This Saturday sees our first ever visit to London Stadium and here we are mid-October and still looking for our first Premier League win of the season. The second consecutive season where SAFC have failed to win one of their first eight games. Sunderland can only hope that West Ham continue their poor form at their new stadium. Sunderland are licking their wounds after a poor display at Stoke while West Ham did what we should have done and beat Crystal Palace. Match Appointments: Referee: Robert Madley Assistants: M Perry, A Nunn Fourth official: K Stroud Form: West Ham: L-L-L-L-D-W Sunderland: D-L-L-L-D-L Team Selection: (from BBC) West Ham West Ham's record signing Andre Ayew has an outside chance of returning from the thigh injury he suffered on the opening day of the season. Aaron Cresswell is suspended, Arthur Masuaku, Sam Byram, Gokhan Tore, Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho all remain out of contention Sunderland There is some good news, Sunderland's Lamine Kone returns from a hamstring injury, while Patrick van Aanholt has recovered from a muscle strain. However, seven first-team players remain unavailable due to injury. Vito Mannone (fractured elbow) and midfielder Sebastian Larsson (knee) are back in light training, while winger Adnan Januzaj is expected to join them next week, Jason Denayer, Jan Kirchhoff and Lee Cattermole are not far behind, leaving striker Fabio Borini (groin) as the only long-term injury. Djilododji hehe (thanks to the Gruniad) Key Men West Ham Dimitri Payet please log in to view this image Payet, has been out of sorts for most of this season so far, so I am more than expecting him to suddenly regain his lethal finishing from set pieces this weekend. Sunderland Jermain Defoe please log in to view this image Defoe is our main goal threat and is of course an old crowd favourite at the Boleyn ground. it would be sweet to put one over his old team. My tuppence... I’ll be watching this one from behind the sofa hoping that Defoe does what he does best and that Payet has left his shooting boots at Upton Park. Betting West Ham: 7-10 Sunderland: 5-1 Draw: 3-1 My first match thread
I think the side has been worse off w/o Gooch. Start him, win the match - Gooch returns to the regular starting XI - sounds like a plan.
I had another dream about the game last night, dunno what the score was but I know Watmore got at least one goal. My dream about the Stoke game might not have been...exactly accurate but I'm 100% sure it's safe to put your life's savings on a Watmore goal. It's sad that the only time I enjoy seeing a Sunderland match is when I'm asleep.
http://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2016/october/preview-v-west-ham-united Sunderland will be backed by a sell-out support when they embark upon their maiden trip to West Ham United’s London Stadium on Saturday (KO 3pm). Formally the Olympic Stadium, the Black Cats will be hoping to forge a little piece of their own history in the capital and earn a first win at the new arena and, more importantly, a first three points of the Premier League season. West Ham, meanwhile, will be riding on the crest of a hard-fought victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, with Manuel Lanzini’s first-half strike wrapping up the win and punishing Christian Benteke’s penalty miss. Speaking at his pre-match press conference Sunderland boss David Moyes hailed the Hammer’s new home, but Slaven Bilic’s side have struggled to settle following their summer move from the Boleyn Ground. Victory over Palace – on the road – was the Londoners’ first win in six Premier League games, with their last top-flight win at the London Stadium coming on August 21 against AFC Bournemouth. And Moyes is hoping to take full advantage. “We will try and capitalise on it. It’s a wee bit strange because to me it looks like a fantastic new stadium and a great facility. “Hopefully go down to West Ham and enjoy the new set-up.” The Sunderland manager also revealed that the club’s luckless injury problems are somewhat easing, with Lamine Kone and Patrick van Aanholt returning to training ahead of Saturday’s game. Lee Cattermole will once again miss out as will Jan Kirchhoff, but like Adnan Januzaj and Jason Denayer the duo are making good progress. West Ham will also be without a number of key players including defender Aaron Cresswell who was sent off against Palace last weekend. Andre Ayew has returned to training but like Andy Carroll he won’t face the Black Cats. Sunderland have met West Ham United on 80 occasions in league competition, with both sides winning 29 times as 22 ended level. The Hammers held the advantage last season winning 1-0 at the Boleyn Ground courtesy of Michail Antonio’s first-half strike, with the reverse fixture ending 2-2 at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland’s last last win at West Ham came in May 2011. But a new stadium represents a new opportunity. Ha’way the Lads!
Mark JD out of the game and were f*cked. I would give PVA a free role behind him. He cannot defend but has pace, can go past players and likes a pop at goal. What were doing at the mo isnt working so lets change it.
Great threat @RTB many alologues fir not getting one done this week. Time has been in short supply with gigs and day job If we win I'm passing you the mantle
Confirmed lineup: Pickford, Manquillo, JOS, Kone, PVA, Rodwell N'Dong, Pienaar, Watmore, Khazri, Defoe Subs: Mika, Jones, Papy, McNair, Gooch, Honeyman, Anichebe Think it's about as good as we can do with the personnel available.
I think we look better when Pienaar plays, he's not **** hot or anything but he helps keep our attacks ticking over and doesn't seem error prone.
I'm listening to it on radio london..............so far it sounds like it's just a question of how many they'll score.
Can't see anything other than a bad loss. Moyes has left himself wide open with that team. West Ham play wingbacks so would have been ideal to match them up
"sunderland defence there own worst enemies with their decision making and lack of quality".........................radio london xpert
