion continues cranks up a notch. “The players have used the word satisfaction a lot to describe their feelings after matches,” he said. “I think they’re satisfied that they’ve produced consistent performances and results throughout this competition in difficult circumstances at times. “Every one of them deep down has pride knowing they’ve reached the cup final and have that to look forward to. “But having spoken to them this morning in the team meeting, not that I really needed to, but I just reemphasised the need to refocus on the job at end,” he continued. “But I can just tell looking at them, looking into their eyes, that there’s a group there that are fully engaged and yeah, we’re satisfied we’ve got there, but we’ll put it to the side and then when it comes around, we’ll enjoy it. “For now, though, it’s about continuing to band out results in the league. They’ve got the grit between their teeth right now, which is good.”
I thought he was injured after watching the bad tackle on him, that was before I heard the Jack Ross presser - I'll update if he comes through training today.
Ross looks like me when someone tells me to smile for a photo. Well deserved for the pair of them, McGeady has been fantastic. Huge plus for us that he's been bang on mentally this season, he's obviously happy.
Like smug said I expect us just to win now. Its took a while but we have had a settled back 4 and midfield for a few games now. We have Mcgeady who is finally ripping teams apart and now that were playing the ball in low and hard from the wings Will will soon be ablaze. 0-3 although a scrappy 0-1 will suffice. Cannot see Luton or Barnsley dropping points tomorrow but you never know at this time of the season.
Tomorrow to me is going to represent all the games from now till the end of season. It's all hearts and minds now. Yes, we have got to Wembley. Yes, we have a huge game on Tuesday night.....but we have to get something out of tomorrows game. Don't want us to think we are the dogs bollocks because we got to the final. I believe tomorrow we will see the players going about the game in the right manner and attitude. Don't think JR will have it any other way to be honest. Going for a 2 - 0 to the lads....Grigg and McGeady....where have I heard that before? If we play like sh*t then let's take a point......ha'way the lads!!!!!
Win tomorrow and it takes a bit pressure off for Tuesday. I think if Barnsley come at us as the home team I think that will suit us immensely. Still I'm going for us to win 4-0 tomorrow and draw 3-3 on Tuesday,
It would be great if come Tuesday night we were above them in the league so we could sit back and catch them on the break. Would settle for your suggested scores. Four points from six away from home is a healthy return.
Would like to be up 2-0, and in control, 60 minutes in, so we can rest/safeguard McGeady for Tuesday. After reading Gil T's post, O9 collects an assist from a low hard cross and taps in the second goal after the goalie spills Grigg's bid for a brace.
Saw big Charlie Methven in the services on the way down. He didn't have a pint in hand surprisingly enough!!
