Sunderland AFC Vs Stoke City Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread please log in to view this image Sunderland's search for a first victory of the 2014/15 Premier League season stretches to a seventh match, with Stoke City the latest visitors to the Stadium of Light. Mark Hughes takes the Potters to Wearside for the second time in as many weeks and a repeat of their Capital One Cup triumph, beating Sunderland 2-1 in the third round, will be top of the Stoke manager’s wish-list. Gus Poyet’s Sunderland have drawn five and lost one of top-flight outings to date, though, are yet to claim the elusive victory they crave so dearly. The Uruguayan will undoubtedly be calling on the same fighting spirit displayed in the latter stages of last season, when Sunderland successfully avoided relegation, as they bid to end their sequence of draws. Stoke, meanwhile, travel to the north east with buoyant spirits following a 1-0 win over Newcastle which saw them elevated to 11th in the Premier League ladder. Hughes’ side have already claimed the scalp of champions Manchester City this season, but their lone defeat came a week later at the hands of newly-promoted Leicester City. Although Sunderland are winless this term, just three points separate the sides heading into Saturday’s clash on Wearside and victory for the hosts could see them overtake the Potters. Stadium Of Light please log in to view this image Match Apointments Referee:Neil Swarbrick Assistants:S Ledger & M Scholes Fourth Official:M Heywood Sunderland Team News Sunderland coach Poyet welcomes centre-back Wes Brown back to the squad for Saturday's home clash with Stoke. Brown missed last weekend's goalless Premier League stalemate with Swansea because of a calf problem, but has returned to training and is available for selection. However, loanee Sebastian Coates is out with a thigh injury, while midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini remains a doubt with an ankle problem. Stoke City Team News Meanwhile, Stoke City are set to be without Mame Biram Diouf after the striker limped off during the Monday Night Football win over Newcastle. Early indications suggest Diouf's injury is not as bad as first feared and he will be fit to return following the international break. Marko Arnautovic is set to come in to replace Diouf while Geoff Cameron could also figure in the squad as he returns from five weeks out with a hernia problem. Key Men please log in to view this image Sunderland: Lee Cattermole Despite being down the bottom end of the table, Sunderland have only conceded 6 goals compared to the double figures of those around them. This has been in part due to the organised shape that Sunderland have lined up with this season and Lee Cattermole has sat at the base of this in midfield. The performances of Cattermole have seen mutter the words of an England call-up, including the player himself. The former Wigan midfielder has improved his tackling that was often reckless and unnecessary resulting in 64 yellow cards in 210 Premier League appearances. Making 2.8 tackles per match (17 in total), 3 interceptions per match (18 in total), and 2.2 clearances per match (13 in total), Cattermole will play a part in getting a result against a goal-shy Stoke. Stoke: Victor Moses In Stoke’s victory over Newcastle on Monday night, Victor Moses was the difference as the on-loan winger put in a man of the match performance. The pace that Moses possesses frightened the Newcastle defence as his direct running caused constant problems and resulted in the assist for the winning goal. That was Moses second assist of the season from 9 chances created and with Stoke scoring only 5 goals in their opening 6 matches, he will be a pivotal part in changing their fortune in front of goal. With the need for everyone to work for the team, Moses has also contributed defensively. With 3 tackles per match (12 in total) and 2.5 interceptions, Moses has shown in the early part of this season can he is a team player. Stats & Facts Head-to-head The Potters have never won on Wearside in the Premier League (D2, L4). Stoke's League Cup victory at the Stadium of Light last month was their first in 13 visits to Sunderland (D5, L7). The Potters have only won seven of their 66 league matches at Sunderland (D17, L42). Sunderland Sunderland are only the fourth team in Premier League history to draw five of their opening six games (D5, L1). At this stage of last season Sunderland had lost five and drawn one of their first six league games. The Black Cats are without a win in their last seven Premier League games (D5, L2). They have yet to lead a Premier League game at half-time this season. Only three teams (QPR, Aston Villa and Burnley) have scored fewer Premier League goals than Sunderland and Stoke's tally of five this season. Stoke City The Potters are yet to lose an away game this season in any competition (W2, D2). If they win or draw at Sunderland they will equal their top-flight record of six consecutive away matches without defeat. Peter Crouch has scored more Premier League goals for Stoke with his head (11) than with any other part of his body: 10 - right foot, 5 - left foot, 1 - other body part. Victor Moses has two assists in four games for Stoke after registering just one assist in 42 Premier League appearances for Chelsea and Liverpool. Head to Head please log in to view this image Last Corresponding Fixture please log in to view this image Form please log in to view this image Betting http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/sunderland-v-stoke/winner Links http://www.safc.com/fans/visiting-fans Streaming http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=280477&part=sports Please bookmark this link if you need a streem, Mick is doing work on the site this weekend so there is a slight possibility this page will be inacessable.
Ah playing against Victor Moses again - wonder if he's going to wander into the box and fall over fresh air like he did for Wigan against us?!
please log in to view this image Sorry there's no Poster prediction this week. Nobody from the Stoke felt the need to even reply, ignored my welcome, safe trip wishes and everything so ****em. We haven't had Parker's thread for predicted starting line up this week so feel free to put your team and prediction down here. HAWAY!
SUNDERLAND’S tactical preparations to face Stoke City have been more rigorous than usual this week. Stoke triumphed 2-1 at the Stadium of Light last midweek in the Capital One Cup third round and have taken five points from their three games on the road in the Premier League this season – including a victory against Manchester City. Gus Poyet expects another tight encounter against the Potters tomorrow, but says Sunderland been working intensely on the training ground to combat the counter-attacking style which has become the noticeable characteristic of Mark Hughes’s side this season. The Sunderland boss told the Echo: “We’ve been working on more tactical work this week, more than other weeks. “Stoke play a specific game, that’s quite easy to see now. “They still have power and size and are difficult from set plays. (Peter) Crouch is doing well from crosses, using his body and his hands very well! “I think they are a very difficult team to play against when they score because they have a perfect path on the break. “We need to make sure we score first, so they open up and then there’s going to be spaces. “It’s a tricky game. It could be quite tactical and it’s going to be tight.” Poyet has been impressed by the change of style overseen by his former Chelsea team-mate Hughes after succeeding long-time Stoke manager Tony Pulis in the summer of 2013. Hughes has injected pace into Stoke’s attacking ranks in the likes of Victor Moses, Oussama Assaidi, Marko Arnautovic and Mame Biram Diouf – albeit the latter is ruled out of tomorrow’s game through injury – and that has made the Potters a threat on the break. “It’s not easy to play against them,” added Poyet. “Last year, it looked like he (Hughes) wanted to control the game more in terms of passing. “Now he’s looking to get deep and break and they’ve been impressive in that. “It’s a great option if you’ve got the right players and it’s been working, so I can’t see them changing. “They lost Diouf the other day through injury, but they’ve got options with Arnautovic and Assaidi.”
Gus has 2 options for me, he picks that midfield 3 and we draw again or he drops Larsson or Rodwell and we go more attacking. What id like to see ----------------Mannone--------------------- Jones-----Vergini------Brown-----Van Aanholt ----------Cattermole--Rodwell--------------- Buckley----------Alvarez-------------Johnson -----------------Wickham--------------------- However I get the feeling Gus thinks we were just unlucky against Swansea and we'll get an unchanged team.
If Alvarez is fully fit he should start after the cameo last week. He looked superb. Quick feet, good delivery, not scared to play the "simple" pass either. <shrug> (There should be a shrugging shoulders smiley)
Love the selection but I wouldn't be dropping two CM's in front of the back four at home, I'd let catts get on with that play rodwell further up the pitch, possibly drop him for Gomez.
Streaming http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=280477&part=sports Please bookmark this link if you need a streem, Mick is doing work on the site this weekend so there is a slight possibility this page will be inacessable.
Fan Focus: The Potters Perspective From TEAMtalk's Mark Holmes With Stoke in town it's time to catch up with an old Roker Report friend, Mark Holmes. We believe Sunderland's recent history can be accurately traced by our chats with Homzy alone, so it's great to have him back.  TWEET (5) SHARE (1)  SHARE + COMMENTS Lessons learned, yadda yadda yadda, transitional period, blah blah blah, new Sunderland etc etc... we've been getting you on Roker Report for years and the more things change the more they seem to stay the same. Do you see any difference between this 'new' Sunderland and the zillion or so previous 'new' Sunderlands? MH: The Gus Poyet Sunderland is certainly different to the Martin O'Neill or Paolo Di Canio Sunderland, but, to this outsider at least, there doesn't seem to have been any drastic changes made over the summer. The organisation certainly seems to have improved, however. On the other hand, Stoke City seem to have really changed over the last year or so. Set piece bullying appears to be out, lightning quick counter attacks appear to be in. Is there actually anything left of Pulis' Stoke at all? MH: If you define 'set-piece bullying' as scoring lots and conceding few from those situations, then, yes, Stoke have definitely lost that as a strength. But there's still a good physical presence remaining in the team, they still dominate most teams in the air, and they certainly won't shy away from a battle. The difference is that Hughes has added a great deal of pace to the side, enabling them to cause problems when they sit deep. There is also a Plan B these days - Stoke now regularly look to keep the ball for long periods in games, although turning that sort of dominance into chances has proven a problem so far this season. How is Phil Bardsley getting on? MH: He looked nervous in his first couple of games but he's settled brilliantly since then and looks a vast improvement, defensively at least, on Geoff Cameron at right-back. He hasn't exactly been swashbuckling going forward yet, but his crossing ability has also improved the team. Lee Cattermole looked all but certain to be a Stoke player in January, but has enjoyed a quite remarkable turnaround since to become arguably Sunderland's most important player. How do you manage to motivate yourself to get up in the morning knowing you came so close to signing such an unquestionable footballing god? MH: Ha! Just as Sunderland fans were split over whether he should be sold in January, Stoke fans were split over whether he would be a good buy. I thought he would have been but, either coincidentally or as a direct result of knowing his place in the team wasn't certain, Glenn Whelan stepped up his standards. He was already in form but his performances in the second half of the season were outstanding. So the non-move seems to have worked out well for all parties. Is there anything in this Sunderland side that even remotely worries you? MH: I always worry when we come to the Stadium of Light as our record there is so poor. I'm also always wary of the quality Adam Johnson can produce on his day, and it was noticeable how much joy you had down your right-hand side against Marc Muniesa in the recent cup game. Muniesa is set to play again so that's a slight concern. What should Sunderland be wary of this weekend? MH: Victor Moses is the obvious one. He's one of those players that has you off your seat even when he gets the ball on the edge of the box. His pace is unbelievable! Unlike in previous years, though, there's no one threat that Sunderland can look to double mark. Marko Arnautovic is likely to play on the opposite wing and can run a full-back into the ground if he's on his game. Up front, Peter Crouch is playing as well as he ever has for the club. I have to remind you that last time you were here, you predicted relegation for Sunderland, only to be proven wrong with the rest of us. From the outside, what did you make of the great escape and what kind of a season do you see us enduring this time? MH: I did indeed, and I'm still amazed you got out of trouble! That was remarkable and, even as a neutral, great to watch. I have literally no idea what inspired the upturn in form, though, and I've not seen too much so far this season to suggest those performances could become the norm. In fact, with goals so hard to come by, it could be just as much of a struggle to stay out of trouble this season. There are definitely three worse teams in the league than Sunderland, but you need a win quickly to stop the rot. Let's have a prediction! MH: Obviously, I hope that win doesn't come on Saturday! I can't see Stoke not scoring and can't see Sunderland scoring twice so for that reason a 1-1 scoreline seems nailed on.
Still plenty of options available to you if you fancy roaring the lads on this weekend.  TWEET (6) SHARE (3)  SHARE + COMMENTS Sunderland AFC welcome Stoke City to the Stadium of Light this weekend, for the second time in ten days. Gus Poyet's side face The Potters in the Barclays Premier League clash in a traditional at 3.00pm on Saturday and tickets are still available. Supporters can secure their seat in advance of the game (purchase options are listed below) or from cash turnstiles on the day. Turnstile numbers 13 and 14, which are located in the Premier Concourse will be open from 1:30pm on Saturday. TICKET INFORMATION Adults tickets are priced from £25, over 65s from £19 and under 16s from £10. Tickets on the cash turnstiles are priced at £30. HOW TO BUY Online: www.safc.com (24 hour service) Supporters who book tickets online can use the free âprint at home' service, allowing them to print a barcoded ticket from their home PC. Telephone: 0871 911 1973 (24 hour service) In-person: Stadium of Light ticket office, opening hours as listed, Monday-Friday, 9am-5:30pm Non-matchday Saturdays, 10am-1pm Matchday, 10am-kick-off
Had this one homed in as my first game of the season, never mind I will get there soon. I watched the Stoke Mags match the other night and without V Moses, Stoke looked pretty ****. I really think this could be our first 3 points of the season, if Gus gets it right and the team are up for it. FFS Stoke City, we have to win this one.. Ha'waaaaay the Laaaaads..
It was a dreadful game of football. Think our biggest problem with these lot will be the physicality.
Even the nickname, The Potters ffs I'm on the road to Sunderland from 9am so, if I don't get another chance ...... ...... have a great day wherever you are and hope you're singing all the way home
I suppose Adams is fit the work your ticket, and yes Moses was doing his diving against the mags on Monday. how we deal with crouch is a worry, maybe put Connor on him. We must win this game though and we might sneak it 1-0 if we go 3-4-3 with all our strikers playing.
