Article: Sunderland vs Swansea City Match Preview & Thread|Football, Sunderland, Swansea City

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Sunderland................................... vs ...................... Swansea City
Stadium of Light
Sunderland
Sat 21-01-12 15:00 PM KO

For links to watch the game online, click HERE
​

Welcome one and all to the match thread for the game between Sunderland and Swansea City. When the teams met early on in the season in the reverse fixture at the Liberty Stadium, things were very different indeed. Sunderland fans were probably waiting for their season to really "kick off", while the home fans were still waiting for their team to find a way of using their football to penetrate PL defences. Thankfully for both teams, things seem to have come together, although the Swans loftier position in the league will no doubt be a cause of consternation for Sunderland who pre-season would have been tipped to finish high above the South Walians. Resurgent under O'Neill since his arrival on December the 3rd, the Black Cats will be looking to push on higher and higher in the league, and no doubt O'Neill will be looking to the transfer window as he'll be aiming to supplement his new squad.

The Match;

Sunderland went down 1-0 at Chelsea last time out, and will be looking to get back to winning ways in front of their home fans . 5 victories in 8 matches, including a run of five games without defeat, will no doubt add confidence and they will be looking to build on recent form, after an impressive victory over Man City and a big away win at Wigan. Sunderland can actually claim a positive goal difference, and the nearest team to be able to say the same thing is Liverpool in 7th place, giving reason to believe that even though the Swans are above the Black Cats in the league, this is realistically a false position for Sunderland to be in and come the end of the season they will be in the top half of the table.

Swansea come into this match in probably the best form they've enjoyed thus far in this campaign. A first win against a "big club" against Arsenal at the Liberty which saw the Welsh side praised from all quarters (even, begrudgingly, from Arsene Wenger's) came after a 4-2 away win at Barnsley in the FA Cup, which in turn followed a first away win of the season at Villa Park, triumphing 2-0. Swansea will no doubt be full of confidence, but will be wary of a Sunderland team who are more than capable of taking all three points.

Prior Form; (most recent at top)

Chelsea 1 - 0 Sunderland Premier League
Peterborough 0 - 2 Sunderland FA Cup
Wigan 1 - 4 Sunderland Premier League
Sunderland 1 - 0 Man City Premier League
Sunderland 1 - 1 Everton Premier League

Swansea City 3 -2 Arsenal Premier League
Barnsley 2 - 4 Swansea City FA Cup
Aston Villa 0 - 2 Swansea City Premier League
Swansea City 1 -1 Tottenham Premier League
Swansea City 1 -1 QPR Premier League

Team News

Sunderland Gordon and Angeleri are yet to appear this season due to knee injuries, while Matt Kilgallon and Wes Brown are doubtful with ankle and groin problems, respectively. Frazer Campbell could soon be pushing for a place, while Jack Colback is expected back next month.

Swansea have, still, a fully fit squad to choose from. Remarkable, really! Alan Tate continues his recovery from a broken leg and will no doubt be giving Brendan Rodgers jip soon about when he can get back in the squad.

Trivia; - "Courtesy" of Opta

Completely guessed lineups;

Sunderland

Mignolet

Bardsley
Richardson
Turner
O'Shea

Cattermole
Larsson
Vaughan
Sessegnon

Wickham
Bendtner

Swansea

Vorm

Rangel
Taylor
Williams
Caulker

Britton
Augustien
Allen

Sinclair
Dyer

Graham

Key Battles;

Seb Larsson & Lee Cattermole vs Swansea's "midfield trio"

With Larsson and Cattermole you are provided with two things - end product and grit. Larsson possesses deadly quality with his right boot and the ex-Arsenal & Birmingham man will need to be watched with the utmost cautiousness if the Swans are to keep him quiet, while Cattermole will no doubt go about trying to make sure the Swans are unable to do it. Kemy Augustien must surely start as his physical presence will surely be needed against a big, imposing Sunderland side.

Analysis;

There is a real danger for the Swans travelling to Wearside of coming back down to earth with a bump, both metaphorically and literally. O'Neill likes his teams to play fast, effective football erring on the physical side, and Sunderland have the players to do that. I fancy him to play both Wickham and Bendtner, purely to see what happens, as that is a lot of physical presence for the shortest side in the league to deal with. Ash Williams and Steven Caulker will have their hands full, regardless of who plays, because combining with the big centre forward(s) will be Stephane Sessegnon, a real quality player. Neat in possession, able to dribble and shoot with both feet, Sessegnon will be a cause for concern as he marauds in front of the Swansea backline.

The Swans have been heavily laden with plaudits in the week following that momentous win over Arsenal, but the danger is the team may take too much from the victory. As I said after the game, while Arsenal are are a good side, they're easily the weakest of the "big" sides at the moment, and were further weakened through injury. If we play like we did last Saturday against Man City, for example, I'd expect us to ship more goals than two. I see this game going more the way of the Newcastle vs Swansea game, where the Swans will look to sit and allow Sunderland possession in their half, before pressing hard as soon as they try and break down the defence, before breaking at speed on the counter attack. The inclusion of Gylfi Sigurdsson in the squad for the Swans means we'll probably see the Hoffenheim player at some point, and his passing could help spring the Sunderland defence on the break.

One area I feel the Swans can get at Sunderland, though, is around the back. Keiron Richardson may be fast but is no natural defender, and Phil Bardsley is no speed merchant. Nathan Dyer is on top form at the moment and will run at his man at every opportunity, and you also get the feeling that Scott Sinclair is ever so slowly playing his way into some form, as some confidence finally returns to the man who lit up the Championship so often last year. David Vaughan will be re-acquainted with a few Wales team-mates but the niceties will no doubt be saved until after the match, as this is a match that both teams will be confident they can win given recent form.

All in all, it should prove a frenetic contest played by two teams who believe in the football they play, and are confident in it's ability to bring results. Granted, it's early doors for O'Neill but the sides form since he's come in has given real cause for hope that the second half of the season will be better for Sunderland fans than the first. Large numbers of people in South Wales, however, will be hoping to stall the Wearsiders climb up the table for at least one more week.

Iechyd Da.

Scott

 

Top thread again Scott - be prepared for the accolades.

This will be a tough one due to the MON factor. He's really got them believing again. But you're right, I see this as being similar to the Toon game and for that reason a similar result. 0-0 anyone? I'd take that. Anything more would be an excellent result for us.

 

Aye aye keep dreamin boyo's...

It'll be a good game...kinda grew to like Swansea this season..

 

Well done, Scott, excellent as always. Apart from "South Walians". Don't like that phrase.

I fear we may well lose this game if we go to defend like Newcastle and Everton away. But if we throw caution to the wind like against Villa then who knows?

 

This is true, I feel Sunderland are a much better team than Villa though, and I mean that in the collective term. Sunderland have good players in their correct positions, and, apart from possibly at full-back, I don't see where Swans could really "get at" them. If O'Neill plays 2 up top the first half will be huge as the Swans defence will have to deal with a real "in your face" threat and will need to be wary of not being caught early on.

 

Nice thread and welcome to the Sunderland Board all ye South Walians

 

it'll be interesting to see how we do after the arsenal game, i hope we don't get blown away in the first 20 mins, if we're confident and work hard, i feel we can get something from the game, but who knows what swansea team will show up.

 

Over the years I like many have enjoyed watching the Gooners play so when the South Walians (sorry), out played i.e out Arsenalled Arsenal, they deserve all the plaudits coming their way, I really enjoyed Swansea's win not least cos' it is good to see the big boys brought down to earth by being out footballed.

However saturday is another matter, the league as they say does not lie and Swansea are ahead of us, therefore currently they are the better team, so I doubt anyone is expecting an easy Sunderland win. I thought we were unlucky not to come away with a point at Chelsea, and I do think we are capable of getting a result against Swansea, even though they are flying atm and it will be difficult.

Goal scoring can be our problem, I am not sure how good Swansea's defence is but if we can score 2 goals, (i.e. it is OK to give a few fouls away around the box Seb Larsson is not that good, honest) we will be in with a chance.

 

I think we are in for a cracking match with us coming out on top with a narrow victory 1-0 or 2-1. Very impressed with Swansea in their match against Arsenal. Hopefully they will turn up and want to play football. I hope so cos then we will have a great match in prospect. Welcome to the Premier League lads. Your team is doing you proud. Enjoy the ride!

 

Does the Vaux brewery still exist?

Not sure how you say it - 'Vorks' or 'Vokes'?

 

Sadly not mate, closed in 2000 if irc due to bloody Swallow hotels, caused uproar in these parts.

It was pronounced vorks btw.

 

I was in the Brewery Tap, a bar joined to it the day the lads did their last shift.

You could see the sadness in mens faces.

 

Vaux brewery has long gone mate...
Great thread by the way, and I'm looking forward to a cracking game on Saturday..
For the lads and lasses travelling up; there is none of this 'home fans only mullarky' up here, and you will be made more than welcome in any of the bars in town or round the ground, that's as long as you don't act yourselves like some of your Cardiff neighbours have done in the past mind.

 

Agreed, welcome aboard my Swan chums.

 

I think this will be a cracking game, before a ball was kicked you and Norwich were the easy 6 pointers, well thats our next two games and they are certainly not easy 6 pointers now.

To me its a game we must win to keep our momentum going, a bad start is now a good run thanks to MON and he will want full points from home games.

How we get those three points on Saturday I dont know but I'm hoping MON does, on a side note.

If you are coming up and intend to watch your team come in then, looking towards the main entrance, to the left and in the corner you will see a tall, rather overweight elderly chap, come and say hello.

 

it will be a clash of styles, one that i believe swansea will win, two managers, both sucessful, one favouring physical direct football, the other favouring short passing and possession football, i can see sunderland pressing swansea with players like cattermole not letting swansea settle down and play like the home team.. you can never rule out a sunderland win under o'neill though, and both teams will be in the PL next season

 

How many of you lads are coming up then, have you sold your allocation?

 

I certainly don't think we play a game of physical direct football, and to be honest we havn't got a team capable of playing that way.

 

i've spoken to celtic fans and i've seen aston villa live a few times, there are pros and cons of appointing different managers, one of MON's cons is the style of football, i think he'll change your opinion if he's in the job for another 2-3 seasons m8

 

I'm hoping for a comfortable 1-0 win (okay not so comfortable).

Vorm has kept the most (Joint) clean sheet's in this league so with that, together with a lack of a proven striker
to put the ball in the net, could become crucial.

Let's not take Swansea as an easy 3pt's. Despite the upturn since MoN became the manager.