Match Day Thread Ipswich Town v Sunderland - Tuesday 26th September - KO 19:45

Sunderland travel to Ipswich Town in the Sky Bet Championship

Last time out Sunderland lost at home to Cardiff and Ipswich lost at Leeds.

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy will keep faith with keeper Bartosz Bialkowski despite his own-goal blunder in Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Leeds United. Flynn Downes (thigh) is again absent, but skipper Luke Chambers will play despite a bang in the ribs.

Sunderland will assess Jonny Williams and Callum McManaman, who both missed the 2-1 loss to Cardiff City. Boss Simon Grayson also awaits a report on striker Duncan Watmore, who played for the under-23 side on Sunday.

Simon Grayson:
“Duncan played 65-70 minutes yesterday and looked very good in terms of what he was doing. It is still only an under-23s game but he could’ve scored four or five goals. I watched the game yesterday so was pleased with what he did. Again, we have to go to the physio and the medical department to see when he can be involved but I am sure that day will be sooner rather than later.”
“In terms of Jonny Williams and Callum McManaman both obviously didn’t train yesterday but the players will be in this afternoon so we will have more of an update on them this afternoon."

Mick McCarthy:
"I lost my first 11 games (as Sunderland manager), nine of them in the Premier League, and they were bonkers thinking I could keep them up."
"I get what Simon is going through, it is tough. You've got to get a foothold somewhere and they'll be looking for that down here."
"Simon got the job because of how well he did at Preston and how competitive they were. But he's gone to a club that are used to losing and spiralling downwards and it's hard to change that."
"If we continue to play like we did on Saturday we'll win games. We had Leeds by the scruff of the neck in the second half."
Match facts:

• Ipswich have won six of their last eight league games against Sunderland at Portman Road (D1 L1).
• This is the first meeting between the sides in any competition since January 2007 - the Black Cats, then managed by Roy Keane, won 1-0 at the Stadium of Light with a goal from David Connolly.
• In seven visits to Portman Road in all competitions, Simon Grayson has never beaten Ipswich as a manager, drawing three and losing four.
• The Black Cats are the only side in the Championship this season yet to keep a clean sheet.
• None of Ipswich's last 15 league matches have ended as draws (W8 L7).
• David McGoldrick has been directly involved in three of Ipswich's last four goals in the Championship (two goals and one assist).

Form:


Referee: DARREN BOND
Assistants: Ian Cooper and Michael George
Fourth official: Tim Robinson

Team Line ups
Sunderland

Subs from: Steele, Kone, Galloway, Cattermole, O’Shea, Asoro, Ethan Robson
Doubtful: McManaman, Williams
Injured: McNair (knee, Oct), Watmore (knee, Oct), Maja (knee, Sep), Grabban (hamstring, Oct)

Ipswich Town
Bialkowski, Iorfa, Spence, Chambers, Knudsen, Ward, Adeyemi, Skuse, Nydam, McGoldrick, Garner
Subs from: Gerken, Waghorn, Celina, Connolly, Sears, Kenlock, Woolfenden
Injured: Dozell, Webster

Betting Odds:
H 6/4 A 7/4 D 23/10

My two pence:
After another home defeat, we need to put in a performance and turn things around. From what I’ve read and seen of the game, Cattermole had one of his worst performances for quite a while and should be rested. We should have a few players back for this game so I’m going for another 1-1 draw.

Ha’way the Lads

 

Went for an away win.

Simply because we can't lose them all right?

 

Well not expecting much, but this is the first game I'm attending for a while now. Maybe I'll be in for a nice surprise.

2-1 win, doubt we'll keep a clean sheet. Watmore to get a late double.

 

I've gone for 2-2 and I've no idea why, blind faith I suppose and the fact that this misery can't go on indefinitely.

 

Nice one.
Looking at the positives:
37 games to play 111 points still to play for and we can't be relegated in September.

 

****e..

Utter useless twats.

 

I get the frustration but in all honesty we aren't a bad side. We'll pick up points and wins soon.

 

Have a feeling simple Simon will set up for the draw with square pegs in round holes again. If it's fit the team picks itself tomorrow

-----------------Ruiter-------------------
Matthews-Kone-Wilson-Oviedo
--------Cattermole--Ndong--------
Mcmanaman-Williams-Mcgeady
------------------Vaughan---------------

 

Flobalabadabakooo Yip Yip yip... Brrrrt Bing Boing Drot... la la la la..

Sometimes I think SAFC are driving me mad..

 

Reminds me of Alexi Sayle singing while dressed as Benito Mussolini on The Young Ones.

 

Just look at the stats!!

Then look at how s h I t e we are.

Then look at how Larry manages and sets us up.

Home Win all day long.

Bart (G.O.B)

 

Rest assured lads that you will get the 3 points tonight. Every team that is on a poor run of results always looks forward to a visit to Portman Road as they know that we always lay out the welcome mat for them!

 

If you are right I promise to dance at your wedding..

 

In that case I sure hope that I am not!

 

We'd probably trip over it.

 

genuinely made me laugh out loud!

It's all right though, they already think I'm wierd over here.

 

I expect that Canary Dave will be on here later cheering your boys on!

 

Hard to be confident at the moment but this is the type of game that we might just scrape a win from. Think we have a better chance away than at home at the minute, our support works against us when things aren't going well and the confidence just doesn't seem to be there to be brave and get on the ball at home at the minute. I'll predict a narrow away win in an absolutely awful game of football.

 

I agree I think we're better off away from home at the moment. They need cheering on and while I've only been to a couple of matches this season they don't seem to be getting that at the SOL. More like the opposite.

 

Just avoid 3 at the back as I don't recall a time we have ever been successful using this formation.