Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Wycombe Wanderers FC – Saturday 21st May 2022 - KO 15:00

Sunderland face Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley in the Skybet League One Play-off Final

Last time out Sunderland drew with Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe lost to MK Dons.
The Black Cats take on the Chairboys in the League One play-off final next weekend, and fit-again Nathan Broadhead is likely to be in contention.
Broadhead scored five goals in seven games in April to help Sunderland to book their place in the play-offs, earning him a nomination for League One Player of the Month.
Alex Neil's approach of sticking with his starting 11 right till the end worked, with Jack Clarke setting up Patrick Roberts to score the injury-time goal which restored parity on the night and put Sunderland 2-1 ahead on aggregate, and only then did Neil make changes, bringing on fresh legs in the shape of Broadhead, Callum Doyle, and Jay Matete, to close out the game. Lynden Gooch and Bailey Wright should be OK to start after picking up injuries against the Owls.
Wycombe held onto their 2-1 aggregate lead against MK Dons, despite losing the return fixture, and secured their place in the play-off final. Chairboys talisman striker and record goal scorer, Adebayo Akinfenwa is expected to make his 249th and final appearance for the club at the age of 40.
Alex Neil:
"The difficulty that I had was changing it (the game) because we were going to lose trickery and pace off the flanks and we didn't have any more of those type of players available on the bench for that one. I didn't want to change that because I felt that it was the key to us getting a goal, and it was."
"I thought that it was no more than we deserved, we switched off once in the game and we got punished for it. Other than that we defended extremely well, but we didn't set out to be defensive - if you look at our starting line-up, we were trying to be aggressive. Across the piece, I thought that we were the better team and I didn't think that we deserved to be trailing (on the night).
“I don't think our fans will think that (not again) one bit, the belief that they've got in this team, the run that we've been on, the fact that we keep scoring late goals and coming back.
“The determination that we have in this group, I think our fans believe in this team and believe that we'll go to Wembley and do everything that we can to win the game. I'll be confident and they'll be confident, but we know that we need to go and deliver.
“Wycombe are a difficult team. I watched them on Sunday night and they dig in, they grind and they do everything to get a result. We're going to have to do likewise, but first of all I want to have a couple of days rest, see my kids, and recover. Then it's back to work and get started. What we’ve done is given ourselves an opportunity now.”
Gareth Ainsworth:
(2019) “Sunderland are a huge club and I’m fully concentrated on Saturday’s game. I’m told that there are a lot of rumours and that’s flattering, because it shows that we’re doing well. It would take something spectacular to take me away from here.”
"April was a massive month for us, particularly with us coming back after a two-week international break and hoping to carry on momentum from a good run of results in March.
"The boys were brilliant in every department and it was a fantastic achievement for us to break into the top six, particularly with lots of teams around us picking up good results as well.
"I’m delighted to win the Sky Bet League 1 Manager of the Month award, which is testament to the hard work and focus of everyone at the training ground, including all the players and staff.”

Match Appointments:
Referee: Simon Hooper
Assistant Referees: Adam Crysell and Craig Taylor
Fourth Official: Tim Robinson
VAR: Lee Mason
AVAR: Matthew Wilkes

Team Line ups
Sunderland: (4-2-3-1) Patterson; Cirkin, Batth, Wright, Gooch; O’Nien, Evans; Roberts, Pritchard; Clarke; Stewart.

Subs: Hoffmann, Doyle, Matete, Neil, Embleton, Broadhead, McGeady
Injured: Winchester, Willis, Huggins.

Wycombe Wanderers: (4-2-3-1) Stockdale; Jacobson, Stewart, Tafazolli, McCarthy; Gape, Scowen; McCleary, Horgan, Obita; Vokes.
Subs: Dickinson, Grimmer, Wing, Kaikai, Akinfenwa, Forino.
Injured: tbc

Betting Odds:
Sunderland 6/5 Wycombe 9/4 Draw 23/10

My two pence:
A great result at Hillsborough, not a classic but it all worked out in the end. Having spent 4 years in the steel city I always preferred going to watch the Blades even though the Owls were in the 1st Division. I think this was probably due to the ground and strip reminding me of home.
With any luck this will be my last ever League One match day thread
I'm really looking forward to meeting up with some of the lads and having a great day out at Wembley.
Remember that it’s not over til the end and for all those lucky enough to be in the ground, sing your hearts out for the lads - they will need it for this last big push.
Hopefully Broadhead is fit enough to start, but I think that he'll come on and score the winner, I’m going for a 2-0 win for the lads.

Live – On SKY Sports Football from 2pm

Ha’way the Lads

 

That is a ridiculous bench at this level

 

Best match thread ever, Haway the Lads!!!

 

Hawayyy can’t wait for this

 

hopefully confirming Broadhead will be fit if he fit he got to start Haway The Lads

 

Nice and early RTB. Love it. Be a cracking build up all week.

 

Thanks again @RTB

Going to miss these threads.ober the summer, think you have the team tight, but as.others have said the bench we have for a league one team is bloody impressive.

As always I'm praying for a fast start and early goals then keep at them. It's going to be nervy, but I believe Neil will have his tactics sorted and the players up for it

 

RTB

Its CRUNCH time... we now just have to beat a thuggish, ****housery team to get to the Championship

This sort of team has been our bete noire this season.

As I presume Winchester is still injured Gooch as you indicate will play a makeshift RB.

I would not mind Mcgeady being on the bench but I suspect Hume as cover for the full-backs.

2-1 to us.

 

Cheers mate great thread

 

Ian Darke described Sheffield as the UK's version of Pittsburgh during a broadcast. I guess you would agree.

That is a hefty contribution. I hope he has a part to play.

 

Awesome thread as alway. Ha'way the ****ing Lads. Limbs, Scenes the ****ing lot!

3-1 to the lads, a nice early goal to settle us down.

 

Felt an instant knot in my stomach seeing this thread, got a week to go so I'd better get used to it.

Anything can happen on the day but I have a genuine confidence that we'll give it our best shot and won't choke on the day. I reckon we've got the better side on top of that. From what I've seen of us lately we're going to actually rise to the big occasion not shrink away from it.

 

Another great thread RTB and may I put forward my thanks and appreciation for the time you have spent on all threads this season.

I think if we get an early goal, that'll force Wycombe into committing players higher up the pitch which could play into the hands of our front 4. Like you I think Broadhead will be on the bench to come in later in the game to see if we can stretch then at the back with tired legs. It'll be a tight game with Wycombe probably up to their usual ****housery but I think we'll have too much for them and I'm going for a 2-0 win to finally get it of this **** league

 

First response

@n_busby
Replying to
@GasmanCOTN

"Now we are on a level footing how times change. "

Yes mate, for another few days ...

... not to mention a quarter of our support, a tiny old ground and an owner who knows nothing about football.

 

My 7th trip to Wemberley to watch the lads. So far I have witnessed 6 defeats

Im confident I will witness my 1st victory this Saturday

HTFL

 

Cheers RTB, outstanding threads all season.

I am as confident as you can be in a two horse race. I do think this will be a very tough game, against a good side who will kmow exactly how they want to play. What I would say is Alex Neil has made me feel calm and collected. We arent likely to batter teams, but nor are we likely to ger battered. He has a game by game outlook and I am sure we will be prepared for several game situations. The players seem to stay calm and focussed as well. I think this will be very close and if we keep our netve we can get it done.

 

reading this thread started getting me excited, thanks RTB for a great thread. I will go for what all Sunderland fans will wish for a cracking match with us easy winners, with a good ref giving out as many cards as will stop those chairwankers diving, feigning injury, and generally cheating like feck, i hope he has balls and is not averse to sending of and awarding us penalties for the cheating they will be doing. 4-0 to the lads

 

2-0 Drogba & Broadhead with a cameo added time goal to seal it!!

Bart

 

Our record against these is really decent and I expect us to get over the line on Saturday.
They are no mugs despite what we all think about their tactics, defensively they are very strong so we need to keep pulling them out of their comfort zone, enter Clarke and Roberts.
Stewart needs crosses to feed off so Gooch could have a major say in how we do.
Every faith AN will have a match winning game plan so we need to turn up on the front foot and deliver. HTL
Goes without saying RTB top lad, many thanks for the whole season, any thoughts of retiring is unacceptable.