Sunderland travel to Gillingham in the Skybet League One Last time out Sunderland beat Man Utd (U21s) and Gillingham lost to Wycombe. Lee Johnson will make wholesale changes to the young side that progressed through to the next round of the Papa John’s Trophy. However, there are a few injury concerns for the Black Cats. Leon Dajaku is a doubt after reporting back from international duty with a thigh strain. Aiden McGeady is a bit of a doubt with an ankle problem, Nathan Broadhead is getting closer but is unlikely to be risked. Lynden Gooch is still recovering from injury and should resume training next week. Corry Evans has a calf problem, which doesn't look too serious, but Niall Huggins is out for 3 months with a back problem. Gillingham have some injury concerns themselves with only 18 fit players available for selection. The Gills started the season well but have lost their last three games and currently sit in 19th position with 11 points. Lee Johnson: "I think it's really important that we show the fans that we're not just working at the top end of the pyramid, The first team is the tip of the iceberg, we're working all the way down and I think you saw that tonight.” "Manchester United have quality players all through the age groups but I thought that we pressed like a Sunderland team tonight. We could have had any shirt on but you'd have known it was Sunderland if you've been watching our teams.” "That's credit to the coaching and the players for the way that they're retaining the information. I think we're starting to get that identity, and for me the win is just the cherry on the cake.” "We deserved it, we really did, we had good chances, and maybe just lacked a little bit of quality in the first half. Jevo (Phil Jevons) made a good point at half time that we needed to fill certain areas of the box, and that led to the winner with Wearney attacking the penalty spot.” "I think a lot of people at the club will take a lot of pride in that, because they've worked with these lads for years. "The results in this time weren't great a couple of years back so it's a lot of credit to anyone. "This is a great reward for the lads who have come off buzzing, and they really appreciated the support from the fans." Steve Evans: “We need to work hard and smart if we are to win games in League 1 this season.” “We know that with the smallest budget in League 1 we will need to find a point of difference and that will be our focus this week.” “Do not forget that we have some top players at the Gills and we need them now to be at their very best.” “Our supporters have been awesome and will play a massive part. They know how tough it is for us, but we are all in this together.” “We need Priestfield to be loud and proud in what are great games to be a part of” “We need to work as a group on the training ground ahead of the visit of Sunderland next Saturday.” Match Appointments: Referee: LEE SWABEY Assistant Referees: Paul Lister and Adrian Tranter Fourth Official: Sam Allison Team Line ups Sunderland: Hoffman; Cirkin, Doyle, Flanagan, Winchester, O’Nien, Neil, Embleton, McGeady, Stewart, O’Brien. Subs: Burge, Hume, Alves, Younger, Pritchard, Dajaku, Wearne Injured: Willis, Huggins, Broadhead, Gooch Gillingham: Cummin, Jackson, Ehmer, Tucker, McKenzie, O’Keefe, Dempsey, McDonald, Oliver, Lloyd-McGoldrick, Akinde Subs: Adshead, Kelman, Lee, Reeves, Sithole, Chapman Injured: Phillips, Tutonda, Jackson, Carayol Betting Odds: Sunderland 7/10 Gillingham. 18/5 Draw 13/5 My two pence: An excellent performance at home to Man U but I expect the first team to return to action at Priestfield. I’m going along for a day out in sunny Kent, so I hope that we play a lot better than we did at Portsmouth. At least the weather forecast is looking better. The Gills have lost their last 3 games 2-0 so no surprises that I’m going for a 2-0 away win Live Stream (Overseas only) https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Woo hoo, the fabulous match thread we all wait for. Makes it all real and should be acknowledged by all as I'm sure it is. Can't wait for this game tbh. Train gets me in around 11am, table booked by one of the lads in a local pub, everyone in around noon and a few tickets to dish out. I have a dozen or so spare at the moment but they're selling steadily. Haway the Lads, big turnout and a big win.
Awesome stuff as always. Fancy us for a comfortable win tbh. I'll go 1-3. Can't stand their ****ing twat of a manager. If we are up for it and play out game we will be fine.
Hopefully the break proves a real sore point for the lads being eager to put the Portsmouth performance right. You know what Gillingham will bring but if we play at our best we should win.
RTB Right back on the league trail.. playing away from home is always tougher than at home. Also let's just say Gillingham have a certain style of play. I read we have a few injuries so we will find out if our squad is as good as we think. Of course we have a couple of good younger players to step in as well. A hard fought win would not be unexpected.
I'm edging towards a hard-fought narrow win or a draw. We've struggled against in your face teams like this in the past, so we need to put in a Wimbledon like performance and grind it out.
He’s a dickhead isn’t he!!, utterly ridiculous that he’s still in the game. Absolutely hate playing his teams as it’s obvious what’ll happen from minute 1. Just like Ainsworth
Well our CBs will have to put a right shift in tomorrow, if we get the ball down and move it quickly we'll have too much for these, away win.
HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM Fookinell is it Friday already ? Hoping for a storming performance tomorrow and hoping I remember what day it is Coooooomon.
Cracking thread as usual RTB, I am going for a comfortable 3-1 away win, hopefully see McGeady back and get Stewart back in amongst the goals.
Gillingham is an important retail centre serving the local community. It has a twice weekly market which is ideal for the bargain hunters to wander around. The town has strong maritime and military connections with the nearby Historic Dockyard in Chatham and Royal Engineers barracks based in the town. Famous people from Gillingham. William Adams – nautical adventurer, advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu, western samurai David Bell – Victoria Cross recipient Sara Forbes Bonetta - princess and god-daughter to Queen Victoria, lived for six years in Palm Cottage, Canterbury Street. William Cuffay – chartist Nicholas Day – actor. H. D. Everett, novelist, born in Gillingham David Frost – television presenter. Hector Gray GC – RAF officer posthumously awarded the George Cross for conduct under torture by the Japanese army in 1943. John Hartnell - explorer on Franklin's lost expedition to find the Northwest Passage David Harvey – eminent human geographer. Jack Hues – musician, most notably as the lead singer of new wave band Wang Chung James Jordan – professional dancer, appears on Strictly Come Dancing James McCudden – World War I flying ace Fernley Marrison – first-class cricketer and British Army officer Brian Moore – sport commentator and journalist Stel Pavlou – novelist and screenwriter Gary Rhodes – chef and restaurateur Vaughan Smith – journalist (founder of Frontline Club), organic farmer who is giving refuge to Julian Assange R. N. Taber – poet and novelist Rosemary Tonks, poet and novelist, born in Gillingham Rik Waller – singer, seen on reality TV show Pop Idol in 2003. Ryan Bertrand – UEFA Champions League winner with Chelsea FC Dee Murray – bass player with Elton John Paul Nihill – Four-time Olympian, European champion, Olympic silver medallist and world record holding racewalker Sunderland record against Gills. Won 8,. Drew 5,. Lost 3,.
Not very optimistic. https://www.not606.com/threads/gillingham-vs-sunderland-patchy70-prediction-league-2021-2022.396216/
Thanks again RTB We will need to be disciplined and patient, if allowed to play football, we will win and start to make up some of the lost ground. OaU
I think most of the score predictions on there look optimistic for them. None saying defeat. Someone said “we have 6 forwards out, tight game” I never do predictions to be fair. Never have since backing Lee Clark instead of Martin Scott to score at the SOL and Clark got taken out after rounding the keeper! Scott scored the penalty!!!