Sunderland v Gillingham – Emirates FA Cup Last time out Sunderland lost to Leicester City (U21s) and Gillingham lost to Rotherham. Sunderland host Gillingham at the Stadium of Light in the first round of the FA Cup. The Black Cats will want to get back to winning ways after a lack lustre performance in the EFL Trophy, and Phil Parkinson will again ring the changes to his playing squad. Alim Ozturk limped off injured on Tuesday night and Elliot Embleton is set for a lengthy injury absence with Phil Parkinson confirming that the midfielder will be out longer than first anticipated. Michael Mandron returns to the Stadium of light with Gillingham and will look to get one over his former club. Due to EFL and FA broadcasting regulations, the FA Cup clash won’t be available on the club’s official website. FA and League Cup matches are not eligible for UK and Ireland or international fans. However, live audio commentary will still be available for all cup games for all of our fans worldwide. *** Supporters are advised that the park & ride service will not be in operation for this weekend’s fixture.*** Phil Parkinson: On Embleton - “It's going to be a long-term injury, unfortunately - it will be a few months before we see Elliot again, my talks with the physio would suggest that it will be longer than the initial eight-week timescale. I need to double-check, but when I first came in the physio told me that it was a long-term injury.” “It’s disappointing, we got off to a great start, but it’s a big learning curve for me. We’ve obviously changed the team around and pieced the team together to give players an opportunity, but two things stood out.” “The team were too open out of possession, exactly how we don’t want to be, we looked vulnerable in terms of the counter-attack, and then secondly, we played backwards too many times.” “Since I’ve been here, we’ve spoken about penetrating the opposition and getting shots and crosses in, but we played backwards too often. Possession is good, but it’s got to be possession with a purpose, and I felt that we went away from what we’ve been doing.” "Saturday’s game is important so we can build a way of playing. The league is everything but equally we want to produce a performance and get it back to where it was before." "The FA Cup for me is still a great competition, still has a special feel about FA Cup weekend, whether it’s the first round or the third round when Sunderland used to historically enter the competition, and the club’s got history in the FA Cup, and we want to represent the club properly tomorrow." Steve Evans: "Sunderland is a huge club and what comes with that is good players, but we will prepare as best as we can to make progress in The FA Cup.” “The lads will be back on the training ground, morning and afternoon, from tomorrow before we train in the north east on Friday afternoon.” “Our performances in the main are good, but football is always won in both boxes and we will be focused on these areas.” “As a management team we can ask no more industry from the lads, but they need some quality to help them.” “Matty Willock is making rapid progress to be fit and he will be like a new top signing.” “It is now important that we focus on one game at a time, and our next one is a game that very few outside Gillingham will give us a chance in” Form: Match Appointments: Referee: Michael Salisbury Assistant Referees: Gareth Mellor and Richard Wigglesworth Fourth Offical: Andrew Miller Match Facts: Sunderland are unbeaten in their last nine games against Gillingham (W7 D2), winning both league games home and away last season. Gillingham’s only ever victory against Sunderland came in the 1987 third tier play-off semi-finals, winning 3-2 at the Priestfield Stadium. Sunderland have been eliminated from five of their last six FA Cup ties, although they did progress from the first round last season, winning 2-1 against Port Vale. Gillingham have failed to progress from five of their last six FA Cup ties against league opposition, but they did win against Premier League side Cardiff City in the third round last season. Team Line ups Sunderland: J.McLaughlin, C.McLaughlin, Willis, Lynch, De Bock, Power, Dobson, McGeady, O’Nien, Maguire, Grigg Subs: Burge, Flannagan, McGeouch, Leadbitter, McNulty, Watmore, Kimpioka Injured: Embleton, Wyke, Gooch, Ozturk, Hume Gillingham: Bonham, Tucker, Ehmer, Ogilvie, O'Connor, Jones, O'Keefe, Byrne, Charles-Cook, Jakubiak, Hanlan. Subs: Hodson, Mandron, Ndjoli, Pringle, Marshall, Lee, Royce, Injured: Willock Betting Odds: Home 3/5 Away 17/4 Draw 11/4 My two pence: With no one really impressing after Tuesday’s game I expect Phil Parkinson to revert to the line-up very similar to the one that played against Southend. The Gills are yet to find any real form this season and hopefully that continues into the weekend, but - what are the odds on Mandron getting a goal? My guess is a 2-0 home win Ha’way the Lads
No don't merge it as it's better with all your detailed stuff at the top Hoping for a home win and my toes not to drop off with the coldl
@becs. Get the tin foil cup pic on here and all is well pending the game of course, no doubt it will be the usual mix of despair and delight
Home win. If we’d been on a decent run of form I’d honestly not be arsed if we were knocked out, we could really do without any extra games or distractions. I believe we’ve improved under Parkinson but two wins in six games means we need to find some consistency and start winning games. I thought we’d beat Southend by 3/4 so got that wrong but still think we’ll knock a few past these
So if you merge threads is the original one the parent one if you like and the second one goes underneath?
In rounds up to and including the Fourth Round Proper, fixtures resulting in a draw (after normal time) go to a replay, played at the venue of the away team, at a later date; if that replay is still tied, the winner is settled by a period of extra time, and if still necessary, a penalty shootout.
Team News: Denver Hume is doubtful - with a virus Goochy - back running but not ready yet Wyke - swelling on ankle has gone but will start training next week Embo - 3 months away Burgey - will be assessed tomorrow
I never want us to lose... but this season I am desperate to get out of the turd division and do not want any distractions from that ambition or target. That said, a game is not a bad idea to help to keep the players match fit...