Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Fulham FC – FA Cup - Wednesday 8th February 2023 - KO 19:45

Sunderland host Fulham in the 4th round FA Cup replay at the Stadium of Light
Last time out Sunderland drew with Millwall and Fulham drew with Chelsea.
Sunderland fought back to rescue a point at the New Den thanks to second half substitutes Alex Pritchard and Dennis Cirkin. Pritchard’s cross was met with a brave bullet header from Cirkin to level the score.
Cirkin suffered concussion on being punched by the Millwall keeper after he scored and will not be in the squad for this game. Luke O’Nien is available for selection again having completed his three match ban.
Joffy Gelhardt is cup-tied, Embleton, Stewart, Evans & Gooch remain unavailable due to injury.
Fulham dropped to 8th position in the Premier League with 32 points after their 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge. Striker Alexander Mitrovic has scored 11 goals and provided 1 assist in his 18 games this season. New signings Sasa Lukic and Cedric Soares are not available.
Fulham manager Marco Silva says he has to "improve" his touchline behaviour after being given a one-game suspension. Silva has picked up four bookings this season and will have to serve the touchline ban for his side's FA Cup fourth-round replay at Sunderland on Wednesday.
Tony Mowbray:
“It's difficult, the way the game went we didn't have the control that we normally have because of the way they play, It seemed to be a foul every five seconds so we didn't have enough control, the game kept stopping and starting. It'll be interesting to know how many fouls there were in that football match.
"We're a bit frustrated that we couldn't get our game going but we have to respect the opposition and how they play and what they do, and they ask lots of questions of you."
"Dennis is concussed," said Mowbray. "He was out cold on the pitch for a while. He's now awake, he's not necessarily sure whether he scored or not - we told him he has! Dennis is a brave lad, it's not the first time he has scored a headed goal for us in a tight, congested, six-yard box this season.
"Dennis will have some sort of concussion stuff to deal with now. He'll obviously miss Wednesday's cup replay against Fulham - I'm not sure exactly how many days he will be out, it depends on certain tests and what the doc says, but he might be alright for next weekend, we'll wait and see."
"Dennis had been out for a while - the same as Alex Pritchard - they had been out for four or five weeks. They both contributed to the equaliser, so I'm pleased for them."
Marco Silva:
"Proper derby. We knew before the match it would be difficult to come here.
"We understood perfectly the strategy to the match. That ambition, that desire, that togetherness, that quality in some moments.
"We went eye to eye with Chelsea in a derby that's really special for our fans. They did it. I'm so proud of them.
"Amazing intensity. I said at half-time we need to keep that intensity. Our start of the game was so good, so intense. A team who are clear what they're doing. We have real belief in ourselves."
"It’s a tough place to go but we believe in ourselves. We have to reach the same motivation and enthusiasm as them. We have to play to our game and play to our strengths."

Match Appointments:
Referee: TIM ROBINSON
Assistant Referees: Nick Greenhalgh & Akil Howson
Fourth Official: Jeremy Simpson

Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Alese, Batth, Ballard, Hume, Michut, Neil, Pritchard, Clarke, Roberts, Amad.

Subs: Bass, O’Nien, Huggins, Ba, Bennette, Ekwah, Taylor, Rigg.
Injured: Embleton, Stewart, Evans, Gooch, Cirkin

Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno, Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Palhinha, Reid, Willian, Andreas-Pereira, De Cordova-Reid, Mitrovic
Subs: Rodak, Kurzawa, Adarabioyo, Wilson, Cairney, Solomon, Chalobah, James, Vinicius.
Injured: Kebano

Betting Odds:
Sunderland 3/1 Fulham 4/3 Draw 14/5

Prutton Predicts: meh
Chris Sutton: 1-2 AET

My two pence:
Fulham are a good footballing side and this will be a very difficult game again, at least we won't get kicked off the park and hopefully they will want to play it on the ground. Depending on the injury situation I think we can sneak it.
I’m going for a 1-0 home win

Live Stream:
Live on BBC One

10th minute applause for fan Chis Collier RIP

Ha’way the Lads

 

Looking forward to a good game of football after the Milwall hoofball.

Wouldn't disagree with the lineup you have put out, ha'way the lads.

Big incentive for us to get through being at home next round because I reckon we have got a good chance in that one as well.

 

Shame Joffy is cup tied. Big blow for us.

I think without Stewart it’ll be a bit too much for us.

Would love to be wrong

 

Give it a good go and see what happens, these lads don’t know when they’re beaten and we can do this. No fresh injuries please. Thanks RTB. HTL.

 

Play like we did in the last game against them we win haway the lads.

 

Any idea how I can watch in Australia?

 

It's on iPlayer
- but you might need a vpn

 

RTB

Good heavens I keep agreeing with your team... although with injuries the team almost picks itself.

Of course I wonder where the goals are going to come from, but if we manage to score twice we could win it. Patterson and our defence are okay.
So I'll take a penalty, Amad brought down, and a Dan Neil wonder goal.

 

Thanks for that. Sounds a stretch for this technophobe!

 

These lads will give it everything without doubt.
In situations like this it’s all we can ask.
Hope I’m wrong but I think we needed to put it to bed down at Fulham.
Away win.

 

Silva is banned from the touchline for the game...... total gobshyte

 

It'll be on Paramount+

 

A 3-2 classic!!

Bart

 

I know it's the wrong round but a repeat of the City replay 50 years ago under the lights would be nice, what a night that was.

 

1-0 Mitrovic own goal

 

What a great night this will be.

The first match was entertaining and both teams are capable of playing good football. What a difference to the achingly dour grind of a match at Millwall, no wonder the locals all look so fu*king miserable.

Whoever wins I hope the score is 5-4, we entertain everyone and Rigg scores a hat trick ...

... Ha’way the Lads!!!

 

That’s promising, thanks.

 

Without a outball I think we may struggle and Fulham will have more possession that we would want. May depend on the team they put out.

 

An out ball doesn't always have to be a big hoof upfield to a lanky striker. We have pace and skill which can be just as effective, especially on the break if Fulham have more possession.

We tore Reading to shreds doing exactly that when Simms went off and everyone thought we'd never score again.

I'm sure Mowbray won't allow the players to use the loss of Stewart as an excuse.

 

Of course. I know it's not just that but sometimes more than often it helps. Millwall was a canny example really. Totally ineffective we were.

Really hope we see it work like you say though.