Tranmere Rovers v Sunderland – Skybet League One Last time out Sunderland drew with Doncaster and Tranmere lost to Man U in the FA cup. Sunderland travel to Prenton Park to face Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday evening, this game being pushed back 24 hours to accommodate Tranmere's rescheduled FA cup fixture. The Black Cats drew a blank after being free scoring in recent home games, but they continued their sturdy backline to record their third-straight clean sheet. The result sees Sunderland move up to fifth and extends their unbeaten run to eight games. Phil Parkinson will see this game as a great opportunity to improve their goal difference Tranmere will be licking their wounds after the 6-0 home defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup. Phil Parkinson: “We’re working towards a couple more additions and if we get the ones we want, great - if not, we will stick with what we’ve got.” “Dialogue has kept on going between ourselves and a few clubs. Ideally we would get deals done early next week because we will be travelling at the end of the week down to Portsmouth.” “We have been working on it this morning and we will see where the next couple of days takes us.” Micky Mellon: "You can see the quality they have. It was no surprise to us. Some of the goals they scored, we wouldn't face that kind of quality in League One.” "We got everything we needed out of this cup run. We knew we were up against a fantastic team - the players gave everything. We can draw a line under it and get back to the bread and butter (of their relegation battle).” "We were undone by a centre-back shooting from 25 yards into the top corner, that's the quality we were up against. The quality was a level above what you're used to." Prutton predicts: meh Match Appointments: Referee: ANTONY COGGINS Assistant Referees: Matthew Jones and David Benton Fourth Official: Paul Hobday Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlin, O’Nien, Lynch, Ozturk, Willis, Hume, Power, Dobson, Gooch, Maguire, Wyke Subs: Burge, McLaughlin, Wright, Leadbitter, Scowen, McNulty, Lafferty Injured: Embleton, Grigg, Watmore Garden Leave: McGeady Tranmere Rovers Davies, Caprice, Clarke, Monthe, Ridehalgh, Morris, Danns, Perkins, Blackett-Taylor, Jennings, Ferrier Subs: Woods, Mullin, Hepburn-Murphy, Gilmour, Wilson, Pilling, Payne Injured: tbc Betting Odds: Home 19/5 Away 7/10 Draw 11/4 My two pence: Given the previous result at home and Tranmere’s heavy defeat to Man Utd, I am expecting us to pile on the pain with another high scoring game. My guess is a 3-0 away win. This one is available to UK fans on SAFSEE. https://www.safc.com/news/club-news/2020/january/tranmere-a-efl-streaming-passes Ha’way the Lads
I'd like to see Lafferty either start or get more than 20 mins. I think (albeit early signs) that he will offer more of a goal threat tha Wyke
Their pitch was atrocious at the weekend, the long ball to Wyke might actually be the way forward for once. 0-2 Wyke and Lafferty
I reckon we're good for a win but they could easily respond with tenacity after getting humped, and st least make it a tight match. So I hope Parky mixes up the front three to freshen it up and keep the oppo guessing. We have zero subs/options across the middle, like, which is concerning me. Grant is not an option if we need to push on in a game.
Personally I think they’ll be tired from the cup and very low on confidence, an early goal and it could be quite comfortable.
We've just signed Scowen https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2020/january/scowen-signs-permanent-deal We've also got Ethan Robson and Elliot Embleton if he gets over the setback.
3 - 1 to the lads, me and Mrs Draig watching under cover in amongst the Tranmere fans - in the narrow, Johnny King stand to the left of the cowshed.
For once the team we're playing have already had their 'cup final' and will struggle to raise their game again ... ... I can't see anything but a Sunderland win. 2-0 with Lafferty scoring both!!!!
That's my gut feeling too, I think they'll be deflated not defiant. The size of the defeat on a day when other teams in their league were holding prem teams to a comfortable draw isn't going to feel good. I think if anyone is going to bounce back it'll be us and we'll get the win.
Looking forward to this. Got three tickets for me, lad and daughter. HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM Hopefully get there early for a few beers too.
Scowen is great news. I meant readily available options, to clarify, so Embleton being crocked and Robson not viewed as being ready (it seems) does limit our options. I also see Embleton as an inside forward, not a CM or WB, in our current set up.
Once again a scrappy 0-1 would suffice. I just think with Lafferty getting fitter and more game time we will start battering teams hopefully sooner rather than later. Thought their left winger looked decent mind. O9 might struggle against the lads pace.
He does, and on his day he's compared to Traore. It cant be easy playing on that pitch week in week out, let's hope hes knackered. .
As usual good OP, thanks ! I am now feeling that I can predict a Sunderland win once more... 0-0 last time out, poor first half, better 2nd half. Goals are always difficult so we have to be on our game for 90 mins not 45. Clean sheets are good...the pitch is awful..they will be looking to bounce back. We must start playing at the P of peep of the whistle... I presume SAFCSEE will broadcasting
Watmore is getting over a minor knock, not available tomorrow. Grigg has a virus and is being kept away from the rest of the squad... I wonder what sort of virus he has?