Sunderland Vs Southampton FA Cup Fifth Round Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Match Appointments Referee:Michael Dean Assistants:Darren Cann & Jake Collin 4th Official:Paul Tierney Sunderland will be hoping their fine record in knockout competition continues when they meet Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round. The Black Cats are already preparing for one trip to Wembley in the Capital One Cup final, having sent the Saints packing along the way, but will have their sights set on another. Having reached the last 16 of the FA Cup, there are just two games between them and another memorable day out in the capital. Gus Poyet's side have disposed of Carlisle and Kidderminster to make it this far, so will be facing a fellow Premier League outfit the first time. The same can be said for Saturday's opponents Southampton, with Championship challengers in the form of Burnley and Yeovil sent packing in rounds three and four. When the two sides met at the Stadium of Light in January they produced a four-goal thriller - with the hosts hitting back from two goals down to earn a share of the spoils. Neither would welcome a repeat of that outcome this weekend, with a replay something both could do without, but they will be desperate to keep themselves in contention for major silverware - with at least another four top flight sides set to bow out at this stage. Sunderland Team News Sunderland boss Poyet has confirmed that he will shuffle his pack and give game time to those on the fringes of his squad. Carlos Cuellar is expected to come back in at centre-half, with Wes Brown suspended and John O'Shea set to be rested. Emanuele Giaccherini will be given an opportunity to get important minutes under his belt, after a frustrating spell out of the side, while January signing Ignacio Scocco is set to be handed his debut. Southampton Team News Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino will also look to mix things up during a busy period of the season. The only men definitely missing are centre-half Dejan Lovren and midfielder Gaston Ramirez, with both nursing ankle knocks. Fears over the fitness of Jose Fonte have been allayed, after he suffered three nasty gashes on his leg, and he will be in contention if required Poyet âI was looking forward to giving a few players opportunities and that will not change. We have a few players who need to play and deserve to play, but for different reasons, they havenât been able to. âIâm talking about players like (Emmanuele) Giaccherini and Scocco. They both need minutes, so weâre going to use that game for this. âBut it will all be first-team players, we will not be taking the game lightly. I hope that we win it so we donât have to play a replay.â Pochettino âWe want a run in the FA Cup because it is a very special competition. âWe havenât beaten Sunderland yet, but hopefully we will do this Saturday and it would mean a lot.â Last 4 Meetings [table="width: 500, class: grid, align: center"] [tr] [td]Season[/td] [td]Date[/td] [td]Home[/td] [td]Score[/td] [td]Away[/td] [td]Competition[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]2013/2014[/td] [td]Sat 18 Jan[/td] [td]Sunderland[/td] [td]2-2[/td] [td]Southampton[/td] [td]Premier League[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]2013/2014[/td] [td]Wed 06 Nov[/td] [td]Sunderland[/td] [td]2-1[/td] [td]Southampton[/td] [td]Premier League[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]2013/2014[/td] [td]Sat 24 Aug[/td] [td]Southampton[/td] [td]1-1[/td] [td]Sunderland[/td] [td]League[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]2012/2013[/td] [td]Sun 12 May[/td] [td]Sunderland[/td] [td]1-1[/td] [td]Southampton[/td] [td]Premier League[/td] [/tr] [/table] What the 'Experts' Say please log in to view this image Lawrenson It is difficult to know what Sunderland will do in terms of their team selection, because they are already in the Capital One Cup final. After having their midweek game against Manchester City postponed because of the weather, they are already facing a bit of a fixture pile-up at the end of the season, and despite their recent improvement they are still in a relegation battle. Because of that, I would not expect Black Cats boss Gus Poyet to field a weakened team but he will probably rotate his squad. Southampton do not have any of those worries and are my pick to sneak under the radar in the FA Cup this season. Could they win it? Well, win this and get a favourable draw in the quarter-finals, then who knows? Saints do not have many injuries to contend with and they are back playing well again too. A good FA Cup run could cap a fine season for them. Lawro's prediction: 0-2 Merson Lazy **** hasn't bothered again. Stats n Facts These two sides have met in the FA Cup on seven previous seasons, with the Black Cats progressing five times. Sunderland have won only one of their last six FA Cup games against teams from the Premier League (2-0 v Arsenal in 2012), drawing two and losing three. This fixture will see Southampton play away for only the third time in their last 14 FA Cup matches. Betting please log in to view this image
Ignacio Scocco will make his Sunderland debut against Southampton this week in the FA Cup. According to Gus Poyet, the Argentinian was always amongst those in line to feature against the Saints, and the midweek postponement of the Premier League clash with Manchester City has not altered his plans. He told the Sunderland Echo: I was looking forward to giving a few players opportunities and that will not change. We have a few players who need to play and deserve to play, but for different reasons, they haven't been able to. I'm talking about players like [Emmanuele] Giaccherini and Scocco. They both need minutes, so we're going to use that game for this. But it will all be first-team players, we will not be taking the game lightly. I hope that we win it so we don't have to play a replay. It will be good to see Scocco in action and see if he can provide some precious penetration against a supremely organised side. Getting the answers to the tactical question of just where Scocco will be used is also something to look forward to. Almost every expert has told us that he can't play up front on his own in England, yet Poyet has insisted that he sees him as 'a striker'. Interesting times.
Should be an interesting game - seems your eyes may be on more worthy prizes than this particular cup, but then who knows what Scocco and the like might bring should they play (as seems likely). There's definitely a feeling amongst our group of players, and fans, that at some point this season we have to beat you, and that we 'owe you one', so motivation should be high. Unfortunately another stupid bit of scheduling from the organisers who don't seem to realise this season that Southampton to Sunderland is one hell of a trip. I notice on your (excellent) preview you say that Poch will be delighted that Lambert has rediscovered his golden touch - don't be deceived, yes he's got a couple of goals recently, but his form is still way off what it has been. Don't be surprised if Gallagher gets at least some of this game following compassionate leave. I've never particularly liked the bloke, but Poyet has been something of a magician for you guys and you look a real threat, so this could go either way. Let's just hope there's no injuries to either side this time. Good luck lads.
Welcome fella. Bookies fancy you for this one like. Could it be forth time lucky? Bet it's doing your head in. We'll field a weakened side but not too weak, Ba being the only u21 likely to feature at some point. I'd love us to progress to the quarters but this is going to be our toughest encounter with you less. Hoping Scocco will hit the ground running but that's unusual with south american players plus he's short of match fitness. Doubt Ki will be playing so that should stunt our fluency. If you're going to beat us it should be this one like. I just pray it doesn't go to a replay as we already have west brom and Man City to rearrange. A replay would be a disaster for us.
If he's an England player I'd scrap the trip to Brazil ........... I like the bloke but I think he dropped lucky at Southampton. I think Southampton have little else to play for so I'll expect a very strong side to win this match. I'm actually half hoping we go out in a 4-5 thriller with Wickham and Scocco scoring 2 each.
In contrast it's the one thing left this season for us to *really* play for. At 39 points I'm presuming we're not going down - yes it would be great to beat the Magpies for 8th (though currently they seem to be doing that to themselves) and it would be incredible for us to get above United for 7th as we're only 3 points behind, but realistically this is the big chance to genuinely do something this season, so it'll be a full first team for us...... But then these things are never won on paper, as we both know all too well.
Rodriguez is the player coming on strong for us right now, not Lambert. We all love Rickie (which colours the views of some Saints fans as to his effectiveness) but he's been carrying a long-term back injury for a season now and doesn't dominate centre backs like he used to. We need a mobile, strong finisher up top, which is what we all were hoping Osvaldo would turn out to be. Sadly he was more interested in his hairstyle and headbutting teammates. There's no doubt in the summer our key purchase is going to be a striker. Rodriguez on the other hand is the Welbeck type player that Roy tends to like - coming in from a wide position. Yes he had an inauspicious England debut, but few people impressed in that game, and he's really beginning to get some confidence. I'd rather have him on the plane as an England fan than Rickie right now. The one thing with Lambert is he does have a tendency to prove everyone wrong when he's been written off.........but to be quite honest, even as a real fan of his, the writing has been on the wall a while now.
**** Southampton. Maybe i'm out of order here, but they mean little to us, i admit they are doing well, and have several classy players..(i still rate Lambert) but what's with all the ****ing hype? Plus i once went onto theit forum, one and only tiime, never again. To top it off that **** Sheera used to play for them.
Well we're playing you on Saturday, so that was what we were talking about! No hype here. We've had a great season to date, and playing some attractive football, but we all know as well as any these things can crumble round you far quicker than they were built.
Please re read my post, i gave you credit for playing well, along with having some decent players.. What more do you want from me? I have no affection for your club, but gave it it's due credit, don't expect anything more. I'm being polite.
I think we will lose this one. I've been well impressed with Southampton. They have pace and power but lots of flair too. Looks like we will be giving our fringe players a run and that rarely leads to a solid display. More likely a disjointed performance. That said we are awesome in the cups. Dare to dream. A QF at stake, another home tie? As a side note is this the best we have ever done in both cup competitions in the same year?
