Sunderland host Sheffield Wednesday in the Skybet League One Play-off Semi-Final first leg. (Thanks to RJXMEDIA) Last time out Sunderland beat Morecambe and Wednesday beat Portsmouth. The Black Cats secured 5th place in League One with a 1-0 away win at Morecambe. Nathan Broadhead scored to secure the 3 points but was taken off after 25 minutes due to injury. Alex Neil may need to make changes with Winchester not available and Broadhead looking doubtful, but Dennis Cirkin and Aiden McGeady could be close to a first team return. Leon Dajaku is expected to return from Germany this week. Callum Doyle missed out at the weekend with Alex Neil going for experience in defence. Darren Moore has a few injury concerns with Barry Bannan the Owls skipper taken off in the 82nd minute against Portsmouth after suffering a muscle injury. “We always give it 24 or 48 hours and then you get more of a clear picture. That’s what I want to do over the next couple of days to see how he is.” Alex Neil: “I'm really pleased with what the players have done. That's one in fifteen that we've lost, I think, and that one still bugs me by the way. We've cleared the first hurdle now, we're in the play-offs, and now there's work to do. “It was a tough game, scrappy in parts. Our goal was excellent and I thought that our transitions we should have made better use of, but it's understandable when you consider what's at stake. They are fighting for their lives as well. The simple fact is that we got the job done, and really I thought that we did it with comfort. I don't think Patto has had a save to make in the end. If you look at their home record, their goal average is -1. Away from home it's -29, so that shows that this was going to be a difficult game. They've beaten Oxford here, and they've drawn with Ipswich and Bolton. They make it difficult for teams here so it is a good win for us. We'll rest tomorrow and then we'll get started (preparing for Sheffield Wednesday). I'll enjoy the moment but I won't get carried away. It is what it is, and now I need to prep and plan. That's my focus now, no time to celebrate.... I might have a beer with my dinner tonight, maybe." Darren Moore: “It was all about getting the job done today. We knew that we had a strong opposition. Once we settled down after the first 10 minutes - some of our passing and movement was a little erratic which you could understand with the magnitude of the game - we got into our rhythm and we played some good stuff. Massive, massive credit to the players. The strength of character to go a goal down and not lose sight of the process. They kept to the game plan, settled down and we could see clear pictures and we could see the areas that we wanted to exploit. I said credit to the players at half time. Everyone to a man stuck together and we came through a very difficult test. The first phase was to get in the top six. We are now in the play-offs and we have got two massive games coming up against Sunderland. They will be two great games and we are focused on them. It will be a stern test. Alex Neil has done a great job with Sunderland. They are a good team and a big club. Both teams will go into the tie full of confidence and in good form. It will be a good game." Match Appointments: Referee: Matthew Donohue Assistant Referees: Philip Dermott, Paul Hodskinson Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone Team Line ups Sunderland: (3-5-2) Patterson; Cirkin, Batth, Wright; Roberts, O’Nien, Evans, Embleton, Gooch; Pritchard, Stewart. Subs: Hoffmann, Doyle, Xhemajli, Matete, Neil, Clarke, McGeady Injured: Dajaku, Winchester, Willis, Huggins. Sheffield Wednesday: (3-5-2) Peacock-Farrell, Hunt, Storey, Hutchinson, Palmer, Johnson, Byers, Luongo, Bannan, Berahino, Gregory Subs: Gibson, Windass, Paterson, Dele-Bashiru, Dunkley, Wildsmith, Mendez-Laing Injured: Iorfa, Brennan, John-Jules Betting Odds: Sunderland 8/5 Sheff Wed 17/10 Draw 21/10 My two pence: A good result but again not a great football game, and hopefully Alex can calm a few people down and get them playing more like the style we did against Cambridge. Another 5-0 win would set us up nicely, but I think it’s going to be a lot closer game this time round. I’m going for a 2-0 home win. No Live Stream as it’s Live – On SKY Ha’way the Lads
Great thread as ever RTB, thanks mate! Be interesting to see what team gets put out, hopefully huge crowd can stay onside throughout and we can take a good lead South on Monday. This ref any good?
Most of his games have been in the Championship - that doesn't mean he's any good though https://www.whoscored.com/Referees/1104/Show/Matt-Donohue
Thanks mate, hopefully less of an issue given opposition and on Sky I suppose. It's in our hands, won't be easy but very doable. That'll do for me
Brilliant as usual RTB!!! I'm looking at this as two games not one. I think under Neil we have showed we can go all the way and score winners in the 96th minute. So going on this basis we will score at the death in Sheffield to go through. Maybe even 1 - 0 (Stewart) over the two legs to us. It's going to be tense, cagey with neither team not giving anything away. Both teams frightened of making mistakes. Hope I'm wrong and we blast them out the water in the first leg with a 5 - 0 win but can't see it. Fate and destiny now......HTL!!!!!!!
Brilliant as usual @RTB. Looking close to a full house under the lights, atmosphere should be electric and as always I'd love a fast start and an early goal or 2. Like the team you have put out, wouldn't be disappointed if we started that way, but we have good options on the bench and plenty of ability. Heart wants a dominant performance and to play them off the park with a comfortable 2 or 3 nil win, head says its going to be tight, cagey and to take a 1 nil victory
I think it’ll be a tough game and 0-0 really wouldn’t surprise. Sheff Wed would happily take a draw back to their place… I hope we go for it from the off.
Great thread RTB, play to our strengths and we'll have enough to progress to the final. Nerves will play a big part over this weekend and whoever deals with theirs the best will prevail, just hope it's us. HTL
Thanks RTB, only 2 more to go after this then you can have break. If Broadhead is injured, that is not helpful and by and large I would go for you team. Neil seems to like Clarke rather than Roberts, but who knows. We cannot to lose this game, a draw still leaves it all to play for... but we will want at least a 2 goal lead. 2 leg games first one at home are hard.... we can do it i believe...will not be easy
Thanks again RTB for a superb scene setter, with the best view of the SoL I can remember, hope these final three, tense games will outshine even that shot and do justice to your splendid efforts, past, present and future OaU
Can’t wait. I will be in Railway Club from around half three onwards on Friday making sure my throat is well lubricated.
