Sunderland travel to South Wales to face Cardiff City in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland drew with Marseille and Cardiff beat Bristol Rovers. Sunderland kick-off the new season with a new head coach and 4 new signings, Simon Moore, Alan Browne, Ian Poveda and Blondy Nna Noukeu. Regis le Bris is expected to name a team very similar to the last outing against Marseille. Ekwah could be on the bench but Ian Poveda is likely to miss out. Cardiff have signed Calum Chambers, Chris Willock, Anwar El Ghazi and Wilfried Kanga this summer, and are also close to signing Manchester City midfielder Alex Robertson. Cardiff are likely to be without El Ghazi, who is back in the Netherlands to witness the birth of his child Regis le Bris: Asked whether he expects a striker to arrive before next week's opener at Cardiff, Le Bris said: "I don't know. It's possible but I explained before, I work with this team. The work from recruitment is there but I will work with these players and I think they've improved this summer so we'll keep going. "The coach always wants a better team. I think our job is to be focused on the pitch with the players we have in the dressing room and not other ones." On the striker search: "We are working on it, it's a process and the transfer window is complex. I spoke to a friend from Marseille, they are searching for a striker, it's the same for everyone." "He's (Mayenda) a very young player. Now he has a free position so he can play with the team and experience many situations, so it's good for him. "I'm not sure he's able to fulfill this position for a whole season with our team and ambitions, it might be too much for him. But every experience will be useful for him and he can have an impact." Presser: Erol Bulut: "We've had a great six weeks with the team. The level of games that we played, good results, and we also played well, which is really positive. I'm happy, also, with the youngsters we took with us. They did a great job, so the future looks good.” "But still, we cannot stop the work. We have to work a lot, because pre-season is something else, friendly games are something else. Next week the league is starting - for this we have to be 100% ready. "Today was a good tempo and a good result. We had chances, we scored two goals outside of the box, we didn't concede a goal. These are positive things, but the first Championship game is something else.” "We play at home in front of our fans. I'm hoping the stadium will be full to support us, because we need them. This is the 12th power for us, and I hope we can deliver good football and start with three points." Match Appointments: Referee: ANDY DAVIES Assistant Referees: Graham Kane & Carl Fitch-Jackson Fourth Official: Stephen Martin Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-3-3) Patterson, Cirkin, Alese, O'Nien, Hume, Neil, Browne, Clarke, Jobe, Roberts, Mayenda. Subs: Moore, Anderson, Johnson, Ekwah, Rigg, Auchiche, Mundle, Rusyn, Ba. Injured: Ballard, Huggins, Triantis, Seelt. Cardiff City (3-4-2-1) Horvath, Ng, Chambers, Goutas, O’Dowda, Siopis, Ralls, Ramsey, Tanner, Willock, Méïté Subs: Alnwick, Dennis, Bagan, Gbadehan, Giles, King, Colwill, Conte, Ashford, Davies. Injured: Davies, Etete, Collins Betting Odds: Sunderland 29/20 Cardiff City 15/8 Draw 21/10 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: At last the proper footy is back Cardiff are a decent side and we need to avoid giving Ralls and Ramsey any opportunity to shoot from distance. Hopefully we can repeat the result from earlier this year. I’m going for a 2-1 away win Live Stream: https://www.safc.com/live Ha’way the Lads
It's good to be back. Tough game to start with. First time we've been away first game since 16/17, hopefully the last of the similarities to that season. Excited to see RLBs tactics in a competitive game, I hope we press Cardiff to death. I really hope Mayenda has a good game, pretty crucial he does. My only concern is set pieces, Cardiff were excellent at them last season and we look weak from them. Plus RLBs Lorient side were dreadful defending set pieces. 2-0, Jobe and Mayenda. HWTL
It's here, it's here! Like the first bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau, it's a new RTB thread and a new season ... ... Ha'way Sunderland, a good start down there and it'll give us all a massive boost. I'm going for one of those weird first match scores, 4-1 to the lads and four different scorers.
I'm away with the wife and bairn, so if anyone knows anywhere in benalmadena to watch the match with lads fans let me know . First game away is always hard, but we've got the quality. I can see us winning 2-1
Looking forward to getting on that train Friday afternoon However, not particularly confident for the game. Expecting a draw and would probably take it when you look at our lack of firepower Ha’way the lads
Intresting in that What the Falk podcast, Cardiff lad thinks they have looked good pre-season, but he also says they will play it out from the back, should be interesting with our pressing game, so I am changing my vote, I was going for a 2-2 draw, now I am going for a 2-1 win to the lads, they have a lot of new players and pre-season means bugger all, we will be 1-0 up after 5 minutes
Finally! We seem to do well there looking forward to a good game, think it’ll be an entertaining draw though, 2-2 Clarke pen and mayenda to notch
Off we go again full of hope. Press like we've done pre-season and we'll get some rewards, never easy away first game, quieten the crowd and bring home the points HTL. Not sure I'm liking all this Sky Tele coverage tho.
Great to have the match day thread back and looking forward to a new season. Looking forward to catching up with friends and seeing how the lads perform. I'm going for a score draw but wouldn't be surprised if we nick it. Just happy that the season is here again. Keep the faith lads and lasses.
Have no idea at all how it goes. However, it appears that RLB has his 11 until Ballard comes back / we sign a new number 9. I would take a point to get us on the board.
Looks like a draw to me and I’ll be fine with that. They look a solid side so be a valuable point on the road. Hoping we can pinch it of course. 1-1 I think.
great to have match threads back RTB i will take a draw now hopefully Mayenda can step up and hopefully we get a striker before window closes
Fantastic to have your match day thread for the real games back again RTB. Can't wait to get down to Cardiff to see RLB's Sunderland!
Aaaaand Reeelaaax. Normality is resumed and RTB is here to guide us with his amazing threads. Thankyou so much. Tough one to start. Without checking , don't think we are great at first days, so not too worried as long as we don't get stuffed. Lets see a decent performance and an indication of an intention to play in a positive way
