Last time out Sunderland beat Accrington and Portsmouth beat Tranmere Sunderland host promotion rivals Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light in the early kick-off live on Sky. A vital game for the Black Cats to kick start their season after a less than convincing start to League One. Tuesday’s victory at Accrington will give Jack Ross a few decisions to make on the team selection and how he approaches this game. Sunderland will again be without injured trio Glenn Loovens, Ethan Robson and Duncan Watmore while Denver Hume and Dylan McGeouch could be back in contention. Portsmouth remain without summer signing Ryan Williams, with the winger still making his way up to full fitness. Ross McCrorie and John Marquis, who have both missed games in recent weeks, are set to be available for selection.James Bolton is set to feature as part of the squad after recovering from injury but striker Oli Hawkins is set to miss the match. Jack Ross: “Glenn Loovens, Duncan Watmore and Ethan Robson remain out, Denver Hume and Dylan McGeouch returned to training today so all being well as long as there is no reaction over the course of today and tomorrow, they should be back available in the squad.” “They haven’t trained much this week but hopefully they will be ok, it was an ankle knock for Dylan which he picked up in the game against Ipswich Town last week, so it wasn’t muscular or anything like that.” “He hasn’t been able to train much this week because of the swelling but he’s ok now.” “We’re working our way through those we identified (for left back), in terms of how available are they, that can be fluid and change as well. We’re active and I would be amazed if we didn’t get one. We need to do it but it’s just, we could have done it before now but you don’t want to do it for the sake of doing it.” Kenny Jackett: “I don’t really worry about things like that, you’ve got to play them sometime and whether you're ready or they are, it's got to be faced and that's it.” “It's one of the games you look forward to, certainly it is a big challenge and a hard game but it's a great stadium and a big club and TV game as well, so a great stage for us, we're looking for it.” “I'm sure they will be there or thereabouts and have ambitions to do well. I am looking forward to the game. Both sides have changed slightly since last year, fresh season as well.” “Any time you go up and play Sunderland it's something to look forward to but similarly a big challenge to try to get a result.” please log in to view this image Match Appointments: Referee: MICHAEL SALISBURY Assistants: Joe Simpson and Gareth Mellor Fourth Official: Paul Marsden Team Line ups Sunderland: J.McLaughlin, C.McLaughlin, Ozturk, Willis, O’Nien, Leadbitter, Dobson, Power, Gooch, McGeady, McNulty please log in to view this image Subs: Burge, Flanagan, McGeouch, Maguire, Embleton, Wyke, Grigg Injured: Robson, Loovens, Watmore Portsmouth: MacGillivray, Walkes, Downing, Burgess, Brown, Naylor, Close, Harness, Pitman, Marquis, Curtis Subs: Cannon, Harrison, McCrorie, Raggett, Evans, Bolton, Haunstrup Injured: Williams, Hawkins Betting Odds: Home 13/10 Away 2/1 Draw 2/1 The above thread courtesy of @RTB unashamedly "pinched" from the Sunderland site as it is so well produced ! Hopefully, I will be able to watch the game live on Sky, via a NowTV pass. Should be an entertaining match.
Sunderland 1 McLaughlin 13 O'Nien 5 Ozturk 4 Willis 2 McLaughlin 23 Leadbitter 6 Power 11 Gooch 7 Maguire 19 McGeady 10 McNulty Substitutes 8 McGeouch 9 Wyke 12 Flanagan 16 Burge 18 Dobson 22 Grigg 33 Hume
1-1 now with a header from Willis from a corner kick. 27th minute. We have started the match the better of the sides, according to the Sky commentators.
Hal-time match stats:- Home Team: Sunderland ..............Away Team: Portsmouth Possession: Home 50% Away 50% Shots: Home 3 Away 4 Shots on Target: Home 2 Away 1 Corners: Home 2 Away 2 Fouls: Home 11 Away 6
Attempt missed. Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Anton Walkes with a cross. 52nd. minute.
Attempt missed. John Marquis (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box. 55th. minute.