Sunderland v AFC Wimbledon – Skybet League One Last time out Sunderland beat Rochdale and Wimbledon lost at Ipswich. The Black Cats return to Wearside after collecting a hard-fought three points at Rochdale on Tuesday evening. Aiden McGeady tucked away his second goal in three games before turning provider for Charlie Wyke’s second-half match-winner after Callum Camps’ leveller. The result sees the Lads move up to sixth in the Sky Bet League One table, with a home game against Wally Downes’ Wombles to come this weekend. Mark McNulty has not recovered from injury and will miss Saturday’s game and the Carabao cup game on Tuesday. Duncan Watmore could resume training later in the week after recovering from the thigh strain that has kept him out since the opening day of the campaign. Ethan Robson is still a couple of weeks away from returning from the thigh injury that has seen him miss the start of the season. Glen Loovens has left the club today, paving the way for 2 new signings before the window closes. Jack Ross: “we learned from last year that if we had managed to turn a couple of draws into victories we probably would have gone up automatically, so you look at Tuesday and reflect on it and say that it was an important victory." “We recognise the importance of winning games at home, we touched on how we can turn tight games into wins and on Saturday we will get back into our stadium after a performance and a result last weekend.” “We want to continue that on Saturday. It will be a difficult game, as every game is in this league, but I think the confidence and belief has grown in the players.” “We’ve picked up some massive points recently and we want to continue that. Naturally, if we win the game on Saturday we will do that.” "Duncan was on the grass today doing a little bit of running so hopefully towards the end of the week he might start training properly.” "Ethan has still not been on the grass so I would imagine that he's still a couple of weeks away." Wally Downes: “We wanted to be a League One team, and we are a League One team. Going to places like Sunderland and Ipswich is fantastic for the fans and fantastic for the players. We’ve got to go there and put on a good performance.” “We put a good performance in at Sunderland last year and were unfortunate to come away with a 1-0 defeat. I’m not sure, but I don’t think the club have ever played at Portman Road, so it’s gonna be great going there on Tuesday. We need to certainly be at our best over the next week.” Prutton predicts: Meh Match Appointments: Referee: ANTHONY BACKHOUSE Assistants: Wayne Grunnill and Richard Wigglesworth Fourth Official: Kevin Mulraine Team Line ups Sunderland: J.McLaughlin, C.McLaughlin, Ozturk, Willis, O’Nien, Leadbitter, Power, Gooch, McGeady, Maguire, Wyke Subs: Burge, Flanagan, Hume, McGeouch, Dobson, Embleton, Grigg Injured: Robson, Watmore, McNulty Wimbledon: Trott, Kalambayi, Thomas, McDonald, O'Neill, Wagstaff, Hartigan, Reilly, Guinness-Walker, Appiah, Folivi Subs: Roscrow, Pinnock, Tzanev, Connolly, McLoughlin, Osew, Pigott Injured: tbc Betting Odds: Home 8/15 Away 14/5 Draw 9/2 My two pence: A good win on Tuesday despite the slow start. We are improving slowly and three straight wins will do wonders for team confidence. Wimbledon have had a tough start and it won’t get any easier for them on Saturday. My guess is a 2-0 home win Ha’way the Lads
Well done RTB again, I agree about your prediction and whilst I thought we might have kept a clean sheet at Rochdale it's time for a shut out against Wimbledon, get the strikers on target again which will breed confidence in them....bring it on.
Thanks for putting the effort in on these threads RTB, always a great read and very informative cheers! Going 3-1 on this one even though we haven't scored 3 since I was born or something
4-0. Watch. They will come and try and bully as per we score early and it’s a good win. I’m right on this.
Yeah another win for us, I think Ross has figured out how to use Wyke and the man himself has never been fitter and more up for it in his life so I think we'll get a few goals.
Went for a big home win three now't. It's time for us to make a big statement, to all of the other club's. Onward's and promotion.k.t.f.
Wimbledon have only lost by a single goal this season so you'd expect a tight game ... ... I'm going for 4-0 to the lads
Don't forget your sun cream today, lots of red arms and faces at half time last game. Going to be a hot one.
Lincoln losing at the minute ! we could go top/second, exiting times ahead. And we need a huge crowd for out potential new owners.