Sunderland AFC v Stoke City Preview & Match Thread

TBH

Don't care ☹️

Going on hols Thursday and football free, won't be watching the game, won't br looking at results 😒

SAFC


Black Cats host the Potters

Sunderland welcome Stoke City to the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon in the Sky Bet Championship with eight points separating the two teams.

The Lads will be looking to return to winning ways following two straight defeats, and victory would move Michael Beale’s side back into play-off contention.

Preview

Stoke City currently sit 19th in the Sky Bet Championship with 32 points from 28 games. The Potters have recorded eight wins, eight draws and 12 losses so far this campaign.

Under new manager Steven Schumacher, last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Birmingham City was Stoke’s first league defeat in six following his appointment in December.

Outside of the top six, the visitors have one of the division's tightest defences having conceded just 34 goals all season – only Sunderland (31) and Bristol City (31) hold a more resolute backline. In front of goal, Portuguese striker Andre Vidigal leads the way with six strikes in 16 starts.

Lynden Gooch returns to the Stadium of Light for the first time following his summer move to the bet365 Stadium. The wing-back represented the Black Cats 247 times during his 12-year stay on Wearside.

Team News

Aji Alese is unavailable and will miss around five weeks after picking up an injury in training. The Black Cats will also be without Bradley Dack, Patrick Roberts, and Elliot Embleton as they recover from their respective injuries.

Long-term absentees Corry Evans, Niall Huggins and Dennis Cirkin all remain out as they continue their rehabilitation plan.

A Love Supreme

STRIKER LATEST PRE STOKE
BY THOMAS THORNTON

Michael Beale has admitted that despite Sunderland's problems in front of goal, the best thing for the team is to play one of the actual strikers the club signed in the summer.

“The defensive record is why we are where we are,” admitted Beale. “In the last 18 games, we’ve scored 18 goals, and that’s under three coaches. It’s been an ongoing issue. We’ve had an issue as a team where, when we have more possession and play against low blocks, we really struggle.

“We’d won two in nine under Tony (Mowbray), before he left. We’ve won four in nine since he left, so it’s important we stay in and around where we are. Over time, we’ll add players or get players back who make us more fluid, and that's the key thing. We've got a style of play but at the moment, under the pressure, we've not always been able to show it in the best light.”

PLAYING A STRIKER IS IMPORTANT

“I don’t know about the time before I come here, but I have tried to integrate a number nine more, and in at least 50 per cent of the games, we’ve played with one. You could argue at times we've been more fluid without it, but if you look back at the history of this club and when it's been successful, it’s been about number nines. It's important we play one and that whoever has it is worthy of it.”

SAFC

Michael Beale names his side

Michael Beale has named two changes to his side ahead of the Sky Bet Championship fixture against Stoke City.

Abdoullah Ba and Mason Burstow replace Alex Pritchard and Nazariy Rusyn from last week's fixture against Hull City.

Five Academy of Light graduates are included in the matchday squad with Anthony Patterson and Dan Neil in the starting eleven. Chris Rigg, Ben Crompton and Tommy Watson all make the bench.

Sunderland AFC: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O'Nein, Seelt, Ekwah, Jobe, Neil, Ba, Clarke, Burstow.

Substitutes: Bishop, Pembele, Hemir, Mayenda, Rusyn, Triantis, Rigg, Watson, Crompton.

2-0

Clarke assist (again) and Ba goal 😳