Sunderland travel to Accrington Stanley in League One Last time out Sunderland lost to Portsmouth and Accrington lost to Fleetwood After the disappointment of losing a Wembley final on penalties, Sunderland will look to bounce back with a victory at Accrington on Wednesday night. Sunderland are fourth in the table with three games in hand on second placed Barnsley who have a six point cushion. Stanley are just two points above the bottom four so it’s a big game for both sides. Black Cats skipper George Honeyman is suspended and Chris Maguire is unlikely to be available, not having had any real match practice for the past few weeks. Jack Ross: “He (Will Grigg) hasn’t trained much recently (because of the ankle) and we are having to try and nurse him through training and into games. We’ve also got some big games ahead when we are going to need him, so there were a lot of different factors in that decision.” “Reece had picked up an injury so we brought Denver on, we knew at that stage of the game that we would have another substitution to make because the game was going into extra-time, and in extra-time we brought Charlie on.” “Aiden is an outstanding footballer who people just assume will dominate in games because he is so talented, but you need to have the application, the desire, and want to do that, and he has done that time after time this season - and again today.” John Coleman: “I do not think what happened on Sunday will have any bearing on Wednesday night, they will have three days to recover and get rest into their legs.” “Sunderland will be looking to bounce back from Sunday and they are a good team. They will pose us problems but they will know that we will pose them problems from the two games we have played them in already.” “We have some good players and I can’t see any reason why we can’t win. I love being involved in games, I am up for the challenge.” “You have to make decisions about the team and we had to shake it up and get a response. I think we were a lot better defensively, but we probably need to be more creative.” Form: Prutton predicts: Meh Match Appointments: Referee: JOHN BROOKS Assistant Referees: Robert Merchant and Nick Hopton Fourth Official: Michael Salisbury Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlan, O’Nien, Baldwin, Flanagan, Hume, Leadbitter, Cattermole, Power, Morgan, Wyke, McGeady Subs: Ruiter, Oviedo, Dunne, Gooch, McGeouch, Sterling, Kimpioka Injured: Love, Loovens, Maguire, Watmore, Matthews, Grigg Suspended: Honeyman Accrington: Evtimov, Rodgers, Hughes, Sykes, Donacien, Armstong, Finley, Conneely, McConville, Smyth, Kee Subs: Maxted, Johnson, Richard-Everton, Brown, Simmonds, Sousa, Barlaser Injured: tbc Suspended: Clark Betting Odds: Home 13/5 Away 19/20 Draw 12/5 My two pence: After the cheesy chips down Wembley Way, it’s back to the bread and butter of league one games. With 9 games to play in April it’s not going to be easy, but we need to bounce right back and put the pressure on Barnsley. My guess is a 2-0 away win. Ha’way the Lads
Great post again RTB!!! Big test for us....not only mentally from the weekend but physically. Would like to see Kimpy given a run out....he seems to have a bit x factor in him. Could do with that at the moment..... 1 - 0 to the lads....Flanagan corner near the end.....ha'way the lads!!!!!!!!
Was sat near the players tunnel on Sunday and not sure Will Grigg will make the start here, James I would be amazed if he is involved as he looked worse than Grigg injury wise. I'd start Gooch instead of Morgan, I'm not keen on loanee's starting ahead of one of our own. Go with Wyke up top but play Gooch close to him as a two, we need a bright start like at Wembley but obviously add goals as well, sounds easy on here doesn't it. Got to go for it so 2-0 to the lads.
Sinclair should make the bench imo. Forget Grigg until he is properly fit or we might loose him for the rest of the season. We need wins now play two up front and see who takes the chance to stake a claim, Wyke or another up alongside a fit and firing Grigg is a must if it comes to the play-offs, lets hope we don't need to go down that route, but it would do no harm to plan for it just in case.
This is one of my worries tbh, I see another Maja fiasco looming, he has class in abundance, and if we can see it, so will others.
I'd actually forgotten about Sterling when thinking who will play up top. I had wanted 2 up front but to be fair we have been unbeaten for months in the league. However if Grigg is injured not sure I would trust Wyke as a lone front man. Give Sterling a chance.
Although I would like to see Matthews installed at RB and O9 moved into an attacking midfield role behind the striker I would be happy for Sterling with his pace to feed off Wykes knockdowns. I would like Kimpi n Mumba on the bench as well as we need fresh legs after the tiring game and travel the players have endured. Regardless we will win.
I wish I had the confidence you lads have can’t see nowt but a defeat didn’t really enjoy Sunday’s game that much luckily had a great time with Cumbrian to make the journey worth while.
We need Kimp, Sterling, Mumba, Oviedo to get through these games, Grigg should not have played on Sunday either or tomorrow, they cannot play all these games in one month. Mcgeady needs resting in some games wyke should get his finger out. and to note Portsmouth go to nasty wycombe on sat !
I did exactly the same in a full thread and titled the thread “Sinclair...” Glad someone else makes the mistakes my senility makes me!!!
Jack Ross is hopeful Chris Maguire will be back available for Sunderland’s home match with Coventry City later this month. The 30-year-old has been sidelined since the Black Cats’ 4-2 win over Gillingham with a fractured fibula. While a return in Sunday’s Checkatrade Trophy Final at Wembley wasn’t to be, speaking at today’s press conference ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Accrington Stanley, Ross revealed he is hoping to have Maguire back available at the end of next week. The Scot also offered the latest team news for the trip to the Wham Stadium, with George Honeyman once again suspended. “Adam Matthews remains out,” he said. “Obviously, he didn’t make Sunday’s game because he had a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury on Friday. We thought he was going to be fit for Sunday but had a reoccurrence in training. “Duncan (Watmore) and Chris (Maguire) remain out and Donald Love is still working his way back to full fitness. “We have doubts over a few more but we’ll give ourselves another 24 hours ‘til we make a final decision on them.” He continued: “Chris is getting closer. He actually made really good progress but it’s just a case of taking our time with ramping it up, so he is in a position again to play football. “He tried to push for the final, but we quickly discovered he was nowhere near that. He accepted that and then it’s been about targeting a league game. “If things continue on schedule, we hope to have him back available for the Coventry game.”
The questions I have go like this.. if Grigg is fit he plays... but who supplies him...he is not getting hardly any chances atm...if we are to win games he has to be given goal scoring opportunities ( over to you Jack, earn your corn son) If Griggs is injured fcuk knows Wyke or the forgotten man Sterling
He has been injured but is now fit. Denver Hume looked good on Sunday so I suspect that he will start instead of James.
