I've no idea if someone is doing what I consider to be one of the most important threads today - the Matchday Thread. Mods feel free to delete or merge this if someone does a proper one. With apologies to the Mackems - in particular the OP Funk With The Junk - I've nicked this from their board without the graphics. I'm going for a 1-2 win for the Swans Sunderland host Swansea at the Stadium of Light on Saturday looking for their first top-flight win of the campaign. The Black Cats defied the odds and stayed up last season after winning four of their last five games. However, Gus Poyetâs charges have failed to reproduce that form following the summer break, taking just four points from their opening five games. The Black Cats also lost 2-1 to Stoke in the Capital One Cup in midweek, but Poyet will at least be buoyed by a first clean sheet in the Premier League against Burnley the game before. Opponents Swansea have enjoyed a fine start to the season under young boss Garry Monk, winning five of their seven matches in all competitions. After posting three opening Premier League wins over Manchester United, Burnley and West Brom, the Swans slumped to successive defeats to Chelsea and Southampton. Sunderland boss Gus Poyet said there wasn't much between his side and Burnley in their 0-0 draw But Monkâs side bounced back to winning ways with a creditable 3-0 Capital One Cup win over Everton on Tuesday and will go into this fixture full of confidence. Match Apointments Referee:Chris Foy Assistants:H Lennard & M Wilkes Fourth Official Bond Sunderland Team News Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher has recovered from a calf injury and could feature in Saturdayâs clash with Swansea. Winger Emanuele Giaccherini could also be available after shaking off an ankle injury, but on-loan defender Sebastian Coates is set to miss out with a knock. Gus Poyet Could ring changes by selecting Billy Jones and Will Buckley after both impressed in the midweek league cup defeat to Stoke City Swansea Team News Swansea striker Wilfried Bony will return for the trip to Sunderland after serving his one-match ban. The striker was sent off in the 1-0 home defeat to Southampton last weekend but served his suspension in the cup victory over the Toffees. Swansea boss Garry Monk said his side deserved more in their 0-1 defeat to Southampton. Monk has no new injury worries ahead of visiting the Stadium of Light, but defender Jordi Amat (knee) and midfielder Leon Britton (knee) are still absent. Stats & Facts Head-to-head Swansea scored seven goals against Sunderland last season - only Arsenal and Tottenham scored as many against the Black Cats. In six Premier League meetings, Sunderland have managed just one victory over the Swans and scored a total of just five goals in those games. That victory in January 2012 is their only triumph over Swansea since 1964. Sunderland This is the second season running they have failed to win any of their first five matches of the season. In 2013-14 they managed one point from their opening eight league games. After winning four games in a row in April and May, Sunderland have now gone six games without a victory (D4, L2). They have drawn a league-high four times this term. Last season, Sunderland had the joint worst home record in the Premier League with Fulham after picking up just 18 points from 19 games. Jozy Altidore scored his first goal in 30 appearances in all competitions for Sunderland in their League Cup defeat against Stoke in midweek. Swansea Garry Monk's Premier League win percentage of 42% is better than Brendan Rodgers (32%) or Michael Laudrup (27%) recorded for the Swans. Swansea have kept only three clean sheets in their last 18 Premier League games. They have earned just eight corners in five league games this season. Gylfi Sigurdsson has assisted four Premier League goals this season; he has never recorded more than four in a single campaign in Britain.
Aye I see you've met your match on the Sunderland board!...................... I'll just have to commend that Black Cat for putting you in your place Dragonborn, what an astute poster!................... please log in to view this image
Met my match? I posted a decent comment last nght on their board saying that I expected something from the game - perfectly proper post and all that - then I get abuse from their resident trained gibbon. Tosser. Will pay them a visit maybe later on Liverpool just gone ahead v Everton. Gerrard digging them out of a hole yet again.
Bony on the bench today. Gomis get's his chance. Monk has also gone with Routs and Dyer on the flanks.
Could be that little jolt that Bony needs up his arse. Gomis played well v Everton and it will be nice to see what he can do from the first minute.
Everton equalised right at the end - screamer from Jagielka. Re Gomis...I think there's more to it than giving Bony a kick up the ass, Valley. Probably tactical, but not sure what Monk has planned. Maybe sitting deeper than usual away from home?
I think our subs will be important today and may be the difference between a 1-1 or a 1-2 to the mighty Swans
Strange one as i thought Bony was by far our best player when we played them there last season. Bloody good sub to bring on though.
