please log in to view this image Chris Young’s big-match verdict: QPR will be on a high, but Cats can bring them back down to earth Published on Friday 23 March 2012 10:00 TYPICAL Joey Barton. His team just record the most stunning of victories and it’s utterly overshadowed by his attempts to hog the limelight! Barton had been booed off by his own supporters by the time QPR mounted an unlikely comeback to secure a crucial three points in the fight for survival in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over Liverpool. Did that chastening experience prompt a dignified silence from “captain” Barton to allow his team-mates to bask in the glory of their exploits? Fat chance. Within minutes of the final whistle, he was once more courting cyberspace airtime to elbow his way back into the spotlight. “Disappointed with fans booing, we’re meant to be in it together,” he tweeted, together with a more humble: “Worst I’ve ever played in my career.” Barton’s continued self-centred view on the world sums up QPR’s troubles at the wrong end of the Premier League table this season. Mercenaries willing to chance their arm at Loftus Road have joined players who have scrapped their way out of the Championship, and the ugly amalgamation of the two has hampered QPR during both Mark Hughes and Neil Warnock’s tenures. But there is nothing like success to bring players together and despite Barton’s tantrum, QPR head to the Stadium of Light flush with confidence that they can overcome any obstacle after wiping out Liverpool’s two-goal advantage in the final 13 minutes. Chief among those basking in self-belief is Djibril Cisse, the most potent weapon in a former Sunderland contingent that also includes Anton Ferdinand, Tommy Smith and Nedum Onuoha. Cisse’s brief stay at Loftus Road has proved eventful – four games, three goals and one sending off. Long-term, the Frenchman’s enthusiasm for the cause is likely to wane as it did at the Stadium of Light, but ominously for the Black Cats, the 30-year-old is a master at making an instant impact with his new employers. In containing Cisse, Sunderland’s back-line will certainly need to show more resilience than they did at Ewood Park on Tuesday when the loss of John O’Shea left a previously formidable Black Cats defence looking brittle. Admittedly, Sotirios Kyrgiakos is still well-short of match fitness after ending a two-and-a-half month wait to make his Sunderland debut. But the Greek hardly displayed the same organisational or positional sense as O’Shea and Martin O’Neill will be desperate to have Sunderland’s defensive leader back at his disposal. Given he was left out as a precaution, O’Shea will be expected to return to the starting line-up, as will Jack Colback after being handed a breather in midweek to recover from his battle scars. But it is the resumption of Stephane Sessegnon’s role as Sunderland’s attacking maverick which is sure to hearten O’Neill, as he looks to prize open a Ferdinand-Onuoha central defensive partnership. Victory over Liverpool and a draw at Everton provided ample evidence of Sunderland’s determination to succeed without the Benin international at their disposal. But in the second half at Goodison and throughout a dismal display at Blackburn, Sessegnon’s ability to provide a spark to Sunderland’s counter-attacking style was sorely-missed. Fraizer Campbell is the most likely contender to surrender his place to Sessegnon after enduring a horrifying evening in Lancashire where there were finally signs of the after-effects of a 17-month injury lay-off. If Sessegnon and O’Shea return to boost the spine of a side which was missing its three integral components at Blackburn, then Sunderland have every chance of warming up for their quarter final replay with a confidence booster. Those at the wrong end of the table will again be anxiously watching Sunderland’s fortunes after the Black Cats inadvertently handed the survival prospects of Steve Kean’s side a major shot in the arm. But’s tough to see another of the relegation contenders breaking their back-to-back wins duck against Martin O’Neill’s men, given the Blackburn boot up the backside.
In all honestly i'm worried about this one....for several reasons... The cup seems to be some players main focus... Fatigue seems to really have set in, especially the likes of Larsson...but i also worry about resting him as we need him and his capabilities. The squad is looking pretty thread bare, and the quality is lacking, once you get down the pecking order. Cisse and Zamora up against our c/b, is also a mis-match in speed. Our strikers have hardly set the world alight with their scoring prowess... ..................................................................................... But on a plus side, they have put some great team performances in, and our midfield can score some cracking goals... MoN i expect has kicked their arses after the Blackburn shambles, and some will be playing for their place in the cup game.. Biggest bonus of all though is Sess is back, so really anything can happen..... Our strongest first team would win this game comfortably, but what we have available at the moment, it's going to be a much tougher game, and i pray O'Shea will make it.
I'm actually very confident about this one. I was with you Syd, re Blackburn, that was just one of them games where we were destined to lose. QPR though ! I'm going to stick my neck out and predict 2-0.
I cant say I'm confident but, 2 things make me think we will win.. 1. I cant see QPR winning two on the bounce. 2. I cant see us losing two on the bounce. Looks like a draw when I put it like that, oh bugger.
I'm always optimistic, and I got the Blackburn result very wrong..I still fancy our chances against QPR though...
Got a bad feeling about this one after the crap display on Tuesday. MON has to change things around against QPR but, we have nothing in reserve to do that. Defence is struggling after some great displays (not counting WBA), Midfield is sort of okay and with Sess back should see us moving the ball around more but, yet again it is the front two who are letting the side down. Not having a go at Bendtner or Campbell they are just one dimensional so teams are sussing them out which is why MON has to change it around. That may see Whickham if fit (or still in the country) getting a start with one of the other two up front. It seems to me that the cup run has taken the focus away from the league games for both players and fans, the league is where we make our money and these types of games are ones we should be winning. Tuesdays was another off game heard that at WBA and to some extent Everton that's 3 off games in the space of a month. We have to get back on track in the league for me or risk the season fizzling out after the good work MON and the lads have done since he has taken over.
Someone said on the radio last night that "We play well as a team but we also play badly as a team" and I think he's right - you can occasionally carry one or 2 bad performances but not 7 or 8 - the first goal against Blackburn (IMO) was Mignolet's fault - we had 2 players stood under the ball and he palmed it away from them into the centre of the area - I like mignoleyt but think he struggles from crosses and QPR will bombard the box with Barton putting crosses in from everywhere. We'll see what happens but it;'s a potential banana skin and we need 3 points - not desperately, but just to give a bit of comfort. I hope they are not all thinking of the cup game on Tuesday - we've played a lot of games recently and had very little recouperation time (Before anyone says anything - football is a lot different to how it used to be and the players are a lot fitter, faster and higher tuned so rest time is very important) - and hope we can get the 3 points we need to get to 40 - we have only 4 points from the last 15 so another 3 would do nicely thanks lads. As for Larsson - I think we have other who can deliver dead ball situations really well and he's been off the boil recently so a rest this weekend may do him good
I don't buy this tired excuse that is getting bantered about, we have played 3 games in 11 days Hardly excessive by anyone's standards. I do think it shows our lack of quality in depth we have in our squad, I would like to think that the players aren't just focusing on the cup game because we all know that you can't pick and choose which games you turn up for. I would also like to think the very poor Blackburn display refocuses the players and we can return to the very good standards that they have set themselves . No resting players , pick our best fit 11 and we should really have more than enough for QPR. I think back to our winning ways with a clean sheet 2-0
TEAM NEWS Sunderland forward Stephane Sessegnon returns to the squad after suspension. The Benin international is available after completing the three-match ban he incurred for his sending-off in the derby draw at Newcastle but midfielder Lee Cattermole still has one game left to serve. Central defender John O'Shea will undergo a late fitness check on his hamstring injury but Kieran Richardson (calf) is still out, as are long-term absentees Wes Brown (knee) and Titus Bramble (Achilles/calf). Armand Traore will miss out. The Senegal international was brought off at half-time of Wednesday's 3-2 victory against Liverpool and is out for the next couple of weeks with a grade one hamstring injury. Clint Hill will travel with the squad to the Stadium of Light but will have a back injury assessed, while long-term absentees DJ Campbell and Heidar Helguson are making good progress. MANAGER QUOTES Martin O'Neill: “There were one or two things that weren’t up to scratch at Blackburn. Seb (Larsson)’s delivery could have been better on one or two, but we should be able to attack set pieces better and it looked as if they were able to clear at will. It was a bit unlike us so we need to be ready for tomorrow and next Tuesday against Everton.” Mark Hughes quotes to follow... MATCH FACTS Sunderland are unbeaten in their last nine league games against QPR, winning six. The Black Cats have won just one of their last five Premier League games (W1 D1 L3). Sunderland have won five and lost just one of seven Premier League games at the Stadium of Light under Martin O’Neill. QPR have earned just two points from the last 24 available in the Premier League away from home. 50% of the goals QPR have netted have been scored in the first half, the highest proportion in the top division. QPR have used 35 different players in the Premier League this season, more than any other team. Adel Taarabt has had the most shots of any player this season who hasn’t scored a Premier League goal (64). QPR have won just two of their last 17 Premier League games (W2 D4 L6). Lee Cattermole has the worst disciplinary record in the top flight with eight yellows and one red this season in the league. QPR have picked up the joint-most red cards in the top flight this season (5). MATCH ODDS Sunderland 1/1, QPR 14/5, Draw 12/5.
Apparently (Totalsport) Mark Hughes record against us is 8 wins & 1 draw. Need to change that to 1 loss by 5 tomorrow.
I expect O'Shea to make it so will go... MIG BARDO..TURNER..OSHEA..BRIDGE LARSSON..GARDNER..COLBACK..MACLEAN SESS BENDY
When is wes brown back ffs? Why is his knee injured from what I remember he had a nasty fall on his shoulder. Another point, MON must not fancy Meyler at all. Would like to see him given a run out. Hope Sess' is firing on all cylinders I would rest Larsson. I would also rest o'shea if not 100 % fit. For me the cup game is more important.
Like most, I think we may be getting a dose of cup fever, but here's hoping for a decent result and 3 more points!
6 o'clock Saturday morning, Osca back in his bed and its match day, best day of the week right now, lets hope it stays that way. Will Marty change and rotate the team with Tuesday in mind? I think not. Will O'Shea pass his fitness test and start or will he be on the bench just in case? Will Sess be fired up and put on a show? Will Marty give Larsson a rest and play Campbell on the right? All will become clear around 2 o'clock. Enjoy your day wherever you are.
Hi chaps good luck - I'm a Potter so not bothered either way you can watch the game on my site www.eplstream.net
just seen this lads prity fair assesment if you ask me http://http://www.qprnet.com/index.php/match-previews/283-preview-sunderlanda?
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... Britain will bask in temperatures up to 10 degrees Celsius higher than the seasonal average, forecasters have said. The weather is expected to be most pleasant in the South, with predicted maximum temperatures of 21C (69.8F) in Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire. Friday was the warmest day of the year with the mercury reaching 21.3C (70.3F) in Charlwood, Surrey. Isobel Lang, Sky News weather presenter, said this weekend could beat that as the settled, sunny weather continues. "The clocks spring forward an hour on Sunday into British Summer Time with the added bonus of longer, lighter evenings," she said. "High pressure looks set to stay for much of next week with chilly, misty mornings giving way to sunnier days. "However, it could turn cooler and rather more changeable, especially across the North, later in the week." The sunny days will not be celebrated by some - with the lack of rain likely to cause concerns for farmers and growers, Lang added. "The prospects of hosepipe bans are just a couple of weeks away for the drought-stricken parts of southeast Britain." Last week, water boards in southern and eastern England said they would impose hosepipe bans. The warnings came after the environment department declared in February that the South East had joined most of East Anglia in a state of drought, with the rest of the region to follow. The bans are set to come into force from April.
Foggy in Shields as well lads but, no fog horns going so it should be okay by the coast, maybe the fog will help us a bit as the QPR lads will be used to basking in the sun.
