Sunderland travel to Prenton Park to face Tranmere in a pre-season friendly Last time out Sunderland beat Harrogate and Tranmere beat Warrington. Sunderland continue their build up to the start of the new season with a mid-week fixture against Tranmere Rovers, hopefully with some away fans in the Cowshed. The Black Cats beat the Super White Army 1-0 to win the EFL Trophy at Wembley in March. Luke O’Nien played the full 90 minutes on Saturday and wore the captains arm band. He could be rested for Friday’s game against Hull. Alex Pritchard will have a heart scan on Monday to check if he is OK to start training this week after recovering from Covid-19. Wembley hero Lynden Gooch missed the Harrogate game with a slight tweak to his hamstring and may not be risked on Tuesday. Aiden McGeady has had an injection for tendonitis and will not be included. Bailey Wright has a groin strain -allegedly but could be available. Lee Johnson: "It’s getting the right blend. You want a nice balance in your squad, not just the team, but your squad.” "First and foremost, I want the footballing ability. That to me today is starting to look like, in inverted commas, a Lee Johnson team.” "We definitely see him (O’Nien) as a central midfielder - we have signed him as a number eight, but the reason Luke got an extra percentage increase on his wage, which enabled us to keep him, is because of his versatility.” "By having Luke who can play at centre-mid, centre-half, right-back, it means you can reduce your squad by one body, which means you don't have to pay relocation, an agent's fee, or anything.” "I'd rather have 20 quality first-team players than 25 average ones. You have a list, sometimes five, ten, and you've got to make sure it's a quality list and that it fits with what you're trying to do.” "They've got to be affordable, available and fit the club's philosophy. It's not easy but to be fair, I do feel like we are getting there in a couple of positions. My hope is that in the next week to ten days we're able to bring a couple in." Team Line ups Sunderland: Patterson; Dyce, Younger, Almond, Taylor; Neil, Embleton, O’Brien; Diamond, Grigg, Kimpioka. Subs: Carney, Flanagan, Wright, Kachosa, Richardson, Winchester, Wilding, Newall, Hawkes. Injured: Xhemajli, Willis, (Hume), Pritchard, Gooch, McGeady. Tranmere Rovers:Murphy, Cogley, Knight-Percival, Clarke, Merrie, Spearing, McManaman, Watson, Glatzel, Feeney, Dieseruvwe Subs: BJones, Davies, Foley, Hayde, Nevitt, Fisher, Injured: tbc My two pence: A good performance at Harrogate, 4 goals scored and another clean sheet, the only real complaint is the terrible decision to not allow in any fans at such short notice. Hopefully we will have a few new players confirmed this week but from what I’ve seen so far, a lot of the youngsters are looking good and ready for the first team, especially Callum Doyle, Dan Neil, Jack Diamond, Elliot Embleton and Ollie Younger. Lee Johnson said that he will use this game as ‘a bit of a top up’ and will include players who haven’t had much game time so far. Some players won’t travel but he did say that Bailey Wright, Will Grigg, Aiden O’Brien and Jack Diamond will start (if fit). There will probably be a fair few U23’s too. I’m going for a 2-0 away win. Live stream: £5.99 https://safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Tranmere are advertising it on iFollow SAFC Update: Streaming passes are now on sale for Tuesday’s pre-season friendly at Tranmere Rovers. Lee Johnson’s side travel to Prenton Park for their fifth pre-season fixture, following Saturday’s 4-0 win at Harrogate Town. Passes are priced at £5.99 https://safc.com/news/team-news/live-video
I'm loving this pre-season TBH, you can see a preferred style developing that doesn't involve McGeady playing billiards off Wyke's head ... .. I'll find a way to watch this, great thread again mate.
Just down the road from me and it makes a change to get tickets in the Sunderland end. Bearing in mind the Harrogate game being put behind closed doors, do people need to wear a mask in the cowshed to protect themselves from you filthy super spreaders or can they get by with one of those clear visor things? Just asking for a friend.
Only because LJ said he would start - I'd rather give Hawkes a run out as he hasn't had much time either.
I see a good win here, lads are starting to gell, passing getting better and not always sidewards and backwards can only see a win for us
most of my itk come from the back of the lavvy door , but im willing to share mate by the way gloves are not compulsory
How big... Any How's, enough of the small talk, off to bed now, enjoy the rest of the night and speak to you later on this match-day thread
RTB OP as usual excellent. I hope there is some sort of stream... We still of course need strikers and full backs to come in..
Great work RTB Good to see your standards are up to their usual very high levels. The team is doing their best to match pre-season.... long may it continue.
