Sunderland visit Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland lost to Cardiff and Wednesday lost to Swansea. Sunderland lost 1-0 at home to a resolute Cardiff team after three games in a week, the trip to bottom placed Sheffield Wednesday should be a perfect opportunity to bounce back. Tony Mowbray has some tough decisions to make with a potential return for Roberts and Ekwah together with Auchiche and Rusyn both pushing to start a game. Wednesday boss Xisco Munoz has called on the fans to stick with him despite chants for him to resign during their defeat by Swansea City. Their 3-0 loss in south Wales, to a Swansea side also out of form, left the Owls bottom of the Championship. This was the Owl’s sixth defeat in the league so far this season and also saw fans chant "Xisco out" as pressure builds on the Spaniard to turn their form around. A protest against chairman Dejphon Chansiri saw fans throw tennis balls onto the pitch at Hillsborough in the 15th minute of the recent home game against Boro. A ‘black balloon’ protest is being planned online during Friday's match. Tony Mowbray: "I think we shouldn’t be too disappointed with the performance. We found it last year, teams are allowed to come here and defend. We just have to find that bit of quality really. They found a way at the end and scored from a set-play.” "Give them some credit for coming here with a game plan and we didn’t manage to break them down." "I've said it in the past - people must think I'm mad, how can I pick a team without Patrick Roberts? He's just an amazing footballer who can really damage teams in this league and be so creative. "But I've had conversations with Pat. He understands. He had a hamstring injury and, in a three-game week [such as last week], there's no reason for him to worry about how much gametime he gets. "I don't think either of them (Ekwah & Dack) are going to make it for tomorrow, though not because they're miles away," he said. "We’re trying to make sure they're right so they don't break down when they come back, that's with Bradley specifically because we know that hamstring injuries are dangerous ones that can repeat. "With Pierre, we just have to accept that he's had a really bad hematoma and dead leg. It was just unfortunate that he took that knock in exactly the same place which has been restrictive to his movement.” Xisco Munoz: "When I arrived we had 10 players and we signed 10 new players, we have made progress. Maybe if today we had scored, things would change. One of the things that is important is that we stay together." "I don't listen to that (protests) but because I put the focus on the game. Let's not forget about the focus. The focus is to stay in the Championship again. "Sometimes we put the focus in another place. We need our fans, players and everybody together. We need our stadium. It's better for us." "It's been a good week, we are working very well and for me this is important. Friday is important for us, we can change nothing in the past but we can learn from our mistakes." Match Appointments: Referee: SAM BARROTT Assistant Referees: Wade Smith and Mark Stevens Fourth Official: Matthew Donohue Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Huggins, Ballard, O’Nien, Hume, Neil, Jobe, Clarke, Aouchiche, Roberts, Rusyn. Subs: Bishop, Triantis, Seelt, Rigg, Ba, Pritchard, Burstow, Bennette, Hemir. Injured: Evans, Alese, Matete, Mayenda, Cirkin, Dack, Ekwah, Pembele. Sheffield Wednesday (3-4-3) Vásquez, Bernard, B.Diaby, Famewo; Valentin, Hendrick, Bannan, Delgado; Buckley, Gregory, Musaba. Subs: Dawson, Palmer, Iorfa, Byers, Windass, Paterson, Bakinson, Smith, Fletcher Injured: M.Diaby, Wilks. Betting Odds: Sunderland 13/10 Sheff Wed 2/1 Draw 12/5 Prutton Predicts: 1-1 My two pence: Ah well, these things happen in football, we really should have won against a dour Cardiff team but at least we should get back on track with a visit to a troubled Sheffield Wednesday side with their supporters already on the manager’s and the owner’s back. Hopefully Tony makes a few tweaks in the right places and we get back on that winning streak. I’m going for a 3-0 away win Live Stream: This game is live on Sky Sports Football Ha’way the Lads
Can’t believe we came away with nothing against Cardiff, but that’s football. Back to winning ways surely. 2-0 to the lads
Fabulous thread again Really optimistic about this one Agree with your team @RTB Lets go Hawaaaaaaaaaay
I can't remember being so excited to see a match thread as this, what a night it could be, Loads of people from this board going down, some fabulous players to look forward to seeing and the chance to show Sky viewers how good we are. I can't make it but I'll be there in my heart, Ha'way the Lads!!!
I reckon Jobe gets a rest and Roberts in for Ba. Hope Ekwah is back to partner Neil. Otherwise it will be Pritch for Aouchiche with Jobe and Neil imo.
I'd go: Patterson Hume Ballard O'Nien Huggins Neil Ekwah Roberts Dack Clarke Rusyn Subs: Bishop, Triantis, Seelt, Bellingham, Pritchard, Aouchiche, Burstow, Bennette, Rigg
Well we're not sure what team TM will select so good luck to the Wednesday management in trying to sort a game plan out. Everyone is confident we can get the points and so am I, not bothered about the scoreline as long as it's in our favour. HTL.
As with most teams it's their cup final. They're on TV because of Sunderland, will have an increased home support, a massive away turnout and a big scalp on offer ... ... for Sunderland it's just three points, nothing more..
For some reason I'm off camping in the borders in the middle of a weather warning end of September instead of watching this! Might not see it but totally agree, exciting this, proper club Wednesday, exciting times, have a great night all
92 semi final against Norwich at Hillsborough was one of the times my emotional ignorance took a back seat mind. Some day that on many levels. Back to the pojnt we'll batter these and Barry Bannan can GTF! Love the no significant strengths stat, that's amazing haha! Don't mind either Sheffield club tbh, good fans and proper clubs
I always preferred going to watch United when I was in Sheffield in the 80's, couldn't stand it at Hillsborough even though they were in Division One. I don't think I ever met an Owls fan that I liked
Fair play mate, think I had a wee man-crush on Waddle as a young teen, loved his skill. French penpal later showed me a highlights video of his **** for Marseille and that was another level again, crazy piss-take skills. Loved it when he came back and had a season with us at the end. Met a few owls fans who were ok but know what you mean
Disappointed if AA isn't given a start. Deserves a chance ahead of Ba. Hopefully Rusyn gets on for some minutes too
