Sunderland travel to Stoke in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland drew with Blackburn and Stoke lost to Leeds, Sunderland made one change to their starting eleven, with O’Nien replacing the injured Ballard. The Black Cats started slowly again as Blackburn took an early lead, and could have gone further ahead before the break. Sunderland started the second half like a different team and were soon level thanks to a good finish from Chris Rigg. The Black Cats then took the lead, Dan Neil with a great ball to Patrick Roberts who ran past his defender and crossed to Wilson Isidor to flick it into the net. Blackburn levelled as Leonard scored in the last minute from a goalmouth scramble. Chris Rigg hobbled off and is out for this game, and Aouchiche could be pushing for a start in his absence. Samed and Abdullahi are getting closer to fitness, but this game might be too soon. Huggins, Mundle, Browne & Watson remain on the injured list. Stoke lost 2-0 to Leeds on a foggy Boxing Day evening. Joel Piroe scored in the first half with a well taken shot into the top corner and doubled the lead in the 63rd minute with a header. Ex Black Cat, Lyndon Gooch started the game for Stoke, but was subbed after 55 minutes. Stoke have gone 9 games without a win, losing 5 of their last 6 and are sat in 19th place on 22 points. Regis le Bris: "It's not a bad result in the end, probably the question is more about the dynamic of the game. It wasn't our best start, we were just not at our best level, but we reacted well in the second half. "We played our football, we pressed high and recovered the ball, and during the second half we had many chances to score, but when you're away with a full stadium, you know you can concede a goal at the end with high pressure. "We have to work again on our consistency, which is a key word for a team to be at the top of the league. We have a talented team, but the question is how we can perform along (the course of) the whole league. "They reacted well, so they have the mentality – it's a question of starting from the beginning until the end." Presser - tba Narcis Pelach (Sacked): "Leeds have a lot of quality. They have very fast players and can be dangerous, as they showed. "I'm pleased with the effort. We connected with the fans in the stadium, but then they scored their second goal. "We use a back four or a back five, depending on the opponents. I don't think that is having a negative effect. "We find ourselves now in a place with less confidence, which will test our dynamics. We have to put this to bed quickly." Form: Match Appointments Referee: JAMES BELL Assistant Referees: Ian Cooper & Matthew McGrath Fourth Official: Matt Corlett Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-3-3) Patterson, Cirkin, O’Nien, Mepham, Hume, Neil, Jobe, Aouchiche, Mayenda, Roberts, Isidor, Subs: Moore, Hjelde, Alese, Jones, Aleksic, Connolly, Poveda, Rusyn, Ogunsuyi. Injured: Huggins, Seelt, Browne, Mundle, Watson, Rigg. Stoke City: (5-4-1) Johansson; Tchamadeu, Wilmot, Phillips, Gibson, Gooch; Sidibe, Burger, Moran, Koumas; Cannon. Subs: Bae Jun-ho, Bocat, Bonham, Ennis, Rose, Gallagher, Lawal, Sidibe, Tezgel. Injured: Mmaee Betting Odds: Sunderland 5/4 Stoke 21/10 Draw 9/4 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: Another good result, but it could have been so much better. Hopefully Riggy is not out for long. Stoke didn’t offer much against a dominant Leeds team, and I’m expecting another backs to the wall defensive formation from them. They only had 3 shots all game and let Leeds have most of the possession. They are on a poor run and we should be looking to win this game. I’m going for a 2-0 away win. Live Stream: https://www.safc.com/live (Available to overseas fans) Ha’way the Lads
9 games without a win for Stoke. They were garbage up here a few weeks back too, we need to be winning this one I’ll predict a 1-0 victory. Want us to get back to keeping clean sheets, we’ve been poor at the back in recent weeks.
I think we’ll start quicker than we have been in this game. Comfortable win, Stoke are ****, we are mint. Isidor to score again.
And Roberts has hit a bit of form getting involved with a lot of the moves that have led to goals or chances. He’s not hanging on to the ball as much now and releasing it when you’d expect him to.
Clean sheet would be a good starting point...we can't keep giving teams a goal start. Roberts seems up for it at the moment and expect him to provide assists x 2 for Isidor and get on the scoresheet himself. Top thread again HTL.
Stoke are there for the taking, so I'll be disappointed with anything other than an away win. 0-3 to the lads.
we really need to win this one hopefully we don't start very slow again i think it be Aldi for Rigg he gonna be a very big miss Haway the lads
I hope and expect the win. Not bothered how. Would love a 5-0 hammering but 1-0 would still give us the 3 points we need. I think they will set up for a point so its up to us to break them down. Hopefully we can get an early goal and fk their game plan up.
Great thread again @RTB Ill go for an away win here. we really ought to have too much in the tank for them. Feel sorry for Lyndon mind. 2-0 to the lads Ha'waaaaaaaay
I’d start Aouchiche but I’m not sure RLB will, don’t think the trust is there. Not many other options mind
I think he will, he's been giving him bits and bobs and he's done well with the little time he's had. The only other option is Connolly and he seems to be falling out of favour while Adil is going the other way. I'd like to have a proper look at the lad in his correct position.
They’ll probably get a lift coz of the manager being sacked and will have nowt to lose. I’ll take a 0-1 HAWAY Bart
The manager thing just kind of unsettles me a bit as teams can rectify differently in this situation. Some improve and some fall apart which makes me wonder where Stokes players heads are at. Even so I believe we are starting to build confidence again and whilst we have been drawing too many games lately for my liking I still think we have more than enough to beat these so I will go for a 0-2 and a much needed clean sheet.
