Sunderland travel to Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland lost to Hull and Wednesday lost at Burnley. Anthony Patterson's error ended Sunderland's unbeaten home record. The Black Cats goalkeeper fumbled a Joe Gelhardt corner into his own net to make it two successive defeats for the first time this season. The Wearsiders are now eight points behind Sheffield United, who occupy the second automatic promotion spot. Ballard and Le Fee were both withdrawn with suspected hamstring injuries and both are unlikely to feature. Jayden Danns remains unavailable, with Huggins & Alese on the injured list. Jobe has 9 bookings and is 1 away from a 2 match ban. Hume & Isidor are 2 bookings away from a ban. Sheffield Wednesday lost 4-0 at Burnley, as Scott Parker's side moved two points behind second-placed Sheffield United in their quest for an immediate return to the Premier League, while 12th-placed Wednesday are six points outside the top six. The 4-0 scoreline was harsh on the visitors, but Danny Rohl's side wasted several excellent chances. Regis le Bris: "It's a shame because in these types of games silly mistakes can change things. For sure, we have to think about these mistakes because we have to improve our game. It's not like a coincidence. "The energy of the team was good and positive and they tried to start the game properly but the own goal changed the dynamic of the game because the opponent used a low, compact block and it was a different problem. "It's the 34th game, the season is long and we have a short squad so we can understand that we have a low point in our dynamic. The game wasn't horrible but it wasn't the best performance so far. (On Le Fee injury): "It seems like a hamstring but we will have to see tomorrow." Press Conference: Danny Rohl: "Until the first goal we played a good game and we created chances, then we started the second half with more good moments but conceded again and then it's hard. "We're doing well between both boxes but to win games you have to be strong in the box. "We are doing so many things right but it's hard and you're seeing the limit of where we are at the minute." Form: Match Appointments Referee: WILL FINNIE Assistant referees: Daniel Leach and Mark Stevens Fourth official: Oliver Langford Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-3-3) Patterson, Cirkin, O’Nien, Mepham, Hume, Neil, Jobe, Browne, Mundle, Mayenda, Isidor. Subs: Moore, Hjelde, Seelt, Rigg, Samed, Poveda, Roberts, Watson, Abdullahi. Injured: Huggins, Alese, Danns, Ballard, Le Fee. Sheffield Wednesday: (4-2-3-1) Beadle, Valery, Ihiekwe, Lowe, Johnson, Shea Charles, Bannan, Gassama, Armstrong, Windass, Smith. Subs: Chalobah, Charles, Cissoko, Hatsuse, Ingelsson, Otegbayo, Paterson, Ugbo, Valentín Injured: Musaba, Bernard, Iorfa, Famewu Betting Odds: Sunderland 7/5 Sheff Wed 15/8 Draw 9/4 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: A poor performance against lowly Hull but there’s still a lot to play for. Somehow we managed to finish a game without a single yellow card but the same players need to avoid a card for the next three games. Wednesday lost heavily last Friday, I hope that is a sign but for large parts of the first half they looked like they could beat Burnley. However in the second half they also showed their main weaknesses with poor finishing and poor defending. We tend to play better away from home and I think we can win. I’m going for a 2-1 away win. Live Stream: Live on Sky Sports Football https://www.safc.com/live Ha’way the Lads
Glad to have a game to look forward too rather than dwell on those just gone, Crucial we get back on track here, glad we’ve had the chance to get 45min into mundle it’s likely he will start, I’d like us to go 442 and take it to them pace kills especially at this level, I’d go Patto Hume Mepham O’Nien Cirkin Mundle Jobe Neil Roberts Wilson Mayenda They have a lot of injuries too and concede a lot so will definitely be goals in this, concern is we’re prone to letting them in ourselves at the minute, dunno why but feeling we’re in for another score draw I’m going 2-2, mayenda and Roberts to get his goal
Unfortunately I think our poor form will continue as our young team run out of energy. I hope to see some changes in personnel on top of the forced changes, and a different formation. However I fear it will be same old, same old. So for that reason I’m going for a 2-1 defeat, with defensive naivety in evidence once again. Hope I’m wrong. Bart
Don't feel overly confident about this to be honest, but these lads know how to bounce back. Would like to see some changes alongside the enforced ones we have to make. I would go with; Patterson Hume Mepham O'Nien Cirkin Aleksic Neil Jobe Poveda Isidor Mundle I'm desperate for a change at right wing, Roberts is getting such an easy ride this season due to the lack of competition in his position. When he's on it he's excellent but when he's not he's the worst player on the pitch and he's bad more than he is good nowadays. Could be Poveda or Mayenda but i'd go Poveda so that Mayenda can be the backup striker. Went with Aleksic because I think he's looked bright every time he's played and I think it's time we trust him. Browne is also an option but I don't think he has the attacking guile needed. I fully expect Roberts and Rigg to start though. 1-1, O'Nien.
An open game with a team that won't sit back, a sold out away end and the chance to do another double ... ... can't wait for this game, I think we'll put on a great show for the cameras. Meeting up with the lads, plus a few from here, at the Railway where we were for the play-off game, what a night that was. I'm staying in Sheffield with an old friend who employed me when I left school, he's Leeds and his wife is Sheff Wed. They're in their eighties, so don't go to games, but will be watching on TV. Sunderland have had some great away games, under the lights, and I have a great feeling for this one ... ... 3-1 to the Lads and a weekend watching everyone else squirm
looking forward to going hopefully we have a big improvement hopefully RLB take breaks off and go more attacking
They play in an attacking fashion and they are the teams we find it easier to get at. They have done well under Rohl this season, but I'm not kidding myself that they are a good side. If we're on it, we will win. I hope one or two changes are made and would like us to go: Patto Hume, Mepham, O'Nien, Cirkin Neil, Jobe, Aleksic Mayenda, Isidor, Mundle 3-1 confidence boosting win for the Lads!
May try and get in with one the sons and 2 grandchildren if we get there early enough to get them something to eat first (priorities)
