Sunderland welcome Luton Town to the Stadium of Light in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland drew with Watford and Luton drew with Sheffield Wednesday. The Black Cats started well with Luke O’Nien putting them ahead on the 16th minute. It was the perfect start but the home side failed to take advantage and conceded a penalty just before half time. The Hornets started the second half the way they finished the first and went ahead with a great strike from Louza. Sunderland took control as the game progressed and Dennis Cirkin equalised in the 89th minute. Isidor and Aleksic both spurned chances to win it in added time. Alan Browne could be available with Mundle and Watson due to return to full training soon. New signing Jayden Danns remains unavailable, with Huggins & Alese on the injured list. Luton didn’t play at the weekend but drew 1-1 at Hillsborough last time out on the 1st of February. The Hatters have come down from the Premier League and kept on going... but they have brought in some potentially exciting talent to assist them in a relegation battle. Josh Bowler joined from Forest, Thelo Aasgaard and Millenic Alli will seek to make the step up from League One to the Championship, Kal Naismith has arrived to bolster the defence, Isaiah Jones may have a point to prove after his arrival from Middlesbrough, while Lasse Nordas offers competition to Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo. Luton have offloaded players who were not featuring regularly, including Cauley Woodrow on loan to Blackburn Rovers with Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu joining Rotherham on loan for the rest of the season. Regis le Bris: "We started well and finished well, but I'm a bit disappointed. "It wasn't a surprise the challenge we faced, as this team (Watford) has many powerful players. It suited perfectly with our own weaknesses and we were dominated one-v-one. "After their second goal, we played to our strengths and it was more positive as it's not easy to change the dynamic of a game. "Our second half was better with some subs and at the end, their goalkeeper was man-of-the-match, so we had chances to win." Presser on Tuesday at 2pm Matt Bloomfield: "I can feel the spirit growing, I can feel the confidence growing. But that's only words from me unless we back it up with results. A point away from home always has to be respected and I thought there was some really good individual displays in there. "First half I thought our shape was fantastic, we limited Sheffield Wednesday to very few opportunities. I think we tired a bit, we've got some boys still working their way back to full fitness, but at any level, you've got to defend for your lives at times. "I was really pleased that the boys got some reward for their work because they've worked really hard this week, at least they've got a point and it was nice to share that with the supporters at the end. "It's a stepping stone for us, of course we want to win away from home but it's been a long run and to show that character and togetherness and get a point on the road has got to be a good day for us." Form: Match Appointments Referee: John Busby Assistant referees: Mark Russell & James Wilson Fourth official: Dean Whitestone Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-3-3) Patterson, Cirkin, O’Nien, Mepham, Hume, Neil, Jobe, Le Fée, Rigg, Mayenda, Isidor. Subs: Moore, Hjelde, Ballard, Samed, Aleksic, Browne, Poveda, Roberts, Ogunsuyi. Injured: Huggins, Browne, Mundle, Watson, Alese. Luton: (4-1-4-1) Kaminski, Johnson, Anderson, McGuinness, Walters, Lamine Fanne, Doughty, Clark, Aasgaard, Brown, Morris. Subs: Alli, Adebayo, Bowler, Hashioka, Krul, Naismith, Nakamba, Nelson, Jones. Injured: Burke, Baptiste, Mengi, Chong. Betting Odds: Sunderland 4/6 Luton 19/5 Draw 11/4 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: Another frustrating home game against Watford. Luton have had 11 days and a full week of training since their last game to bed in their new signings. The Hatters currently sit in a relegation spot and will no doubt revert to their physical league one style of play. At least our players won’t get kicked by Mpanzu this time around. I’m going for a 2-0 home win. Live Stream: Live on Sky Sports+ https://www.safc.com/live Ha’way the Lads
Liking that line up and a strong bench that will only get stronger when Mundle and Watson return. Really hope we go after these from the off and dont let up.
Another great thread @RTB I might make 1 change to your team and bring Ballard in for Cirkin and move O'Nien to left back. Luton have some big lads in their team and I think Ballard would be more suited and Cirkin hasn't been at his best lately
You're right that they’ve had 11 days rest but also all that time to reflect on their dire situation … … no wins since before Christmas, no new manager bounce and one shot in their last game away at Sheff Wed. They had about 30% possession so we know what kind of game it’ll be. We need to mix up the passing triangles with balls over the top, through the channels and fired into the box. That worked at Boro. Neil fired into a crowded box as did Le Fèe. And a ball knocked beyond a slow turning defence put Isidor in. We need to create moments of total panic imo … … sometimes nice football can be too nice for its own good. 4-0 with another for Isidor and a Le Fée penalty … Ha’way the Lads!!!
Luton will have seen how Plymouth and Watford played a direct and physical game to unsettle us. They will bring all of the dark arts of ****housery with them. This will be a tough game and I'd bring Ballard, Jobe and Mayenda into the team to gives us a bit more physicality Patterson Hume Mepham Ballard O'Nien Neil Jobe Mayenda Rigg LeFee Isidor Subs: Moore, Cirkin, Hjelde, Browne, Aleksic, Samed, Roberts, Poveda, Ogunsuyi
Their physicality is always a concern but we tend to bound back from poor results/performances fancy us to nick another tight game 2-1
This'll be a big test, aren't they all....hope RLB has the players in the right frame for this, could be quite turgid to watch but important we don't get frustrated, which I thought we did Saturday inviting the Ref to hand out a few yellow cards. Home win is overdue and we don't want to be chasing the game like we have done recently. Great thread RTB, HTL.
Cracking thread as always @RTB, great read. I'd make two changes to your starting 11, one of which would be as suggested earlier in the thread to bring Ballard in and move 09 to LB, I'd also start Aleksic instead of Rigg. Need the win here to keep on the coat tails of top three.
Great post as usual mate. I like the line up.....might be tempted to play Roberts instead of Rigg. Like the two up top.
Why start moving players out of position. Are we saying Luke is a better LB than Dennis. Dennis is better in air than Luke IMO which will help v Luton. You say Cirkin has not been at his best, Has Luke been great? Its a straight choice, Ballard or Luke.
So you would keep a player out of form in the team? We may not have any cover for the full backs position but they still should have to earn their place. If you don't agree with O'Nien moving to full back I would take it up with RLB as he had done just that on a number of occasions
Just a win please. Like the look of your team RTB but think either Roberts or Poveda instead of Rigg. Justification I like Mayenda next to Wilson. They have a good understanding. Once again our defending is normally not great against big physical lads so let's not. Let's just press them and attack non stop. Would luv Wilson, Mayenda and Le Fee to score. Not bothered who gets our other 3 .
Jobe was a huge miss on Saturday so hopefully he will be straight back in the lineup. I'd love to see us play 2 up front with Mayenda alongside Isidor but doubt that will happen. Patterson Hume Mepham O'Nien Cirkin Neil Roberts Jobe LeFee Mayenda Isidor or Patterson Hume Mepham O'Nien Cirkin Neil Mayenda Rigg Jobe LeFee Isidor Luton will have no doubt watched our last game so will follow the same plan as Watford, I see a 1-1 draw.
Once again I think we’ll really struggle at home and wouldn’t be surprised at all if we don’t win. But I think & pray that we get over the line in a squeaky- bum 2-1 win. Bart
It's proper ****, we looked leggy on Saturday which is not surprising after the Monday night game and now we play a very physical team who won't have had a match since the 1st Feb. Absolute bullshit.
Nothing can be done about it, is what it is If we’re as good as some believe then we’ll turn up and win comfortably…
