Sunderland travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland drew with West Brom and Sheffield United beat Oxford. Sunderland made 3 changes with Hume, Jobe and Roberts returning to the starting lineup. The Black Cats dominated the game from start to finish but were unable to breakdown the WBA defence despite having more of the ball and 17 shots. Sunderland could fall to fourth if Leeds United avoid defeat at home to Luton Town tonight, before their game away to Sheffield United. Dennis Cirkin is unavailable for this game after his wrist surgery. Huggins, Seelt, Samed, Poveda, Mundle, Browne & Abdullahi remain injured. Sheffield United went to the top of the Championship after another impressive home display saw them brush aside Oxford United 3-0 at Bramall Lane. Chris Wilder's side were two up after half an hour with goals from Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell's fifth in his last six league outings. Rak-Saki added a third after the break, giving United their seventh win in a row at home without conceding a goal. The Blades are without defender Ahmedhodzic who is serving a 3 match ban. Regis le Bris: "I am bit frustrated and disappointed, for sure. That was the main feeling in the dressing room at the end of the game. "In the positive part it shows that against such a good team, well organised with good players, it shows we are getting better in many areas of the game. "In possession, we were dominant. We had three or four chances to score and we didn't. "Many, many small details can make the difference and today it wasn't enough." Press Conference: Chris Wilder: "We would have taken a win at the start of the day as I've been involved in too many games to know that these are the ones which are really important. "It’s Tuesday night and little bit cold and you are playing a team that everybody expects you to win, you’ve got to get the job done and we did. "It is a great home record and that home form has been fabulous and key. I know sometimes I want us to go forward and go from three to four to five but there was some great defending when we were winning three-nil to keep that clean sheet. "Sunderland have been going great and Friday night is a big game. Two teams that have started the season on the front foot and are deservedly in this position." Form: Match Appointments Referee: GAVIN WARD Assistant Referees: Lee Venamore & James Wilson Fourth Official: Sam Allison Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-3-3) Patterson, Alese, Mepham, Ballard, Hume, Neil, Jobe, Rigg, Watson, Isidor, Mayenda. Subs: Moore, Hjelde, O'Nien, Aleksic, Aouchiche, Rusyn, Connolly, Roberts, Ogunsuyi. Injured: Huggins, Seelt, Samed, Abdullahi, Browne, Mundle, Cirkin. Sheffield United (4-2-3-1) Cooper, McCallum, Robinson, Soutter, Seriki, Vinicius Souza, Peck, Hamer, O’Hare, Rak-Sakyi, Campbell Subs: Burrows, Brooks, Davies, Davies, Gilchrist, Marsh, Norrington-Davies, Oné, Shackleton. Injured: Sachdev, Moore, Brewster, Arblaster Suspended: Ahmedhodzic Betting Odds: Sunderland 11/4 Sheff Utd 1/1 Draw 9/4 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: A good performance against WBA but we just couldn’t get that winning goal despite the high number of shots. We are 10 games unbeaten now but with 5 consecutive draws we are losing ground with the top two and the chasing pack. It would be great to get a win at Bramall lane to get back on track. Cirkin is out for 2 weeks, it looks like Wilson Isidor will be up front and RLB seemed to hint that O'Nien could be on the bench - I've updated my team now A very tough game given our current form and their home record. I’m going for a 1-0 win to the lads Live Stream: Live on Sky Sports Football https://www.safc.com/live Available to overseas fans only Ha’way the Lads
First time this season I think we’ll lose, I’m never right like so hope that continues, just need to be clinical with the chances we do create we know we’re capable of beating anyone in this league
Yeah I don't fancy us on Friday. I think we may get a touch bullied, similar to Watford away. That said, we should have space on the counter attack. We need to make every attack count.
As much as I bang on about possession and control, I think this is a game for counter attacks. So I want as much pace in the side as possible. Watson - Isidor - Mayenda Jobe - Neil - Rigg Alese - Ballard - Mepham - Hume Patterson Extremely, extremely harsh on O'Nien but we have 3 really good centre backs (4 if you count Alese), and I think we have to use them to their strengths. Luke is best suited to possession football where he can help to dictate play whereas Friday I think we need defensive physicality. Want to utilise Mayendas speed throughout the game. Roberts can come on against tired legs to help us either retain the ball if we are winning or to help find an equaliser/winning goal if needed. Hard game. Wouldn't be shameful at all if we get beat. 2-2, Mayenda and Ballard.
Don't fancy us on Friday unfortunately but if we play like last night we have a chance whoever we are up against. We just seem to be in a bit of a rut and we need a bit of luck.
They've got some quality players at this level, Hamer and O'Hare, their midfield looks solid that Souza fella looks a handful. Think they might give our midfield a tonking. Defensively we are better I feel, but it won't be enough on Friday, we need a solid gameplan or the stars to align.
The Boro game tonight is proof that you cannot predict anything in this league. Our defence has to be on the top of its game, but going forward we can hurt them. This type of game will be much more open, which will suit us better than games like Tuesday, when the opposition parked the bus. I'm hoping Cirkin is back. We are much better going forward with him in the side and he'd be better support for Watson. They are without their best defender (imo) through suspension, so I expect Isidor to catch them on the break. Soutter is a big carthorse, but will be effective from set pieces. Id go: Patto Hume - Mepham - Ballard - Cirkin Rigg - Neil - Jobe Mayenda - Isidor - Watson I was thinking about Connolly for Rigg, as I do think he's looked a bit jaded of late. He's no good to us if he's burnt out like Neil and Doyle were a few seasons back. I certainly wouldn't be playing him in all the games when we have 3 in a week. Having said that, it is still possible to play him in 38 games or so, or 60-70 minutes in some games. This is one of those games where I'd bring him off on the hour mark if he's showing signs of fatigue. Torn between Ballard and O'Nien, who would be very unfortunate to be left out. He may get the nod if Cirkin doesn't make it. I've gone for a 1-1 draw, although I wouldn't rule out a 1-0 win. We're more than capable of getting the 3 points. However, so are they.
At some point these draws will become victories and TBH the draws have all been decided on pretty fine margins except Coventry where I think we shot ourselves in the foot second half. I always think we can win and I feel no different here so will predict an exciting 1-3 victory.
Both teams in decent unbeaten runs so will something give on Friday and it doesn't finish as a draw. If one team gets all the points then why not us, were certainly overdue, Great thread RTB, Isidor back on the scoresheet to sneak the win HTL.
Cracking thread as usual RTB. Can't see 09 being moved into midfield though. I've gone for a draw, but if we can click we will cause them problems so praying for a win. Team announcement will be interesting, I'm not sure if RLB will change it up to much or trust the players to perform. Got all the makings of a belting game
Can't see past a home win here. Sheff Wed have been pretty consistent. Been a tough run, but we're still in the mix with some easier fixtures to come
Think we will take the points. I have a feeling we will turn on the style and have just about enough over the 90. Isidor and Rigg will give us a 1-2 victory. Last 20 minutes will be absolutely horrible as usual but we will hold on this time.
They have done ok but as we are playing Sheffield Utd I am not thinking too much about Sheff Wed yet.
Come thick and fast dont they. No time to coach just recover and video stuff probably. Light session today - hopefully attacking set pieces as we have gone off the boil a bit with them. Going to this. Out in Sheff with mates afternoon so may be struggle to watch with any sort of sense. Probably nowt new. Staying over as well, so who knows what state I will be in win, lose or draw. Hard to predict for me. We seem really solid off the ball. Hard to break down and rarely get played through. But can we create enough to trouble them. Midfield they look good, so we need to match them. If Jobe and Neil play like they can we can match them. Then can we get Rigg on the ball nearer to their goal. Can Isidor hold it up and give us a platform to play from. All things I am hoping I am sober enough to watch for, but I am more than likely to be just a singing lunatic throughout. Looking forward to it
