Sunderland travel to Lincoln in the SkyBet League One Play Off Semi-Final. Last time out Sunderland drew with Northampton and Lincoln drew with Wimbledon. Sunderland’s draw with Northampton Town in the final game of the season meant that the Black Cats finished in 4th place behind Blackpool and face Lincoln City over 2 legs in the play off semi-finals. Both games are live on Sky Sports and will have limited spectators in the stadiums. The return fixture at the Stadium of Light will be on Saturday 22nd of May. Charlie Wyke made his return after missing last weekend's win at Plymouth due to a thigh injury, Aiden McGeady came on as a substitute after he sat out the Plymouth game with a bruised foot, and Conor McLaughlin played more than 50 minutes as he continued his recovery from hernia surgery. Striker Ross Stewart was absent due to a hamstring issue, but Lee Johnson is hopeful that he will be fit enough to play in a friendly at the end of next week as preparations begin in earnest for the play-off semi. Lincoln City finished the campaign in 5th place. Imps manager Michael Appleton revealed during the week that the only possible injury problem they might have is Joe Walsh, but he is expected be ready come game time. Following a head injury to Alex Palmer in training, the Imps have followed the concussion protocols and have signed goalkeeper Joe Bursik (Stoke) on an emergency loan deal. Lee Johnson: "Firstly, I'm pleased in terms of the outcome that we have the second leg of the play-off at home - I think that's important" "Obviously we wanted to do it with a win and in a bit more style, if I'm honest, but at least the day's mission was completed.” "I think it's a huge prize having the second leg at home. It doesn't mean that you can take your foot off the gas, but you know what you have to do and so do the fans.” "The objective was to finish third or fourth so we got the home tie, and as it turned out we are fourth." "The positives were that McGeady came back from injury and got 45 minutes, Charlie looked a bit rusty but came back and got 60 minutes under his belt, and Conor another 55 minutes." "Ross suffered a grade two hamstring tear - or tweak, or strain, depending on how you want to look at it," "Lincoln are a good side, a really good side. They have a lot of athleticism and their best XI is up there with the best in the league.” "The two widemen are pacey, they have good footballers and bite in midfield, and a backline that on their day is very solid and secure. "There's no doubt that we are going to have to be at our best over the 180 or potentially more minutes to get the result that we require." Michael Appleton: On the draw with Wimbledon Appleton said: “It was how I thought it might be. I was hoping that it would be a bit different. It had a bit of an end of season feel about it for both teams and that’s how it panned out.” “Against them here, we should have been two up before they scored, but in the two games up there, I thought that we were good. In the league game I thought that we were excellent and we were disappointed to only come away with a point. It just goes to show how far we’ve come. Hopefully, over the next nine or 10 days, we can get ourselves mentally and physically prepared for what’s going to be an exciting game.” Given their history and the size of the club, there will be immense pressure on Sunderland to win the play-offs. Asked if that could play into the Imps’ hands, Appleton said: “Maybe, who knows? Obviously they would have been keen to finish in those top two positions, there’s no doubt about that.” “From our point of view, we’ll look forward to coming up against a side which has big expectations of them. We’ll try and play the way that we play and hopefully that will be good enough.” Match Appointments: Referee: CRAIG HICKS Assistant Referees: Andrew Dallison and Hristo Karaivanov Fourth Official: Sam Purkiss Team Line ups Sunderland: Burge; O’Nien, Wright, Hume; Power, Scowen, Gooch; McGeady, Diamond, Wyke. Subs: Matthews, Younger, Winchester, Leadbitter, Jones, Maguire, Stewart Injured: Xhemajli, Willis, Sanderson Lincoln City: (4-3-3) Bursik, Poole, Montsma, Jackson, Edun, McGrandles, Bridcutt, Grant, Johnson, Hopper, Rogers. Subs: Eyoma, Walsh, Scully, Sanders, Bramall, Morton, Long Injured: Palmer Betting Odds: Sunderland 6/4 Lincoln 2/1 Draw 14/5 My two pence: Maybe the Northampton game was just a ploy to lull Lincoln into a false sense of security. Hopefully LJ has them all fired up to win the next three games. I’m going for a 3-2 away win Tickets: Sold Out Live on Sky Sports Football from 17:30 Ha’way the Lads
another brill thread mate and cant see past a win for us, i think we will turn up for this one and be firing on all cylinders, if anyone does not we have plenty of choice in reserve, haway me bonny lads
Cracking thread as always. I am expecting a solid performance with Wyke back on the score sheet along with Gooch. A 2-1 away win for me.
HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM Hopefully 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 and none of that 4222 shìte. Got to go for it now. Take these games by the scuff of the neck. We've enough in the squad to do this. All the players need to be switched on and give their all. Coooooommmmmon.
Lincoln is a city in the English East Midlands. It’s known for the medieval Lincoln Cathedral, with early printed books in a Wren-designed library. Lincoln Castle houses a Victorian prison and a copy of the Magna Carta. The Museum of Lincolnshire Life has social history exhibits in Victorian barracks. The Collection is a museum displaying local archaeology. Nearby, the Usher Gallery has works by Turner and Lowry. Head to head. Sunderland won 6 Drawn 3 Lost 4 https://www.11v11.com/teams/sunderland/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Lincoln City/
That's quite an attacking line up for the away leg although it does give us the pace to cope with their wide men. If Diamond plays he needs to be stronger , on and off the ball, and more decisive. It looks like a team to get the ball into Wyke, 6 yards out, and that's fine as long as the crosses come in. There doesn't look much 'stickability' up front so the midfield will need to run themselves into the ground. No O'Brien anywhere?
Ha'way Ha'way Ha'way. Attack Attack Attack. Kill Kill Kill. 0-3 and job done. Blackpool in the final and we will spank those ****ers as well.
Great thread as ever RTB, did we have a game on Friday? Think we'll draw the first leg... Ha’way the Lads
Great thread RTB you really do set the scene brilliantly, love the play-offs, and cant see us failing tbh, having said that, this could be the toughest game of the three. A win here will propel us into the Championship that's how important it is for us all. OaU.
Great thread as always @RTB . I feel we have to go for it - put a marker down as such to show that those winless games were just a blip at the wrong time. We can't just sit back and defend so I'm reaching back through time to Roker Park for inspiration. please log in to view this image
RTB I cannot see but we go for a win. Let's hope we can put in 3 performances in the next 3 games and show we deserve to go up. I noticed Liverpool who have CB problems trust their younger players.