Sunderland travel to West Brom in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland beat Millwall and West Brom lost at Norwich. Sunderland beat Millwall with a well-rehearsed short corner from Roberts volleyed in by Trai Hume. The Black Cats started well and had some good early chances with Isidor, Rigg and Roberts almost opening the scoring. Millwall did little while in possession and could have gone further behind in the second half when Mundle was brought down in the area. However skipper Luke O’Nien’s penalty kick was saved. Le Fée and Hjelde are expected to return to the squad but Browne could continue in his new role at right back. Tommy Watson has signed a pre-agreement to join Brighton in the summer but could be on the bench. Josh Sargent kept Norwich City's Championship play-off hopes alive with a dramatic added-time winner against West Brom at Carrow Road. Sargent was denied by Joe Wildsmith early in the game, but the Baggies keeper could not keep out his late shot after the US international was played through by substitute Marcelino Nunez. Sixth-placed Baggies were beaten for the first time in seven. They have not won away from home since November and came closest to a goal in the first half when Mason Holgate's effort was disallowed for offside. Ex Black Cat and the Baggies best player, Josh Maja is out due to injury. Regis le Bris: "It's tough. For the end of the game, the second goal would have been easier for us and we couldn't relax until the end. "At the moment, our percentage of success is really low and we have to find a solution. "This is the best situation to score and so far we only score one out of five. "We'll talk about it next week because maybe we'll have a penalty shoot-out at the end of the season and if we work like that, the chances won't be high." Press conference: Tony Mowbray: "I thought the team played extremely well, as good as in my time here, with the control that we had. "Norwich are a good team with some special individuals but we generally kept them pretty quiet, their keeper was forced to make more saves than ours. "There's lot to be pleased with but what matters in football is the result at the end of the day and we're all left frustrated and disappointed. "Sometimes you don't get what you deserve in football and we definitely didn't, it was a cruel day for us." Form: Match Appointments Referee: TOM NIELD Assistant referees: Andrew Fox & Greg Read Fourth official: Ross Joyce Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Hume, O’Nien, Mepham, Browne, Neil, Jobe, Le Fée, Mundle, Roberts, Mayenda. Subs: Moore, Johnson, Seelt, Hjelde, Rigg, Jones, Aleksic, Isidor, Watson. Injured: Huggins, Alese, Danns, Ballard, Poveda, Samed, Abdullahi, Cirkin. West Brom: (4-4-2) Wildsmith, Holgate, Bartley, Heggem, Styles, Fellows, Mowatt, Swift, Grant, Molumby, Armstrong. Subs: Bany, Diakite, Diangana, Dike, Frabotta, Griffiths, Johnston, Lankshear, Price. Injured: Maja, Wallace, Ajayi Betting Odds: Sunderland 29/10 West Brom 12/5 Draw 10/3 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: Another game against a former manager, Tony Mowbray this time but I quite liked his time here and don’t have any animosity against him. Hopefully his team can squeeze Coventry out of the play-off places, but I wouldn’t bet on that. It will be interesting to see if Tommy Watson is in the squad or if he gets any minutes on the pitch from here on in, but I watched him a lot in the U21s and liked what I saw, so I wish him good luck for the future. West Brom are the draw specialists, I’m going for a 1-1 draw. Live Stream: Live on Sky Sports+ https://www.safc.com/live Ha’way the Lads
Another 1-1 prediction here too, we have a good record there though and no reason we can’t get all 3 points, hope to see Enzo play some part
Hard game this. I expect WBA to dominate the ball and for us to look to counter at speed. Patterson Browne Mepham O'Nien Hume Rigg Neil Jobe Roberts Mayenda Mundle Utilise the speed we have at the striker position, Mayenda for 60-65mins then Isidor against tired legs. Hopefully the Browne/Roberts combination can continue to grow. I'll go 1-1 as well. Mepham.
A game to look forward too. At least we know a Mowbray side will play an attractive style and will be worth the watch. Will be good to see him again. Like your team RTB. Mayenda has earned the number 9 spot for me. I wait to see Le Fee in the middle. I am not as sure as some he is tailor made for it, but if he can cope with the physical treatment he has the ability. Worth trying. Mind you I thought Rigg was good last time. Looking forward to it.
Might be one of the first time I am predicted a defeat. Just don't fancy us. Obviously hope I am wrong !
All the pressure is on West Brom which will suit us nicely. They've only won one of their last five games and only thirteen all season ... ... that's the same as Millwall and less than Sheff Wed. In their last home game they had two thirds possession but only managed three attempts on target in a 1-1 draw against Hull. Nothing to fear from them, we'll beat them two or three nil.
Draw for me too. I think we have the quality to win it, if we needed to. A good performance, no injuries will do nicely.
Understand how you feel - I think this game could be a Banana skin moment for us, at least Maja is out and I am tipping a draw, will have everything crossed on Saturday.
We have a decent record down there recently. Looks like they have the same issues we had under Mowbray, pass ... pass ... no chances created. That little rat Armstrong will score but I can see us hitting them on the break with our pace. 2-1 to the lads
Importance of Jobe Bellingham & Alan Browne https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25056677.sunderland-importance-jobe-bellingham-alan-browne/ DAN Neil, Trai Hume and Luke O'Nien are the only Sunderland outfield players to have racked up more Championship minutes than Jobe Bellingham this season. How easy it is to forget that the midfielder is still only 19.... Why is he so important to Sunderland? Well, obviously because of his quality. But also, says Le Bris, because of his consistency. "I liked Jobe again today," said Sunderland's head coach after Saturday's Millwall win. "He has been very impressive so far this season, very consistency, he's played so many minutes. We need to support him when it's a little bit more difficult because of his style. His confidence can be a little bit low, but at the same time, he's always consistent. He will continue to build a strong level." Sunderland head for West Brom on Saturday looking to build on the victory over Millwall. Le Bris is likely to expected to have Leo Hjelde available but there's no guarantee the defender will go straight into the side. In the absence of Hjelde and Cirkin, Trai Hume shifted to left-back on Saturday and Alan Browne impressed playing at right-back. Le Bris must now decide whether to stick with the same defence at the Hawthorns, but regardless of what he opts for on Saturday he says Browne has a major role to play between now and the end of the season. "For the first game in this position, it was good, it was really good. He adapted very, very well and quickly. Trai played as a left-back as well. The adaptation of the team was positive and it shows that we need these versatile players for a full season. When Browney has played he has always been positive for us."
Thanks for posting mate....Browne is proving to be a very good signing for us. When you see a photo like that of Jobe,you realise what a physical beast he is....and still only 19....room to grow yet.
Jobe is an absolute beast for a 19 year old. I despise 12:30 kick offs. 2-0 to the lads mayenda and Wilson
RLB: Watson - The timing is not ideal but we have to accept it. It is his decision we have to accept it. He will be involved, he is professional. Le Fee should be back Penalties - there are a lot of possibilities, we are still in a good place and we have to improve this with the players. Mundle was emotional but at least they are involved and want to score. We will make a decision and it will be clear. We spoke a lot and we move on It's easier to analyse after the game but on the pitch is a different situation. If we create more chances and be more clinical it will be better for the team. West Brom are a good team and are well organised, it is important to play our best football. We want to win and that is our main focus, another tough challenge to get better. If we get a penalty, it will be clear who will take it. Performances and results are both important right now, we can learn from both positive and negative experiences. The supporters are important we have a strong fan base and we need to be connected
I wonder if Browne on the left and Hume on the right would be better, purely on the basis that Browne looks pretty good on his left foot and Hume not so much.
