Sunderland travel to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League Last time out Sunderland drew with Aston Villa and Forest drew with Burnley. Sunderland are only the third newly promoted team since 2019-20 to win as many as eight points from their opening five games of the campaign. The Black Cats drew 1-1 against Aston Villa after playing 60 minutes with 10 men when Reinildo was dismissed for violent conduct. Villa took the lead in the second half with a pile driver from Matty Cash but Sunderland fought back and Wilson Isidor scored his 3rd goal of the season Reinildo is suspended for three games and Diarra is out until December. Luke O’Nien could return from his shoulder injury. Forest return to Europe for the first time in 30 years when they travel to Seville to play Real Betis in the Europa League on Wednesday. They then return for Postecoglou's first home game in charge against Sunderland on Saturday. Forest drew 1-1 with Burnley in the Premier League at the weekend. Regis le Bris: "We started really well 11 v 11, we were in our gameplan, well connected with the opportunities and were in a good place. "Then the red card came - but the team reacted really well. It was important to stay 0-0 and then at half-time we decided on a new game plan. "They did really well with the deep block and it became a set-piece game. Then after we conceded we reacted well again. The way we want to play together, to react, to suffer, we knew this would be the case often." Presser on Thursday 1:30 pm: Ange Postecoglou: "From seven days ago from when we played Arsenal, we look a different team and we saw elements of that on Wednesday night too. I am disappointed but, at the same time, the progress in our play is the most positive thing for me." It is back to the Australian's favourite cup competition next as he looks to secure a first victory when Forest face Real Betis in the Europa League "I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "It'll be great for this group of players. "I have three years of experience in the Europa League. Last year went well but it'll be great for these players." Form: Match Appointments: Referee: TONY HARRINGTON Assistant Referee: Simon Bennett Assistant Referee: Mark Scholes Fourth Official: Lewis Smith Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes Additional Video Assistant Referee: Craig Taylor Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: Roefe, Hume, Aldrete, Ballard Mukiele, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Talbi, Adingra, Isidor Subs: Patterson, Geertruida, Masuaku, Neil, Rigg, Jones, Mayenda, Brobbey, Traore Injured: O’Nien, Alese, Cirkin, Hjelde, Mundle, Diarra Nottingham Forest: Sels, Williams, Milenkovic, Morato, Zinchenko, Anderson, Douglas-Luiz, Bakwa, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Wood. Substitutes: Hutchinson, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo, Victor, Jesus, McAtee, Jair, Sangare, Yates. Injured: Dominguez, Aina, Murillo Betting Odds: Sunderland 10/3 Forest 5/4 Draw 12/5 My two pence: Forest are yet to show the form of last season and bringing in Ange may not be the best idea to improve things. Hopefully they have a tough game in Sevilla and have another poor performance against us. I’m going for a 2-1 away win Live Stream: Sky Sports Main Event Others TBC Ha’way the Lads
Excellent again @RTB mate im going for a hard fought draw. Im still in awe of the lads against Villa, what guts they showed. You would think this team had played together for a few seasons, I love the never say die team spirit...**** it 1-2 to the red and white wizards !
Fancy another draw, which again would be a good result 4 of us leaving Houghton around 11am, can’t wait
They are there to be got at but as always every side here is dangerous, snap your hand off for another point, hope Ange plays a high line and we can get in behind them
Le Fee with 2 assists for Isodor. 1-2 win to the cuddlies. Isodor on 5 goals you heard it here 1st. Cheers RTB for your usual superb write up.
Been looking forward to this. Think it'll be a decent watch. Hope we've got enough just to nick it though.
On the Palace thread I wrote "Hoping for a surprise return for LeFee", so .... Hoping for a surprise return for Diarra. That said, few decisions for Regis for this game, trust him to get it right. Ange will want to attack but their team's not used to it, could play into our hands.
