Sunderland host Northampton Town at the Stadium of Light in the SkyBet League One. Last time out Sunderland beat Plymouth and Northampton lost to Blackpool Sunderland picked up 3 points at Home Park to guarantee their place in the League One play-offs. The Black Cats leading scorer Charlie Wyke and leading assist maker Aiden McGeady were both unavailable due to injury. After the mid-week games, Sunderland dropped to fourth place behind Blackpool, but they are guaranteed to finish no lower than fifth and will be looking to build some momentum for the play-offs. Connor McLaughlin and Tom Flanagan could both be back in contention, and Jake Vokins played in the U23s game against Stoke earlier this week. Northampton Town are already relegated to League Two along with Bristol Rovers, Swindon and Rochdale. The Cobblers could be without captain Joseph Mills at the weekend after he was forced off with a calf injury against Blackpool. Lee Johnson: “I want to finish as high as we can, of course, but it doesn't matter who we play. I'm not going to try and be tactical to try and finish in a particular position because I want to play against a particular club, which some people might." "I believe that, over two legs, if we are at it, we can be successful against anyone." "We need positivity, support - the players need support - belief, and concentration. You have to concentrate for every second of your performance in the play-offs, because the minute you switch off, it's a goal because people are so highly-tuned to know how important it is. You can also play on that of course, because if your opponents switch off and you are highly-tuned, it can be bang bang, and suddenly you are 2-0 up because they are dazed." “Aiden and Charlie are the kind of players that want to get going and play every minute of every game. I think that, particularly with tall players and big lads like Charlie, you have to keep them oiled, if you like, which means giving them as much game time as possible." "It (the balance) is a consideration for Conor, because we want to get him some more minutes. You're also looking at Tom (Flanagan) who has had a week to ten days training, and he's probably 50-50.” "Those two are probably the ones that I'm studying and observing more than anyone else - the way that they hinge, their movement, their sharpness, their footwork, their organisation, and their level of lung capacity, but Jake is another one, and Callum McFadzean hasn't played for a bit. There are a number of mini-dilemmas in there as we try to get ourselves in the right shape for the play-off semis." Jon Brady: "We haven't been good enough in certain areas of the pitch over the course of the season," Brady said. "Looking ahead, we need to decide what's best for the football club and what is the best way to move forward. We have fallen short this season, but we need to move forward and look to bounce back as soon as possible. "We might have fallen short this season, but it is not through lack of effort or commitment. We have not been good enough and we should have been better in key areas on the field. "I enjoy representing this football club and I am hurt by what has happened. For me, the hurt is there because I just want this club to do well and to come back next season as strong as possible and to build a squad as strong as possible to get back to League 1 as quickly as possible. "For me it is very personal and it means so much. We have thrown so much at it and it will take a while to get over the disappointment, but you have to pick yourself up and fight back. Our first challenge is to go to Sunderland and to put a marker down for next season to say that this club never lies down." Match Facts: Sunderland have only won one of their last nine final league matches of a season. Sunderland have won two of their last three league encounters with Northampton. Northampton have failed to win any of their last 16 away matches. Northampton have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 3 away matches. There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Northampton's last 4 games. Match Appointments: Referee: SAMUEL BARROTT Assistant Referees: Joe Clark and Matthew Bristow Fourth Official: Paul Graham Team Line ups Sunderland: Burge; Hume, O’Nien, Wright, McLaughlan; Power, Scowen, Gooch; Jones, Diamond, Stewart. Subs: Matthews, Younger, O’Brien, Vokins, Maguire, Neil, Hawkes Injured: Xhemajli, Willis, Sanderson Northampton Town: (4-3-3) Mitchell, Bolger, Horsfall, Jones, Harrimanat, Watson, McWilliams, Morris, Hoskins, Jones, Miller. Subs: Edmondson, Dyche, Sheehan, Rose, Chukwuemeka, Woods Injured: Mills, Kioso Other fixtures: Betting Odds: Sunderland 11/20 Northampton 29/10 Draw 14/5 My two pence: A good performance and a welcome win at Plymouth will hopefully build the confidence back up just in time for the play-offs. Northampton showed against Blackpool that they are not very good at defending so I’m hoping for a bit of a goal fest on Sunday to end the season on a high. I’m going for a 3-0 home win Live stream £10 https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Beautiful stuff as always. 6 nowt home win. Stewart hat trick, Maguire 2 and Winiesta to round it of. Ha'way me bonney ****ing laaaddds
Great post as ever @RTB Play-off places up for grabs so players should be well up for this. I'm going for a 5 - 1 win.
RTB last time out we broke our losing streak, with the help of a penalty and a sending off.... plus a couple of good saves by Burge. Confidence going into the play-offs would be good of course...so a win would help that. However we do not want any injuries or red cards to key players. Other players who might feature in the successful run of 3 games (fingers crossed ) need game time. Otherwise this is 'dead rubber as it were.
OK but we had 24 shots with 11 on target and hit the woodwork about 3 times. The third goal was pure football 22 passes before Gooch's shot.
Last time at home v Northampton in a league game was back in May 1988, a comfortable two nil victory, a repeat performance would suffice. Incidentally fairground attraction were riding high in the music charts, it's got to be perfect.
Brilliant post again RTB! I would pretty much agree with your starting eleven, except I would have Younger in, and replace Scowen with 09 in midfield. We've got to give him a go there sometime, and this game is probably the best one to do it in. Think we'll have too much for them, but keeping a clean sheet is a concern. So I'll go 4-1 to the Lads. Stewart, Gooch (2) and Diamond.
very professional thread again mate thank you, love your team layout lets hope LJ does the same, cant see anything but a win, now it's by how many i'll take a stab at 3 for us
I reckon if we can can back to keeping clean sheets, we have a good chance of going up Wyke, Mcgeady etc will invariably score a goal or 2... so clean sheets would see us through. 3CBs and 2 WBs Hume and Gooch for me..to shore up defence.
I agree that the 3 CB's and 2 WB's would suit our personnel best, and probably explains why LJ is hoping to get Flanagan fit. As I've said on numerous occasions, I would have Younger in there with Wright and McLaughlin. Gooch and Hume as WB's. Have 3 in the middle to stop us getting overrun, and two up top. You are bang on when you say we have to get back to keeping clean sheets.
Cant see Johnson budging on his use of the back 4. I wouldn't even contemplate playing Wyke or McGeady and for that matter Hume, Onien or Burge. I'd start Matthews as he needs the minutes if he's going to called upon. Likewise with Younger. McLaughlin id try and get some minutes in him and take him off if required like he did at Plymouth -------------------Matthews------------------ McLaughlin--Wright--Younger--McFaz ----------------Power---Winchester------------------- ---Diamond------Gooch-----------Maguire--- --------‐---------------Stewart----------------------