Match preview: How will Sunderland react after our first defeat?

Saturday, September 21, 2024

(2nd) Sunderland v Middlesbrough (10th)

Championship

Stadium of Light

Start: 12:30

Tickets and match coverage

Tickets: Tickets are available at www.safc.com.

TV/Streaming: Full live match coverage is available via Sky Sports.

Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online)

Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter feed (@RokerReport) and check the player ratings after the full-time whistle at www.RokerReport.com!

Accumulating…

I don’t have sleepless nights so it’s not a derby – let’s start with my opinion on this as it is always brought up before this game. You can also add to that statement that after the same meeting last October I was disappointed with a 4-0 defeat rather than a derby strike.

That result was helped by the referee sending off Dan Neil simply for asking him if he knew what time it was – or something – and four second-half goals made it all look pretty easy for Michael’s side Carrick after that.

A year on and although many of the starting XIs will be similar, we look a different prospect and the lads will be keen to get back on track after our defeat at Plymouth Argyle last time out.

Speaking of the starting eleven, today will be the first time we have to react to a defeat and all eyes will be on the line. Many will expect a change or two, with the main question mark surrounding Dan Ballard. Midweek talk suggested he would be fit, so we can get an insight into just how ruthless our new manager is when it comes to team selection.

We’ve only won once in the last 14 meetings against this side in a run that stretches back to 2009 – and the Boro clash reminds me of Roger Thames commentating on a defeat at Ayresome back then, so I’d appreciate if i start hitting this lot regularly if its not too much to ask?

Sunderland v Burnley - Sky Bet Championship - Stadium of Light

Having employed three managers in three years between 2019 and 2022, Michael Carrick will celebrate his second anniversary as manager at the Captain Cook BT Cellnet Stadium towards the end of next month.

After an impressive start where he looked like he was going to pull off a miracle akin to what Roy Keane did to ourselves for the better part of two decades ago (!), he’s been consistently away ever since, with a spot on 8 last season – even though many tipped them for a big season.

Boro have picked up eight points from a possible 15 so far this season and, away from Teesside, have followed up a disappointing defeat at Derby County with a win at Cardiff City. That said, they need to prove what that win in Wales meant as the Bluebirds are rock bottom with just one point on the board so far.

Looking at their defeat at Derby, they ended up with ~70% possession and almost ten times as many efforts on goal as the Rams, suggesting they were unlucky not to get anything going – let’s hope they experience an after- equally frustrating afternoon today. .

Middlesbrough v Stoke City - Carabao Cup Second Round

The bet…

The bookmakers want a home win at odds of 6/4, while a Boro win is priced at around 15/8 and a draw is 12/5.

Head to head… at Sunderland

(All competitions)

Sunderland to win: 40
Draws: 20
Middlesbrough wins: 15
Sunderland goals: 126
Middlesbrough goals: 79

The last time we met… at the Stadium of Light

Sunday, October 7, 2023

Championship

Sunderland 0-4 Middlesbrough

((Neil sent off 45′) – Greenwood 58′, Crooks 60′, Jones 72′, Forss 90′)

Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, O’Nien, Ballard, Huggins (Seelt), Neil, Bellingham, Roberts, Ba (Rigg), Clarke (Rusyn), Burstow (Aouchiche) Unused Substitutes: Bishop, Triantis, Taylor, Bennette, Hemir

Middlesbrough: Steffen, Smith, Giles, Howson, Fry, Lenihan, Forss (Archer), Hackney, Crooks (McNair), Akpom, McGree (Watmore) Unused Substitutes: Roberts, Jones, Bola, Hoppe

Present: 43,584

Sunderland vs Middlesbrough Sky Bet Championship — Dan Neil is on the verge of being sent off when the two sides last met at the Stadium of Light

He played for both…

Brian Clough

Middlesbrough-born Brian Clough began his playing career with his hometown club in the mid-1950s and in over 200 appearances he had an incredible record of almost a goal per game.

Boro continually missed out on promotion to Division One during his six years with the club and after one of his many transfer requests was finally accepted, before making the move to join Alan Brown’s Sunderland.

During his time on Wearside, Clough scored 63 goals in 74 appearances before a cruciate ligament on Boxing Day 1962 effectively ended his career. After his playing days he became a football manager and won a trophy or two…