Last time out Sunderland won at Stoke and Norwich lost on penalties to Bournemouth in the League cup. Sunderland welcome Norwich City to the Stadium of Light in the Championship. Alex Neil’s side will face Norwich City live on Sky Sports at 12:30pm before Mel Reay’s Lasses take on Birmingham City Women at 4pm. Sunderland confirmed the signing of Jewison Bennette on Thursday for an undisclosed fee. The 18-year-old moves to the Stadium of Light from Costa Rican side C.S. Herediano, penning a four-year deal on Wearside with a club option of a further year. The Canaries made wholesale changes for the League Cup tie in mid-week, resting their first team squad. Despite the 10 changes Norwich looked to be progressing to the next round with strikers Hughill and Idah both on the scoresheet before conceding an equaliser in the 92nd minute. Norwich have won two, drawn one and lost two of their five Championship games so far this season. Alex Neil: “I spoke about that with the team after the game in terms of how important our squad is and how everyone contributes, and when the experienced lads came on they really settled us down. Equally, the decision that I made at half time wasn't solely based around that. We had two bookings as well, the two lads that I took off had been booked and I felt that the way the game was it was becoming a little bit loose. There were a lot of tackles, stops and counter attacks for each team and in my opinion it looked like someone could have potentially got sent off, and we couldn't afford that when we were leading at that point.” “Obviously I think that the one during the week has certainly taken its toll on us today. I could feel that yesterday and it worried me. It came to fruition in the first half and I think that you can always find that extra bit, you can always dig in a little more, and we did that. The next couple of days they’ll rest, they need that, that's gonna be really important, and then we’ll get ourselves ready for Norwich.” Dean Smith: “If we had gone through I would have said we were fortunate to do so. I thought that they created the bigger chances in the game. I thought that we started okay but we looked young at times, and we were. Tony Springett had a go at left back in his first game for a while. JT (Jonathan Tomkinson) is playing, AJ (Aaron Ramsey) is playing. “ “We were too passive in our own half. We didn't get in their faces like we have done recently, but when you are 2-1 up in the second minute of added time you should manage the game better than we did.” “The basics of football are that you stop crosses, and if you don't stop crosses you defend better in the box. We didn't do either and that is what cost us a place in the third round.” Match Appointments: Referee: TIM ROBINSON Assistant Referees: Andrew Fox and Craig Taylor Fourth Official: Anthony Backhouse Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (3-5-2) Patterson, Cirkin, O'Nien, Batth, Matete, Evans, Gooch, Pritchard, Clarke, Stewart, Simms. Subs: Bass, Alese, Wright, Neil, Embleton, Diamond, Roberts Injured: Huggins, Dajaku, Ballard, Winchester Norwich City (3-5-2): Krul, Aarons, Omobamidele, Hanley, McLean, Dowell, Gibbs, Núñez, Sinani, Sargent, Hernández Subs: Gibson, Rashica, Cantwell, Gomes Sara, Ramsey, Pukki, Gunn. Injured: Hayden, Giannoulis, McCallum, Sorensen. Betting Odds: Sunderland 21/10 Norwich 5/4 Draw 12/5 Prutton Predicts: 1-0 My two pence: A good result at Stoke, and our first clean sheet of the season. Norwich are going to be a tough test, but I have a good feeling that we will turn them over at home in front of a big crowd. I’m going for a 2-0 home win Live Stream: Live on Sky Sports Football from 12:00 Ha’way the Lads
Need a correction to an otherwise excellent thread RTB. We won at Stoke Going for a strong display from the lads, winning 3-0
Cracking thread as always, now i know the match is nearly here. Going to be tough, but our front 3 will run them ragged. 2 - Nil to us, Simms and Stewart
Great thread as ever I say it every week another hard game saw Norwich in there last league game and they look a good outfit but saying that I’m going for a 2-1 home
Excellent thread and an interesting game to look forward to. I'd wanted to get over but the usual return train, from Dumfries, isn't operating. It's wonderful that most of us are excited and optimistic, what a change in the club ... ... it's been a long time since we felt like this.
Top thread as always. Got a good feeling about this one, I fancy us to win 3-1 with SAS being too much for them. Ha'way the Lads
We really get mixed results with this lot so anything could happen, watched their opening game and for half an hour thought they were going to hammer the opposition, got caught with a sucker punch then struggled for a draw, it's time we racked up our first home win this season so tomorrow would be a good time to start HTL. Well done RTB, another top effort.
Good team this lot. They're in that place where they're too good for the Championship but not quite good enough to stay in the PL. I'd be happy with a point but a win isn't out of the question. A point keeps us ticking over nicely. Building and learning.
On Sky again eh, feels like we've been on tv more times this season than the whole time we were in league one. Should be an entertaining game Norwich are a good team obviously. Going to be a test for our defence.
HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM Great start to the season. Hopefully it continues today. Certainly exceeded my expectations up to now.
stoke in for Alex ! are they kidding, they can have Barton or we will we wind up with him ? these owners better keep Alex there is no better manager out there for us.
Well the best thread of the week has hit the buffers because of our "loyal manager" I would have gone for a 2-1 home win but after this kick in the stots I think the lads will be somewhat disillusioned with todays happenings !! I am a little flat but in the spirit of match day threads I will go for a 1-1.
Norwich must be licking their lips. Hard to see how the players will pick themselves up in time for this.
