A 5.30 ko on a saturday night is bad news for all away supporters but even worse for those who have to travel longer distances. Shame you have to go to work when its on but at least there is not a lot on this one. Listening to radio Newcastle last night and there are some weird ko times in the play offs.
For the play offs I would have Kempi on the bench. I just feel we need some x factor.....some unpredictability so in saying this I would give the lad 90 mins in this game.
The Black Cats travel to Roots Hall on Saturday, kick-off 5:30pm, for their 46th league game of their marathon season which is set to continue. Jack Ross’ play-off fate was confirmed on Tuesday as the Lads slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Fleetwood Town. Coming as only their fourth defeat in the league this term, Sunderland looked good value for their lead at the break as Lee Cattermole headed home his seventh goal of the season on 29 minutes. The Fishermen roared back in the second 45 as the Black Cats squandered chance after chance, with Paddy Madden levelling on 73 minutes before Ashley Eastham won it in the fifth minute of stoppage time. That left Ross’ men fourth and with just one win in their last six games at the all-important stage of the season. With Luton Town and Barnsley now promoted to the Championship, Sunderland will have to go through the play-offs to secure an immediate return to the second tier of English football, with Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic also ready to do battle. Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough United still have it to do to decide who fills the fourth and final play-off spot. Ross revealed at Thursday’s press conference that he has concerns about two or three players after they picked up knocks in midweek. Aiden McGeady is likely to remain sidelined with a foot injury while Charlie Wyke is back in contention after recovering from a dead leg. Saturday’s opponents, Southend United, host Sunderland having recorded just one win in their last 17 games. Having lost six of their last nine also, the Shrimpers are in a fight to survive this weekend as they sit just one place above the drop zone on goal difference. However, Kevin Bond’s side have it all to do as Plymouth Argyle face Scunthorpe United, who are filling two of the four relegation places. Last time Sunderland met Southend, The Lads ran out comprehensive 3-0 winners as George Honeyman, McGeady and Chris Maguire netted. DON’T MISS A SECOND OF THE ACTION Away tickets for tonight’s match have all been snapped up. Streaming passes are also on sale now. BBC Radio Newcastle’s Nick Barnes will be broadcasting live right here on safc.com from 4:30pm. As ever, there will be comprehensive coverage across our digital channels including safc.com’s matchday blog and live updates on Twitter via @SunderlandAFC.
We're probably going to be 4th or 5th and that is likely to mean Charlton in the first round of the play-offs. With a bit of luck, Donny could do Pompey and then we'd have a chance in the final against them. We've lost our way completely ATM, so I'd rest the walking wounded and get ready for a trip to SE London...
Hope you are right but Donny deffo are the weakest of the 4 teams by quite a distance for me and I imagine it’s us or Charlton playing Pompey in the final
I have now heard that my automatic season card renewal has gone through.. only an email mind. Not sure if too thrilled, not very confident about play-offs with our present form. Trust it that a meaningless end of season away game is being shown on the dirty diggers sports channel What could have been
If that is the policy then so be it. Me I think I would involve him in the play offs and worry about the other stuff after that. Shouldn’t cut our nose to spite our face type of thing.....
Four changes: Matthews, Hume, Leadbitter and Wyke in/ O'Nien, Oviedo, Cattermole and Morgan out. Connelly on the bench. please log in to view this image
Possibly. We'd be very narrow though. Southend have only played 4 in midfield once in about the last 9. Seems likely they'll continue to pack central midfield so we'll just get played around.
