Sunderland travel to Hull City in the Championship on Boxing Day. Last time out Sunderland lost to Coventry and Hull lost at Bristol City. The Black Cats dropped to 9th and are 3 points off Hull City in the play-off places. Michael Beale will be without Niall Huggins who was stretchered off after rolling his ankle and twisting his knee. Alex Pritchard and Hemir could return after illness. Hull City lost on their travels as Bristol City secured back-to-back Championship victories for the first time since February, after coming from 2-1 down to beat Hull 3-2 at Ashton Gate.Hull City have agreed to sign vastly experienced striker Billy Sharp. However, the 37-year-old will officially join the club on 1 January on a contract until the end of the season. Mike Beale: "I'm not going to make any excuses for losing 3-0 at home - I have to apologise to the fans. There was some naivety in our performance today we need to look at. "Between the boxes we played some good football, we got into good areas and had as many, if not more chances than Coventry - but we can't concede three goals at the other end. It's not good enough. "Early in the game we had the first big opportunity to score and we didn't take it. In the first half we had the majority of possession but it's fair to say we were sloppy at times. "Other than the set-play, where Patti (Anthony Patterson) makes a great save, the first half was petering out and right on the whistle we go in 1-0 down. Our response to that at the start of the second half was actually very good but we created numerous opportunities and didn't take them." Liam Rosenior: "I'm not being disrespectful to Bristol City but at the moment they scored the second goal we shouldn't concede, we were in complete control of the game. "I thought we showed again a really good resilience and character to come back. They get a penalty, we respond really well and get two goals and in that moment, and in the second half especially, we felt we controlled the game in our shape and with the ball. "But for two really really poor moments we end up losing the game. "It's really frustrating. If we'd had come here tonight and were beaten by far the better team and they were better than us in every department I'd tell you the truth, but it's not the case. "That's almost even more frustrating from my point of view as from a coaching perspective - I'm sat up in the stand today - we look a good team home and away but if we want to achieve what I think is possible for this group we have to learn on the job really quickly and not throw points away." Match Appointments: Referee: SUNNY SINGH GILL Assistant Referees: Mark Stevens & Blake Antrobus Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Seelt, O’Nien, Neil, Jobe, Clarke, Pritchard, Roberts, Rusyn. Subs: Bishop, Triantis, Mayenda, Ba, Aouchiche, Ekwah, Dack, Rigg, Burstow. Injured: Evans, Cirkin, Huggins Hull City (4-2-3-1) Allsop, Christie, Jones, Greaves, Coyle, Morton, Seri, Delap, Tufan, Twine, Connolly. Subs: Ingram, McLoughlin, Docherty, Traoré, Vaughan, Lokilo, Smith, Slater, Jacob. Injured: Philogene, Vinagre, Sinik Betting Odds: Sunderland 9/5 Hull 29/20 Draw 12/5 Prutton Predicts: 2-1 My two pence: Mike Beale got off to the worst possible start but hopefully he learnt a lot about what we do well and he can figure out how to address the problem areas in both boxes. Hull are on a similar run of form having lost 3 out of the last 6 games. I’m hoping for a win but going for a 1-1 draw Live Stream: Available to overseas fans: https://safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Great thread as always @RTB I've gone for a win as if we play like we.know we can we should beat them, but a draw wouldn't be the end of the world. Team line up is going to be interesting, especially after Huggins' injury
My head will explode if we don't start a striker. Hull are a good side and a draw would be a decent result.
Not confident at all, they have some quality attacking players n i just dont see where our goals are coming from Need to make 3 or 4 changes for this 1 n hope theres a reaction Merry Christmas to all when it comes
Or at least bring one on with plenty of time Getting sick of it at the minute, got to give them minutes
Can't wait for this, 4-0 to the lads, cracking day out for our away support and mass confusion for the non-believers P.S. thanks to you RTB, for these fabulous match threads. I know I relentlessly take the piss but you know I think the world of you. Happy Christmas to you and yours, until we meet again
Lots of draws playing this lot, our away form has dipped badly so another draw would be a good result. As for playing a forward....who knows.
Playing Mayenda, Rusyn and Burstow would totally confuse everyone ... ... Hull included. P.S. I'm pissed
Thanks once again for your efforts RTB. Fantastic thread. Looking forward to this one. Going down with son grandson and son in law. Hoping for a big reaction from the players. Get behind the lads and I just have a sneaky feeling we might nick this. I have had a couple of malts mind. . Keep the faith lads and lasses and have a fabulous Christmas tomorrow.
I can't see us winning this or many more this season, as we've been sussed on our play. As we constantly play along the back line, and slowly progress, every team are getting all players defending, what happened to last years exciting play of attack with pace which scared the s**t out of teams. We may as well sell all our quick players as we don't utilise them. And another option is to play a striker, I know it's unheard of the last 18 months, but I bet Rusyn would have scored that easy tap in that Ba overhit. We'll never have a striker scoring if you don't play them. If Beale persists in this method that Tony had then I can't see him lasting long. Yes attack but at speed.
Another great thread RTB and I take my hat off to you for the research you do into each thread. Not knocking your team at all but I can see us reverting back to the system or maybe even the team with Huggins out that kept out Leeds. I think the Beale will still be led by Dodds slightly but will want to make some kind of change after yesterday
Firstly, Beale needs to sort out our Leaky Soft Defence. Secondly he needs to get at least 1 striker on the pitch. It’s not likely to happen for this game, so it’s a 2-0 home win for me, but I fear another drubbing (maybe 4 or 5-0). Bart
Have a feeling he might go with the Leeds formation. This is one of those times where a draw wouldn't be terrible mostly because it would halt our losing run (only 2 at the minute tbf).
Will this game be available on the sky red button or on safsee for UK fans as its not a 3pm Saturday?
Sky Sports Red Button Football Coverage :: Soccer Channels, Cable & Satellite Providers :: Live Soccer TV seems to say yes on the red button
Great thread @RTB - it makes the build up so much more enjoyable. I'm going for a 1-1 draw. I really hope he sticks on a centre forward, gives Ekwah a confidence tablet, shows Roberts where the goal actually is, and gets Pritchard on from the start. Lets have a good one Hawaaaaaaay!!
