Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Saudi State FC - FA Cup 3rd Round – Saturday 6th January 2024 - KO 12:45

Sunderland host the Saudi State FC at the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup.
Last time out Sunderland beat Preston and New****e lost at Liverpool.
The Black Cats leapt above Hull City back into 6th place with a dominating display against a poor Preston side. Goals from Pritchard and Rusyn had the game sewn up at half time.
Michael Beale made three changes for the Preston game with Rusyn, Pritchard and Alese replacing Aouchiche, Roberts and Seelt.
Sunderland have no fresh injuries arising from the Preston game, but long-term absentees Niall Huggins (knee) and Corry Evans (knee) are both out, and Bradley Dack (hamstring) is also expected to remain sidelined.
New****le lost 4-2 to a rampant Liverpool team looking to seal their place at the top of the Premier League. Goalless at half-time the Merseysiders spurned multiple chances to score including a penalty miss. The second half was a different story as the home side finally got the breakthrough and ran out easy winners.
Howe’s side have only earned five points away from St James' Park so far this season and have only kept one clean sheet in their past 19 away games.
Mick Beale:
“I’m really looking forward to the game, I have been since the draw came out. You could feel the anticipation building, and now were at game week, I think on both sides everyone is looking forward to the game.
"It's the first derby in more than seven years, which is far too long. It's the beauty of the FA Cup that's brought the game, and it's one that everybody in the nation will be watching.
"Patrick is a big doubt for Saturday's game, I'll have to make a call on him later in the week. Paddy has got an issue with his calf which we think we've caught at the right time, but we certainly don't want to rush him because we know what the schedule is going to be like towards the end of the season.
Eddie Howe:
"We're battling to get our best levels back," Howe told BBC Sport. "The effort and determination was there. As long as we continue to see that we'll be fine.
"The most important thing is we're fighting. We're missing a lot of players, we've had a lot of tough fixtures in a congested December."

Match Appointments:
Referee: CRAIG PAWSON
Assistant Referees: Marc Perry and Steven Meredith
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley

Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: (4-3-2-1) Patterson, Alese, Ballard, O’Nien, Hume, Neil, Ekwah, Clarke, Jobe, Pritchard Rusyn.

Subs: Bishop, Triantis, Mayenda, Pembele, Aouchiche, Ba, Rigg, Seelt, Bennette
Injured: Evans, Cirkin, Huggins, Matete, Dack, Roberts

Saudis (4-3-3) Dubravka, Livramento, Schär, Botman, Burn, Miley, Guimarães, Longstaff, Gordon, Isak, Joelinton
Subs: Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Krafth, Karius, Hall, Almirón, Gillespie, Murphy
Injured: Trippier, Wilson, Pope, Willock, Anderson, Barnes, Manquillo, Tonali.

Betting Odds:
Sunderland 16/5 Saudis 4/5 Draw 14/5

Chris Sutton Predicts: 0-3

Mick Beale Presser:

My two pence:
A great result on New Years Day will have increased the confidence and we finally have a goal scoring forward in the team.
The Saudis got absolutely battered off the scousers and since going out of Europe are on a poor run of form.
I’m going for the usual 3-0 home win against this lot and Eddie to get the chop.

Live Stream:
This game is live on ITV from 12pm

Ha’way the Lads

 

Here we go, match thread is quality as always. Thank you @RTB

Get stuck right into these bastards from the first minute, don't let them breathe

Do us and the shirt proud lads

 

Ha’way.

I think you’ve got the team bang on there.

I just want us to have a go. They’re to be got at.

Come on Sunderland.

 

Tactics are going to be fascinating for this one Very interesting to see how Beale sets us up. Sit like the Leeds game. Press high like the Hull game. We’ve got a few options now with Alese and Seelt looking strong. Can’t call it but I think we will give the buggers a good game

 

I'm convinced Clarke is going to win and score a penalty in front of the south stand.

 

Didn’t realise Pawson was the ref
Never rated him.

 

****ing bring it on. Looking forward to this one, it's the bairns first proper derby so he is buzzing. Free hit for us and we are definitely in with a good chance. 3-1 to us. FTM

 

Realistically I can't see anything other than a comfortable away win. We might bloody their nose with a goal, but 1-3 is my prediction.

 

Whatever they win, they've done it with the ultimate cheat code. Shame on them.

 

Mag

 

1-0 Ballard HWTFL

 

Would love to see someone absolutely fold Bruno in the first minute and rattle him.

Difficult game this one I think at their ground we’d get a tanking however I’m remaining optimistic because they look a different team away from home.

2-1 Sunlun

 

We need to get him hit early doors, frustrate him. He’s a superb player when he gets going, has got the lot. We can’t afford him any time on the ball.

 

O'Nien could be that man. We need him to get Joe Linton wound up too

 

He's a snidey bastard.

 

He is, but he’s also quality and our midfield need to get close. It’s a massive game for Ekwah who hasn’t been great of late. Time for him to step it up and really make his mark on a game.

 

I think Ekwah has played better the last couple of games though mate.

 

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It’s just got to be 2-1.

FTM

Bart