Sunderland travel to Bristol City in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland lost to Swansea and Bristol drew at QPR. Sunderland lost their second home game of the season to a re-energised Swansea City side. Ben Cabango blasted Swansea in front after the break as he followed up from centre-back partner Harry Darling's header which hit the crossbar. The Black Cats rested Jobe Bellingham once more and had five academy graduates in the starting eleven with Harrison Jones making his full debut. Enzo le Fee and Salis Abdul Samed were on the subs bench and got useful minutes. Jobe could return for this game, Ballard, Cirkin and Seelt could be available for Oxford. Huggins and Alese could return in time for the play-offs. Bristol City drew 1-1 at QPR and remain in 5th place but are 12 points behind 4th placed Sunderland. Keeper O’Learly had an ankle injury during the warm up but completed the 90 minutes. Mark Sykes is a doubt after pulling up with a quad injury in the warm up at QPR. Regis le Bris: "This was a disappointing result. We expected more and wanted to win but it wasn't to be today. "We didn't create many chances and it was difficult to put them under pressure. "They were well-organised and it wasn't easy to find a solution. At the same time, we didn't find the good dynamic, the rhythm to find a solution." Press Conference: Liam Manning: "I thought we were a little bit sloppy the first 15 minutes and let them build quite a bit of momentum. We then got a bit of control and scored a fantastic goal, a moment of real high quality. "In the second half I thought we had a decent amount of control but probably didn't ask enough questions with it, but it's been a full-on week so to come here, take the points and stay unbeaten in three I think is quite important. "We've given ourselves something to play for going into the final four [matches], and credit to the lads because they've done that. "It's the end of the season, there's going to be lots of twists and turns - it's about controlling what we can, turning up and taking confidence from remaining unbeaten." Form: Match Appointments Referee: OLIVER LANGFORD Assistant referees: Mark Stevens & Richard Woodward Fourth official: Andy Davies Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Browne, O’Nien, Mepham, Hume, Jobe, Neil, Aleksic, Roberts, Mayenda. Watson. Subs: Moore, Hjelde, Bainbridge, Seelt, Samed, Rigg, Jones, Le Fee, Isidor. Injured: Danns, Abdullahi, Poveda, Ballard, Huggins, Alese, Cirkin, Mundle. Bristol City: (3-4-2-1) O’Leary, Vyner, Dickie, Pring, Hirakawa, Williams, Knight, McCrorie, Bird, Earthy, Walls. Subs: Armstrong, Bajic, Bell, McGuane. Mehmeti, Roberts, Tanner, Thomas, Twine. Injured: Benarous, McNally, Sykes, Mayulu Betting Odds: Sunderland 9/3 Bristol City 9/4 Draw 7/2 My two pence: A poor home performance with very few clear-cut chances against Swansea as we rested a few players. Our 4th place is already secured and if we avoid any more injuries before the play-offs I’ll be happy. Bristol City maintained their position in 5th place with a hard fought draw at Loftus Road, I’d prefer to play them in the play-offs ahead of Coventry or the Smogs. I’ve got tickets for this one and I’m hoping to see a reaction to the last defeat. I’ve just seen that Oliver Langford is the referee, so we may end up giving them 3 valuable points I’m going for a 1-1 draw. Live Stream: Sky Sports + https://www.safc.com/live Ha’way the Lads
Good luck to everyone going … … full house and our section sold out for a training exercise. Hope you have a great time, Ha’way the Lads!!!
Pressure on them, nice potential dressed rehearsal for may, like to see us play fast on the break and nick a result, thinking 1-1 Wilson to get back in the goals, should be a great day out for those going
Heading down and looking forward to it. Always good day out in Bristol. I think maybe a bit more rotation will happen. Be nice to see Mayenda in the 9 position, just to give us that wall pass option. Be good to see Jobe back in as I really do rate one or two of their midfielders, specifically Jason Knight. Will Neil get a rest? Does he need it? Hume? I dont really mind tbh. I hope we stick with Watson. One thing I predict is the away fans wont boo him, like I hear some home fans did. Sad if true that. I wouldnt mind Hjelde in again, I think he is growing into the team nicely. Anyway, whatever the team, will be a cracking atmosphere in our end. I will have a few beers wity my brother and a bit craic. Just a good old day out.
Think we’ll get beat here. Bristol City are on a good run and this is a huge fixture for them. Don’t mind us resting another couple for this one tbh
I’m happy to keep resting but last two games of the season I’d like us to start bringing players back in that’s my view anyway
RLB: At this stage of the season we have to be really proud as a team, it is a strange period, we need fresh bodies and fresh heads. It is a time to give the young players a chance to get experience. Our main objective is the 2 games for the play-offs and we need to be ready for that We are in a good place, we need to manage expectations. We have 2 games in quick succession, we need to manage the squad We will see on the selection tomorrow Jobe is available - but not a starter, Dennis on Monday from the bench, Leo and Salis are available, Dan Ballard a bit later. Strikers: It is really important for any club, we are not happy but we have the explanation From our last experience in the play-offs we had a problem with defenders, this time we are better prepared. We have spoken to the players and staff, we will work to find the best way to prepare. All games are useful to learn from. The players are connected to the competition they know how important it is, they will be connected when needed. We are proud to be nominated for awards, we are in a good position and really connected with the last stage We have done well but the fans will be expecting more, we need to stay calm and organised.
all the comments are the same, no matter the outcome of this season, we have done incredbly well and that should be celebrated. we are in a good postiton for next season, whatever league we are in
Lovely guy but anyone saying he’s better than RLB is purely on the likeness factor RLB tactically is one of the better coach’s I’ve seen at Sunderland and with more experience I have no doubt he’ll get a shot in a top league
As already stated the pressure is on them. We are already in the play offs they are still battling with a few in with a chance of getting there. Not sure what I have on my predictions but I will go for 2-2. Not bothered who plays but hoping at some point someone takes their chance and has a blinder.
Need a reserve team out there they will kick Mayenda etc knowing they might face us in the play offs, very dodgy if he plays them, although we want B city to finish above Coventry
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has urged fans to "manage expectations" for the remaining games of the Championship season. Some have voiced concern about the The Black Cats' recent results following a bore draw against Norwich City and a 1-0 defeat at home to Swansea City. "At this stage of the season we have to be really proud of the team," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle. "I think it's a really good reminder because we have 76 points so far. "I think it shows that team did very well. It's a little bit of a strange period because we worked this season with a small group due to many injuries, for example, and now to be competitive in this part of the season we need fresh bodies." The Frenchman has stressed the importance of managing players' fitness in the run-up to the play-offs. "We need fresh heads so it's important to manage the squad, to rotate the players, to give opportunities for young players," he added. "I think they deserve it because they have worked well and they need support through this period. "At the same time for the others, we need to manage their bodies to avoid rushing the process for their recovery." Le Bris named Jobe Bellingham, Dan Ballard and Leo Hjelde as examples of players whose workload has needed to be managed recently but admitted that results and performances have suffered. "The consequences are the results and probably the output, because the games we played, maybe the last two or three games, we were not as good as expected probably, but at the same time are still fourth. "The play-offs are secured and it's another stage of the season. I can understand the reaction because the fans and supporters always want to win and it's fair. No problem with that. "At the same time now, our main objective is clearly the two games in the play-offs and we have to be ready for these fixtures." When BBC Radio Newcastle's commentator Nick Barnes asked Le Bris if he would urge the fans to be patient, he said: "If it's possible. "If it's not possible they can be disappointed. No problem. I can respect that, but at the same time it's important maybe to step back to look around the full season and to understand that this stage is different. "We still have the youngest team in the league, made the fewest substitutions, and we are in a good place. So manage expectations."
