Sunderland host Ipswich Town in the EFL League One Last time out Sunderland drew with Bradford but lost the penalty shoot-out in the EFL Trophy, and Ipswich beat Oldham in the FA Cup. The Black Cats return to league action with a home game against an improving Ipswich Town side. Sunderland need to halt a worrying run of poor form and will look to secure a valuable three points against The Tractor Boys. Corry Evans and Tom Flanagan both played in the Northern Ireland team that kept a clean sheet against European Champions Italy. Callum Doyle, Dennis Cirkin and Dan Neil return from international duty with England U20s. Lee Burge has a hip flexor problem and he could be out for 7-10 days. Hence the decision to recall Patterson from his loan at Notts County. A magical finish from Idris El Mizouni saw Ipswich Town come from behind to defeat Oldham in a first round FA Cup replay at Boundary Park. Harrison McGahey headed the hosts in front but Conor Chaplin found an equaliser before half-time with El Mizouni's remarkable strike booking Town's place in the second round, where they will host Barrow. Paul Cook made seven changes from Saturday's goalless draw against Oxford. Christian Walton, George Edmundson, Bailey Clements and Wes Burns, who was operating at right-back, were the four to retain their place in the starting XI. Lee Johnson “I think that it’s easily turnaroundable. We’ve got good players. We fully believe in what we are doing and the process in what we are doing. “Little things will start to swing. We’ve got 14 days from the last game to go and rest and recuperate. We had a fair few knocks and niggles. We’ve got people like Aiden (O’Brien) who has been playing two or three games on the spin. “Ross Stewart, with his shoulder, is now getting analysed by the surgeons and potentially might have to be injected to lighten that load on the shoulder. “(Lynden) Gooch now back. Embo (Elliot Embleton) a little bit rusty but back and played a good ball for the goal. Pritch (Alex Pritchard) got 90 minutes. “We should be in a position of strength in terms of our squad health come Saturday.” Paul Cook: "We will make a couple of changes to the team but it will be in no means to weaken it." (Before Oldham) "It was a very difficult night, Oldham were very good in both games, they were excellent. "It just shows how the leagues are levelling up. We’ve come to a game where people might think we’d walk all over them - it was anything but. "There are always so many Cup upsets. I’ve been involved in them, both good and bad. These games becomes levellers. We picked a team that we felt could win the game and I’m delighted for the players that they’ve won. "It was fantastic travelling support on a Tuesday night. Being in the second round of the competition was what they wanted and I’m delighted that we’ve delivered that for them. "I’m delighted for Idris. He trains so hard, he works hard and he’s a great young man. To score in front of the travelling fans; they’re moments that you dream about as a young lad growing up in football." Match Appointments: Referee: Tom Nield Assistant Referees: David Avent and Stephen Wade Fourth Official: Ross Joyce Team Line ups Sunderland: Hoffmann, Cirkin, Younger, Doyle, Flanagan, Winchester, O’Nien, Evans, Neil, Stewart, Broadhead. Subs: Patterson, Alves, Xhemajli, Pritchard, McGeady, Dajaku, Embleton Injured: Willis, Huggins, Hume. Ipswich Town: Walton, Donacien, Nsiala, Edmundson, Clements, Evans, Morsy, Burns, Celina, Edwards, Bonne. Subs: Harper, Pigott, Fraser, Chaplin, Aluko, Burgess, Hladky. Injured: tbc Betting Odds: Sunderland 11/10 Ipswich 23/10 Draw 23/10 My two pence: After the international break I’m looking forward to having some proper football to watch. Hopefully the time off has given LJ some extra time on the training pitch and we see some positive signs on Saturday. We need to get off to a good start and just win a game. I’m going for a 2-1 home win. Live Stream (for overseas fans) https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video Ha’way the Lads
Really hope he goes 2 up top but don't think he will. I'm looking for a much improved performance after the last few matches, we need a positive reaction from the players. I'd take a good performance and a draw to be honest, as long as it looks like we are getting back on track.
A huge game because of our recent poor run in the league. I’ll be gutted if we aren’t right up for this one, and get the win we all crave. I’m predicting a fairly comfy 2-0 win, but dreading a defeat, especially if the effort is not there from the players. At the moment positivity is winning, so I’m looking forward to enjoying my Saturday night. Bart
Driving up for the game and expecting a much better performance. We were playing really well just a few weeks ago so no reason we can't win this. Win this and we have two more games where we can take the points. I'm not interested in the managerial intricacies, just the points. Haway Sunderland.
Shrewsbury, Cambridge, Oxford and Morecambe the next 4 in the league after Saturday… Fair to say that Ipswich game is huge.
Like OA says he needs to go 2 up front. Especially at home. Stewart & Broadhead must be there from the beginning albeit both just returning from injury. As much as I like O9 maybe time to give him a rest. I obviously want the win. I have put us to win in the predictor. Once again I would take an ugly nervy 1-0 just to get the points and the mighty SAFC back on track.
Great to see the match day thread again LTB, good team pick as well, mine (nicked off Felltop with apologies), would be this variation, in a 4, 3, 1, 2 line up , I hope LJ does something similar, but whatever he does , we need to get back to winning ways, and moving OaU. Hoffman Winchester Flannagan Younger Cirkin Neil Evans Doyle Embleton Stewart Broadhead
It’s about time this squad of players showed some character. The likes of McGeady and O’Nien really need to get back to their best..
Need to win this for no other reason than to calm every ****er down, any score will do as long as it's in our favour.HTL
Cracking thread again RTB. Great information. A little nervy about this one but as has already been said we need to start performing again. I am not bothered about the manager situation just yet but Im hoping for a fast start to get the crowd going. I’m hoping for a positive performance and no matter how it comes a win. Ha way the lads. Close but home win.
If he suddenly makes fundamental and reactionary changes to his formation and tactics then I'd be worried. He needs to stand by his philosophy and get the players to start taking some responsibility on the pitch
Early goal to settle the nerves and we will be fine. I’m going for a 2-1 with Ipswich scoring late to set the nerves jangling
No - it's "Johnson speak" mate - at times I wonder what the hell he is on about, bit of a gobshite to be honest.
Tough game but fancy a win, we’ve had a bit time off to get some players fit and give others a rest we should be well up for this.