Sunderland travel to Watford in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland beat Middlesbrough and Watford lost at Man City. Sunderland made a single change to their starting 11 with Chris Mepham replacing the recovering Dan Ballard in defence. Chris Rigg scored the winning goal as Sunderland started with three consecutive home wins without conceding a single goal for the second time in their history. Free agent, Aaron Connelly signed a one year contract in mid-week but is unlikely to play in the short term as he missed pre-season. Chris Mepham is expected to start ahead of Ballard after an impressive home debut. Aleksic, Bennette, Ba & Aouchiche all started in the U21s defeat at Everton on Sunday and could be on the bench. Samed is back in training but unlikley to feature. Huggins, Seelt, Alese & Abdullahi remain on the injured list. Watford lost 4-1 at Norwich in the league and followed that up with a 2-1 loss to Man City in the cup. The Hornets made 8 changes to their starting 11 to face Man City and gave a good account of themselves despite the loss. Tom Ince scored with a long shot near the end of the game and they caused city a few problems. Defender Francisco Sierralta and keeper Bachmann were both injured in the game at Norwich and are both out for a few weeks. Regis le Bris: "We needed to solve many problems during the game against this opponent, especially our left side when they had overloads. "I felt that the team wanted to work together to find the solution. In possession, we had an interesting first half but the second half was more difficult because the momentum was against us. "But our mindset was very good today." Press Conference: Tom Cleverly: "We conceded early again and they had a very good chance to score before that. In the second half we also nearly conceded early again. "Obviously we will have to work on our game plan for the first 10 minutes and we will keep doing that until we get it right. "I wanted to come here and be high energy, be on the front foot – it was also like that when I played – but sometimes you can be open as a result and be punished for that. "I think we have shown enough this season to prove we can be a top team but it is a case of getting the balance right going that other way." Match Appointments Referee: ANDY DAVIES Assistant Referees: Graham Kane & George Byrne Fourth Official: Alex Chilowicz Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-3-3) Patterson, Cirkin, Mepham, O’Nien, Hume, Rigg, Neil, Jobe, Mundle, Mayenda, Roberts Subs: Moore, Hjelde, Ballard, Browne, Aleksic, Poveda, Isidor, Rusyn, Watson. Injured: Huggins, Seelt, Alese, Samed, Abdullahi. Watford: (3-4-3) Bond, Ogbonna, Pollock, Morris, Sema, Andrews, Sissoko, Dele-Bashiru, Chakvetadze, Vata, Jebbison. Subs: Marriott, Porteous, Ince, Louza, Bayo, Baah, Ebosele, Larouchi Injured: Sierralta, Bachmann, Keben, Ngakia Betting Odds: Sunderland 29/20 Watford 7/4 Draw 23/10 Prutton Predicts: 1-1 My two pence: A great team performance and overall result against the Boro as we bounced back from defeat. Watford started this season really well but have stuttered in their last few games. Hopefully they continue their current form and we pick up another 3 points. We do have a terrible record for this fixture. I’m hoping to get to this one, it was a good day out last season despite the result I’m going for a 2-0 away win. Live Stream: https://www.safc.com/live Available to overseas fans only Ha’way the Lads
HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM Should of kept me mouth shut against Plymouth. But hey, we're going to lose games along the way. Great to see mephan slot in straight away against Middlesbrough and play so well. This is all building up and reminding me of the Peter Reid era. It's a good time to be a Sunderland supporter.
Thanks again RTB for another top scene setter, hope you enjoy your day out, no one deserves it more . OaU.
As you say RTB our record there isn't brilliant so time to put a stop to it. We're in a good place, scoring goals and expect that to continue on Saturday, away win any score will do. HTL.
I have been really looking forward to this thread all week. It is great to be excited for the next game and to see how we measure up. Difficult to call this one as I think they will be a bit wounded after last week. Saying that though if we get our tactics right I think there is a win here for us so am going for a 0-3 and another clean sheet.
Get in RTB, another cracking thread, love these !! I think this could be our toughest game so far this season, Watford are strong at home but we keep performing and taking the points. I reckon a score draw 1-1 with a Dan Neil thunderbolt to snatch a point !
Watford haven't won in four games, their defence looks weak down the sides and they are struggling to score ... ... in fact I think their strikers only have one goal each. Chakvetadze, in midfield,seems to be the one to watch although he may not find it easy against our three. Hackney looked pretty ordinary for Boro tbf. I don't believe in this theory of 'we have a poor record down there' tbh. Firstly it's really not that bad as an away side and, besides, it's all changed for both clubs since the last game. In this game I'd be happy to be level at 60 minutes, then let the bench loose on them ... ... 1-0 again and a booking for Hume
I'll take any win, but would like us to be good enough score a few rather than a grinded out 0-1. But I'm greedy
Well I'm not proud but I appear to be the 1st one to have ticked the home win box!! Be gently with me with your comments however the salvation is my predictions have been generally **** this season!! I have a feeling physicality will outweigh skill.HTFL
RLB: Connolly - It's a good opportunity for him to develop, the experience for him and the club together will be a good experience. We assessed his profile and it was good, he is in good condition but has not trained with a team for 3 months and will need time He maybe available after the next international break We needed to recruit another player and now we have good competition for the strikers Hume is still on 4 yellows he could possibly get a ban, we can wait It was interesting to see the reaction after the defeat, some parts were good and others not too good (against Boro) We talked about it and now we need to execute it on the pitch Watford have good and bad moments it will be a different style of play - our culture is better We can create positive momentum away from home but it is important to score Every player can learn from the other, if they don't push themselves, they won't play Connolly - He has a well rounded profile he can attack, defend, run in behind He is different from the other strikers and the others can learn from him.
Personally don’t think automatic promotion is on my radar. It’s been an extremely good start but can’t see us keeping it up. Burnley, Sheff Utd and Leeds will be top three. Think playoffs would make an excellent season.
