Sunderland Vs Cardiff Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread please log in to view this image Sunderland and Cardiff City will be involved in a relegation six-pointer on Sunday, with both teams inside the drop zone at present. Gus Poyet's side continue to prop up the Premier League table, but have collected four points from their last two fixtures and still hold a game in hand on the majority of those above them. A shock victory over high-flying Chelsea last time out means they are now just three points adrift of safety, with the basement dwellers starting to bunch together. Eight teams are still sweating on their top flight status, but a positive run from this point would be enough to break away from the pack. Sunderland's home form entering that final straight is not the best, with only five points collected at the Stadium of Light in 2014, but three of their last four fixtures are due to be staged on Wearside so they be will determined to start getting things right. Cardiff would appear to be the ideal opponents when looking to enjoy home comforts, with the Welsh outfit having struggled on their travels all season. Just two wins and 10 points in total have been collected on the road, preventing them from clambering clear of trouble. They did, however, collect a much-needed success at Southampton on their last away day and battled back to take a point against in-form Stoke City last Saturday, suggesting that they still have the stomach for a fight. Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer's side now sit 18th in the division, two points back on Norwich City and a standing above the trapdoor which leads to the Championship. Match Appointments REFEREE: Phil Dowd ASST. REF. 1: S Ledger ASST. REF. 2: M Wilkes 4TH OFFICIAL: A Taylor Sunderland Team News Sunderland will be hoping to see Connor Wickham shake off a knock in time to play a leading role this weekend, with the striker having netted three vital goals since being recalled from a loan spell at Leeds. Steven Fletcher remains on the sidelines with an ankle complaint, with the Scottish forward unlikely to figure again this season. Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood is close to full fitness after overcoming a shoulder problem, but Carlos Cuellar and Ki Sung-yeung have been nursing hamstring and knee injuries respectively. Cardiff Team News Striker Craig Bellamy is set to play a part for Cardiff on Sunday. The 34-year-old, who has been sidelined due to a virus, is poised for a role in manager Solskjaer's plans as he turns to experience in an effort to steer a course to safety. Winger Craig Noone (abdominal injury) is the solitary confirmed non-starter, with Solskjaer reporting no fresh injury concerns following the Stoke clash six days ago. Head to Head please log in to view this image EPL Form please log in to view this image This Seasons Reverse Fixture please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image What the 'Experts' Say please log in to view this image Lawrenson Sunderland will be full of confidence after taking four points from Manchester City and Chelsea in their last two games. What we have learned about the Black Cats from those results is that they look a much better team when they try to take the game to their opponents. They are not great defensively so they have got to score goals to get anything out of games. Having Adam Johnson in their team always helps, because he makes things happen, and Connor Wickham is putting the chances away. If he keeps doing that, they might beat the drop. Cardiff have also picked up four points from their last two games to boost their hopes of staying up but I just do not see them getting anything at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have been adrift at the bottom for a while, and a long way off safety but they know that another win will put them right in the mix. Lawro's prediction: 2-0 Merson This is the biggest game of the weekend for me because it's lights out for whoever loses. Everyone wants to be playing in the Premier League, but if you lose this then it's goodnight. I've said that a lot of times over the last few weeks, but you need confidence at this stage of the season and if Sunderland win this then I'd make them a certainty to stay up with the games they've got coming up. They really should win this game with the confidence they have from drawing at Man City and ending Jose Mourinho's unbeaten home record at Chelsea. In contrast, I looked at Cardiff last week and with 10 minutes left you'd have thought Stoke were the team fighting to stay up. I can't see anything but a Sunderland win here. PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 Stats n Facts Connor Wickham has scored three goals in his last two PL appearances after netting just one in his first 37. Only Norwich City (eight) have taken fewer away points this season than Cardiff City (10). Cardiff are the only team yet to concede an own goal in the Premier League this season. Sunderland, in contrast, have conceded more than any other side in 2013-14 (6). Sunderland have scored as many goals in the past two Premier League games (4) as in their previous eight outings. Costly: Despite going 2-0 up, Cardiff could only draw 2-2 against Sunderland at the Cardiff City Stadium Sunderland are the only team to have played fewer than 500 Premier League games but have more than 50 red cards (53 in total). They lead the division this season with seven. Cardiff City are the only team in Premier League history (46 teams in total) never to receive a red card. The Red Dragons have conceded more goals from counter-attacks than any other side this season (8). Sunderland have failed to score in five of their last eight Premier League home games. Sunderland have taken only eight points from 15 games against teams currently in the bottom half of the table, 10 fewer than any other side. They have scored just one goal in six home games against the teams currently in the bottom half. Stats supplied by Opta Betting please log in to view this image Links http://www.safc.com/fans/visiting-fans http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/259529-Sunderland-Vs-Cardiff-City-Official-Match-Thread Streaming http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=253563&part=sports
I'm pleased that noone is out for them. He ripped us apart at their place. We finally carry a goal threat in Connor and I think he could be the difference.
this is a massive game for us. its time the lads turned up at home and bucked this seasons trend of being **** at home. we really need to be turning these welsh ****s over and setting us up for the run in
Totally convinced that the lads will win three points....onwards and upwards...the relegation area will be a thing of the past after sunday!!
I'm really bored with people telling me over & over 'we can't beat the bottom half teams at home' like some mantra. **** all that, we need to treat the Cardiff game as a 'one off' and go into it to win. All kinds of 'runs' are eventually broken ....... I can remember people saying we never beat Newcastle at home, never beat Everton/never beat a top 4 team/never win in London/never beat a team with an ex-Sunderland/Newcastle player etc etc etc. Well **** all that, this is a game we need to win and I'm expecting us to. It's a home game with a great crowd against a poor side and a poor away support .......... Haway the Lads!!!!!!! 3-1 to Sunderland and still 2 home games to play, can't wait
Seats in high demand - no cash turnstiles on the day. Fans are being urged to buy their tickets for Sunday’s game against Cardiff in advance with no cash turnstiles available on the day. Following strong sales and high demand for tickets, only a limited number of seats now remain for the fixture, which kicks off at 12 noon. The Stadium of Light ticket office will be open until 5.30pm on Friday, 10am-1pm on Saturday and from 9am until kick-off on Sunday. Ticket collection points are likely to be extremely busy on the morning of the game and fans are asked to arrive early to avoid potential queues. HOW TO BUY Tickets can be purchased in person from the Stadium of Light ticket office, by calling the credit card hotline on 0871 911 1973 (24 hours) or by visiting the online ticketing service. Supporters who purchase tickets online can use the club’s free ‘print at home’ service to avoid matchday queues. All tickets are sold subject to ground regulations.
I think both of you will go down with probably Norwich...Two poor teams fighting to the death will end up a draw game that wont suit either team...
You're right , a draw is no use to either side. Which is why I expect them both to go for the win. 3 - 2 to us is my prediction.
