Match Day Thread Sunderland v Oldham Athletic – Wednesday 1st December 2021 - KO 19:00

Sunderland welcome Oldham in the Papa John’s (EFL) Trophy

Last time out Sunderland beat Cambridge and Oldham lost to Salford.
Both teams meet in the competition for a second successive time at the same Round Two northern stage, the Black Cats going on to win the competition last season after beating Latics at Boundary Park in what was one of Lee Johnson's first games in charge.
It is unclear yet as to how the Black Cats will line-up with a rotated squad possible but Lee Johnson will have the luxury of being able to make five substitutions in their Papa John’s Trophy second-round clash with Oldham, the EFL has confirmed. The change comes after clubs remaining in the competition highlighted concerns of a demanding fixture schedule over the coming months.
Goals from Matthew Lund and Brandon Thomas-Asante earned Salford a routine win against managerless Oldham. Having parted company with manager Keith Curle, the Latics were unable to turn their fortunes around. The game was brought to a temporary halt when Oldham fans threw a handful of flares on to the field as they chanted in protest against the club's ownership. The defeat saw Oldham drop back into the relegation zone in 23rd place.
Lee Johnson
“I’ve got to take each game on its merits and I have to be Uber-flexible. I had seven wingers fit who could have played today.
“We might have to go five at the back and two up top, but that really needs three or four weeks work because the pressing is different, but we’ve got fit centre backs and wide players who could play wing-back.
“We’ll have to take it horses for courses, but there may be times when we might look a bit disjointed to get our best players on the pitch.”
"We might have to register myself and Jamie McAllister! I’m going to have to be tactically flexible, and every now and then we’re going to have a square peg in a round hole.
"We probably had fifteen players today. We’ll have to go again in this tough spell and bundle through to January.”

Match Appointments:
Referee: TOM REEVES
Assistant Referees: Marc Wilson and Wayne Grunnill
Fourth Official: Garreth Rhodes

Team Line ups
Sunderland: Patterson, Dyce, Alvez, Xhemajli, Younger, Taylor, Sohna, Wilding, Wearne, Kimpioka, Harris

Subs: Carney, Dunne, Johnson, Kachoso, Newall, Almond
Injured: Willis, Huggins, Hume, Cirkin, Burge, McGeady, O’Nien, Evans.

Oldham Athletic: Leutwiler, Fage, McGahey, Piergianni, Hart, Bowden, Whelan, Bahamboula, Keillor-Dunn, Hopcutt, Dearnley
Subs: Clarke, Adams, Hope, Stobbs, Bettache, Vaughan, Southerington
Injured: TBC

Betting Odds:
Sunderland 2/7 Oldham 17/2 Draw 19/5

My two pence:
A great result in terrible weather conditions at Cambridge and a great turn out by the fans - again.
I’m expecting a much-changed side to be announced on Wednesday with Lee Johnson using the game to give the youngsters some valuable experience. Hopefully Arby will start, but it should be a night off for most, if not all of the first teamers. We have some decent youngsters and Oldham are really struggling at the moment.
I’m going for a 2-0 home win.

Live Stream:
https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video

Ha’way the Lads

 

U23s were due to play tonight but called off due to frozen pitch so I'd expect a few of those lads to play on Wednesday. Harris, Wearne, Dyce, Younger, Patterson all to start imo.

Great stuff RTB as always

 

I could never not be bothered if we get beat. If we draw and go out on pens that is pretty much centre ground in my soft head.

I feel like we could really do without this. Our injury list is long enough as it is.

Meh.

 

Yeah - I'm not sure if they will just pay the fine or put a few experienced players in for the first 45 - Maybe O'Brien or Embleton.

 

Great thread again RTB, and agree with the team and the set up.

With the injury list growing, I hope we don't use any of the first team or those on the periphery.

Our focus has to be on the league and getting plenty of rest between games. There are some very winnable games in December and we have a great chance of being right up there if our confidence is restored and the players start to play with a swagger again.

With the good pool of youngsters we've got, I fully expect us to get past Oldham. 3-1 to the Lads!

 

It'll be worth buying the stream to see some of these young lads ...

... I wonder if there'll be an Oldham fans protest.

After all they'll only be 20 miles from the home of protests.

 

They got 600 tickets - not sure if they sold out though.

 

The Lads to win although I’ve voted away win by accident. Tit.

 

Would love to progress further but should play u23s with a couple of experienced players. Home win for me 2-0. Another cracking thread RTB.

 

cheers again RTB...

the way the injuries have gone i hope we stick with the young lads, one to give them some games and for another i don't really give a flying feck about the cups, less so now than i did a month ago.

concentrate on the league and if the young'uns get some wins and progress then i will be a happy chappy, should we drop out then well done lads, still think we will have enough to beat these like especially as they are not having a great season so far.

 

K SARA SARA etc etc

Bart

 

“We might have to go five at the back and two up top, but that really needs three or four weeks work because the pressing is different."

Does it really need a months training to master the difference in pressing with five at the back compared to four? I'd like to think we could be a little bit more fluid than that. Sounds like changing formation isn't going to be something that can happen as and when it's needed.

 

RTB

Meh

But I will probably watch the stream

 

Full u23 team for me. Their game was postponed so makes sense.

 

U23 squad only, please. I’d still fancy us to progress.

 

HA'WAY THE LADS MACKEMS ATTACKEM

Didn't realise it was a Wednesday nighter, nice one, its my first off after working 12hr nights.
Hopefully it is a run out for the younguns.
Got to prioritise the league surely.

 

Hope as many youngsters and fringe first team play.

yes it was great to win this cup last year, the first silverware I’ve witness the club win in my lifetime, but with the amount of injuries we have priority should be on the league.

 

Can't believe I voluntarily bought tickets for this match

 

Looks like there’ll only be a couple of thousand there.

 

Idiots. the lot of us