Match Day Thread Sunderland v Pompey - Play-Offs Semi Final 1st Leg

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Last time out Sunderland lost at Southend and Portsmouth drew with Accrington
This two-legged affair will be the fourth and fifth times the Black Cats have met Pompey this year, with the pair having already faced-off twice in the regular season alongside their meeting at Wembley in the Checkatrade Trophy final. Sunderland have failed to win any of those meetings, leaving Pompey fans and some players with the belief that their side have a big psychological advantage ahead of the first clash between the duo on Saturday.
Sunderland can still get to that Wembley final and still be promoted, all they have to do is turn up on Saturday night and give their best possible chance of going into that second game at Fratton Park with a big advantage.
Jack Ross:
“It was a reality check for some of us, individually and as a team, and a reminder of the levels we need to be at. We haven’t dipped below them all that often this season but today we were well below them and we were beaten by a hungrier team."
"We have not gone into the play-offs on the back of a positive feeling because our performance at Southend was a long way short. We didn’t play well, not by a long stretch. It was a reality check for some of us, individually and as a team, and a reminder of the levels we need to be at."
"You are always judged on the end result, and in the last few games we have either drawn them or lost them. The performance has been ok so that has been a bit more positive, but when the two go hand-in-hand (poor performance and poor result) I can be a lot more critical.”
Kenny Jackett:
"In terms of our game, I do think we’ve gone off our responsibilities a little bit. The lines have been blurred between who’s doing what and we have to get back to that."
"I do think our full-backs have been high and wide and we’ve been open. Matt Clarke coming out as well has meant two of our back four have been up and around their box on a regular basis. If we’re doing all that and keeping clean sheets I’m fine, but we’re not."
‘It has to swing towards making sure our defenders can defend and keep clean sheets, our midfielders can compete and the ball runs through them, and then the front three get a good service to score and provide assists."

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Betting Odds:
Home 23/20 Away 9/4 Draw 23/10

** Credit given to RTB from the Sunderland site for the above matchday thread which I have "pinched" !! **

 

Ignore dogbreath, as he's talking ****e as usual. Any friction is largely down to the lobbing of flares in our general direction, which is unsurprising if you're honest. It's going to be a tough pair of games and may the best team lose (i.e. you - the table doesn't lie) with the winner going on to promotion and a regular twatting in the Championship. See you there!

 

Play-Off Preview: Sunderland v Pompey.

There will be a feeling of déjà vu for many Pompey fans, as they prepare to make the long trip north to Sunderland.

It was just two weeks ago that the sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light, with Jamal Lowe cancelling out Tom Flanagan’s opener.

Now the Blues are heading back to the north-east for the first leg of the play-offs (7.30pm kick-off), with a spot at Wembley up for grabs.

The two sides have already been to the national stadium this season, of course, with Kenny Jackett’s side emerging triumphant from a penalty shoot-out in the Checkatrade Trophy final.

And Pompey also came out on top in a league meeting at Fratton Park just before Christmas, as Gareth Evans, Ronan Curtis and Ben Thompson all scored in a 3-1 win.

There will be a slight feeling of frustration in both camps about missing out on automatic promotion to the Championship.

They are only facing off at this stage because a late goal for Charlton in their final day rout of Rochdale saw them snatch third spot from the Blues on goal difference.

The Fratton faithful are looking for their side to secure Championship football for the first time since 2012.

But the Black Cats are aiming for an instant return, having suffered a second successive relegation after finishing rock bottom last term.

TEAM NEWS
Pompey are close to having a fully-fit squad to choose from, with Dion Donohue (groin) and Jack Whatmough (knee) the only absentees.

Sunderland have no major injury concerns, with Aiden McGeady returning to training after recovering from a broken bone in his foot.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 34 wins
Sunderland: 37 wins
34 draws

At Sunderland
Pompey: 9 wins
Sunderland: 26 wins
17 draws

BETTING
Sunderland are the 13/10 favourites with Sky Bet to secure a first leg victory, while the visitors can be backed at 11/5.

 

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So, both Brett Pitman and Lee Brown are out injured, replaced by Anton Walkes and Gareth Evans, so not all bad news.

 

Cheers Lapras. I've got Sky Sports for tonight

 

I'm looking forward to watching this one

Good luck to all xx

 

Sunderland

• 1McLaughlin
• 13O'Nien
• 5Ozturk
• 12Flanagan
• 3Oviedo
• 27Power
• 6Cattermole
• 11Gooch
• 10Honeyman
• 17Morgan
• 9Wyke

Substitutes

• 2Matthews
• 7Maguire
• 22Grigg
• 23Leadbitter
• 25Ruiter
• 30Dunne
• 33Hume

McGeady ruled out through injury - they will miss him !!

 

Cheers Minxy

 

Ronan Curtis pushed to the ground by a Sunderland player in the penalty box as a corner about to be taken, but the ref denies us a spot kick!!!

 

Lots of empty seats at the Stadium of Light !! Unbelievable....

 

Lyndon Gooch avoids a yellow card for badly fouling Jamal Lowe from behind.. Jamal requires treatment...

 

Oli Hawkins shoved over in the box, but nothing given...