Last time out Sunderland drew with Preston and Swansea beat Watford. Sunderland travel to Swansea in the Championship. The Black Cats slipped one place to eighth in the table after another frustrating 0-0 draw. Tony Mowbray made one change to the starting eleven against Blackpool, replacing Dan Neil with Amad Diallo. Dennis Cirkin was missing from the squad but is expected to feature on Saturday. Tony Mowbray has no plans to make major changes for Sunderland's weekend trip to Swansea City, although he has not ruled out 'tinkering' with his side after back-to-back goalless draws. Sunderland have no new injury concerns after Tuesday's game. Swansea moved into the Championship play-off positions for the first time this season as they rose to sixth place ahead of the visit of Sunderland, with a 2-1 win at Watford. Former MK Dons manager Russell Martin has been nominated for the September Manager of the Month award after leading Swansea to wins against Queens Park Rangers and Hull, and only conceding one goal in the calendar month. Tony Mowbray: "I'm making calls with players based on how they are interacting with the group. It's very difficult to come from foreign countries and within a month integrate into the way that we play and what we want to do. "I'm not sitting thinking 'expect five changes at the weekend.' I'm pretty sure that that's not going to happen. I know we've drawn three of the last four, but I think that the lads have done pretty well. "They've worked really hard and they have deserved to keep going and see how it goes. Whether we tinker with it, let's wait and see. "Diallo got a start the other night, Jewison didn't get a start because he'd been halfway around the world and he is just a kid. He (Bennette) brings what this team might need, a bit of speed in behind, a bit of directness from someone who wants to run in behind and stretch the back line. "At some stage we have to look at the assets that we have got and how best to utilise them to help the team." "Dennis Cirkin is travelling with us, and we'll see what the plan is for him." "There were a few who didn't go on the grass today because they were still a bit sore or a bit stiff, but generally those lads are the ones who are pretty robust and as long as they train on Friday, they will be travelling with us to Swansea." Russell Martin: “I’m so proud of the players for winning the game and showing the character to come from behind. I loved so much about the performance, the courage that they showed to play, especially in the first half an hour. I don’t think Steven Benda in goal touched the ball until the 27th minute. “The players were outstanding so I felt really disappointed when we went 1-0 down, but the way that they bounced back, the intensity that they showed, and the way that they fought for each other was great. “There were some scary moments that were a little bit of our own doing, but the way that we’re asking them to play and be brave means that there will be moments like that. We have to accept that that’s part of how it is. To play the way that they did after putting in such a big effort at the weekend, I’m grateful and proud of my players. “The players have shown belief in what we’re doing and this run of results now is reward for that belief. It’s reward for the hard work that they put in when we had a tough start to the season. It’s such a young group and there's so much room for improvement, but to come here and put in that performance was amazing.” Match Appointments: Referee: GAVIN WARD Assistant Referees: Andrew Dallison & Bhupinder Gill Fourth Official: Ollie Yates Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (3-4-3) Patterson, Alese, Batth, O’Nien, Neil, Evans, Gooch, Clarke, Embleton, Roberts, Bennette. Subs: Bass, Cirkin, Matete, Pritchard, Ba, Michut, Diallo Injured: Huggins, Ballard, Stewart, Simms Swansea (4-3-3) Benda, Wood, Naughton, Cabango, Sorinola, Fulton, Grimes, Manning, Piroe, Ntcham, Obafemi Subs: Fisher, Darling, Cundle, Oko-Flex, Latibeaudiere, Stevens, Cooper Injured: Allen, Paterson Betting Odds: Sunderland 9/4 Swansea 6/5 Draw 12/5 Prutton Predicts: 0-0 My two pence: Another frustrating game where I thought that we played well in the first half but just didn’t find the vital goal and then let them back in it after the break. At least we kept a clean sheet, but the game could have gone either way. Swansea are a decent team and this will be another tough away fixture, but I have faith in Tony to do the right thing to get those vital goals. We’ll see how much tinkering he does with the starting 11. My guess is that 'Jewi' will start. I’m going for a 2-2 draw. Live Stream: (international fans) https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Agree on Jewi starting but I think Clarke might get a rest. He has been fantastic and puts in a load of graft, but looked a bit leggy late on against Blackpool (understandable though). I'd be happy with a point as they seem to have turned a corner and are in very good form. Safe travels everyone. HTL
My son was saying it might be worth given Clarke a go through the middle. Could be worth trying Diallo in the number 10 role. I think we'll go 4231
Yeah that could the plan, start with Bennette and bring on super sub Clarke. Will he start Cirkin though...
Only if he goes to a back 4 but I can't see who misses out from the defence. Kept a load of clean sheets recently so no need to change it at the back imo.
Tough game against a side who’re playing well. Not confident. I’ve got an awful feeling we’re gonna slide down the league table over the next few weeks… really hope I’m wrong but we’re missing Stewart so much.
I've taken this from the Reading matchday thread: Reading have started the season really well and their home form is very impressive, having played 4 and winning them all. The Royals are in third place behind Sheffield United and Norwich City. Remind me what happened
Hard game, they’ll have most of the ball I’d imagine so hopefully suits us more being able to play on the counter with space in behind
I think Pritchard should be dropped for this one. Clarke could maybe do with a break because he does cover a lot of ground and his form hasn't been brilliant but if he feels ok I'd play him. He's a quality player and it'd do him good to crack on. Same goes for Roberts really. I think we should consider getting him and Clarke to swap wings during the game especially when them both cutting inside isn't getting us anywhere.
I would definitely agree but Roberts playing on the left side is very rare. I’d like to see him have a little spell there going at the defender down the line…
Yeah it might work well having him knock it past the defender and whip a cross in, Gooch can do it from the right so he should be able to do it from the left. I like them both starting where they do but if it's not really working on the day why not try swapping them.
Just thinking TM might have a nibble of putting Alese up front for some part of the game. Bring Cirkin in at the back.....go with Alese and Bennette up top with Roberts and Clarke out wide. If he does then that should get a few ass's off their seats. Going for 2 - 0 to the lads. Clarke and Baath.......HTL!!!!!!
Well I’ll be away with mrs blackcat in a Manchester hotel. Manchester half marathon on Sunday so I’ll have to just keep an eye on it somewhere!! No drinking Saturday for me.
Great thread as always @RTB. Thank you. Wouldn't be upset to see that line up, gives us plenty of options from the bench as well. Hopefully we get a bit more space behind them for our quick players to exploit and a bit more of those intricate quick passing moves come off. Think it will be tough, but we can win this. 0-2 Clarke and Jewi
Head to head against these is pretty even. Away from home our one touch players get more space which we haven't found at home much this season as teams sit in, which shows in our home results. They're in good form but so are we despite the lack of goals recently. Trust TM to find a way for a tight away win HTL.
