Leasing.com Trophy - Northern Group A - Glanford Park Last time out, Sunderland drew with Gillingham and Scunthorpe lost to Crawley Town in the FA Cup. Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson could really do without this game after another lack lustre performance at the stadium of light, but it does give him the opportunity to change things around and try something different. The Black Cats will be guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds of the EFL Trophy if they win on Tuesday night. Team News: With the FA Cup replay likely to be confirmed for the week commencing 18th November and the Bristol Rovers game cancelled, Parkinson will have at least 7 days to get things right on the training pitch. This game could come too early for Charlie Wyke, but Lyndon Gooch could be back in the squad, Alim Ozturk remains injured and Elliot Embleton faces a three month recovery period. This could be a game to take a closer look at a few youngsters, like Patterson, Mumba, Bainbridge, Connelly, Kimpioka and Connolly. Steve Parkin: "Saturday was a lesson for us. We need to sustain a period of pressure that lasts for more than just half a game. We needed the second goal and didn't get it." "With no game on Saturday it’s always been in our thinking that we would take a strong squad to Scunthorpe. We will be selecting from everybody tomorrow evening." "This competition has got a great carrot at the end of it. Importantly though, we need to see a performance for 90 minutes. If we can sustain that it gives us a great opportunity to win games." "Lee Burge is back, feeling good and trained fully this morning, Denver Hume is ok too after having a virus. Brandon Taylor will be travelling but I think there will also be three or four U23s travelling in total." "We need to win tomorrow night it’s as simple as that. We need to see a reaction, we need to value clean sheets and the more of those we get the better chance we have at winning." Paul Hurst: "We were a lot better in the second half than we were in the first. When we got the equaliser, I thought we looked the more likely if any team was going to win it." “We went 2-1 behind and it was a good strike, but I was disappointed that we let him come on his stronger foot. The lad could have that strike and more times than not he wouldn’t score." “I don’t think the scoreline is a true reflection of the game, but it is what it is and I am disappointed to be out of the competition." "It's a hard one to take, but we have to move on to another cup competition and see if we can progress." My 2 pence: I'm not too fussed if we lose this one and concentrate on the league, but failing that we somehow manage to uncover a sensational young goal scoring machine. My guess is 1-1 and we win the penalty shoot out.
As usual I have put us down for a win.. But am I bothered! I suppose this could be the game when Parky gives Grigg is final chance?
Away win but like most of you I’m really not arsed about this competition. It just needs to be scrapped, it’s ridiculous. A win would be a win though and by **** it’s needed...
Should we sell him in jan and bring someone else in. The question is, Is his present form temp or permanent
Selling him would be the problem, loan deal might work to our advantage, we are handicapped by playing him atm.
I get memories of Tom Ritchie for some reason, never looked like scoring until he got a hat trick. hopefully grigg will do something similar
I have just seen Zlatan Ibrahimovic is now a free agent and has finished in the MLS... nor a bad goal scoring record.. big lad a bit slower now... but could do a job...Dell (eiver)?
We'll win 2-1 but some still wont be happy. Thinking about it Im not particularly bothered outcome. But would love to Grigg score a couple and then continue to be a regular scorer. Probably asking for too much though.........................