Match Day Thread Stoke City v Sunderland PL2 - Play Off Semi Final - Monday 17th May - KO 19:00

Stoke City will face Sunderland in the Premier League 2 play-offs after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in their final PL2 fixture of the season.
Whilst the Potters went into the game assured of their shot at promotion thanks to a guaranteed second-place finish in Division Two, the Black Cats required a point to join them.
At one stage it looked like Sunderland would snatch all three, but Tom Sparrow netted a quick equaliser to extend the Stoke U23s’ unbeaten run to 12 matches ahead of the semi-final.
Kevin Russell’s youngsters will enjoy home advantage in the one-legged semi-final, and the winners will take on Wolves or Crystal Palace to decide promotion to PL1.




Team Selections:
Stoke City U23: Hemfrey, Macari, Goodwin , Taylor, Jones, Wright-Phillips, Adebambo, Norton, Malone, Sparrow, James-Taylor
Subs: Simkim, Goodwin, Coates, Sy

SUNDERLAND U23: Patterson; Richardson, Younger, Almond, Vokins; Wilding, Wearne; Hawkes, Neil, Kachosa; Harris.
Subs : Richardson, Taylor, Beaumont, Flanagan, Hackett

My 2 pence:
After scraping into the play-offs on the last day of the season, despite their last 2 games being against Stoke I think the U23s can do this.
I'm going for a very tight 0-1 away win.

Watch it live on youtube
- see link below...

Ha'way the Younguns!

 

whilst i get it they want to win this one as well, there will be a few lads in that team who would also give a great deal to be in the div 1 playoffs as well, i can this this may end up a problem, especially for Hawkes Niel and a few others

 

what was a well taken goal, this lad could go all the way we need to hang on to him

 

Watching that video, I think Younger is learning a few tricks from O/9. Hawkes definately deserves a place on the bench, he has more natural ability than any of our current front men, and as someone once said, form is temporary, class is permanent, in the long run this will be the deciding factor. Also Younger should have been the replacement for Sanderson imo., and this faux pas has cost us the automatic spot in L1 imo. This play off is a harder ask than the big one imo., there are some quality players at this level, but I would never write our U23's off. And I am still going for a successful outcome at both levels . OaU

 

Haway lads, get the week off to a good start. A team on the up and be great for the long term for the club if they can get promoted to div 1. Be a remarkable turnaround after last season.

 

@RTB I like how we can't lose if it goes to a penalty shoot-out

 

Maybe you should read that bit again - or put your reading glasses on

 

It's a tough one to call mate.

This PL2 match might be a really good test for Hawkes and co. They have put the hard yards in to get this chance.

 

I hope Gooch doesnt play right wing. Their Leftback is pretty good and had him in his back pocket the last couple of times we played them.

 

Two teams in our Semi, SAFC and LCFC, but only SAFC can win on penalties following a draw because the other possible winner is SCFC (whomsoever they might be)

 

Wrong thread mate - dont think Gooch will be playing

 

This is the U23 game - Stoke City away - Tonight

 

Kll

Ffs lol

 

Oops, sorry, I'll go and hunt out my reading glasses - if I can see them!

 

And it's Liiiiiiivvvvvveeeeeee

 

Excellent - we can all watch now

 

Cheers may well be worth a watch