You never know, of course, but on the face of it, this looks like the toughest of our remaining fixtures. I'd be happy with a point against an in-form side who've only lost 5 times this season. I wouldn't like to try and predict the line up but we're certainly going to need some big performances across the side, whichever 11 starts.
It's such a pity Washington is out but, on the plus side, I believe he's our only injury going into the last 5 weeks of the season. At least that gives Adkins the option to shuffle the pack to combat fatigue and the impact of niggling injuries once we get into the run of Saturday/Tuesday games after the Ipswich match on the 17th. Whilst our home form has been lamentable this season, I'd rather have 5 of the last 7 at The Valley than repeatedly travelling up and down the country (albeit we'll be clocking up the miles at Plymouth and Accrington).
Fingers crossed that we can get a result and maintain a credible challenge for that 6th place as we go into the home straight.
We won’t win this but imo Sunderland are a lot more likely to be in a higher division than us next season. After our 98 play off final win in the following 19 seasons Sunderland had 4 seasons in the 2nd tier of which 3 of them they went up as Champions and 1 was losing play off semi final intermittent with 15 seasons of Premiership football . they then had back to back relegations and are now in their 3rd consecutive season of league one they may have lost the play off battles but we got relegated both times straight away after beating them , hopefully we can do what we did after the 99 relegation and bounce straight back but that’s gonna need a miracle run in that I think we’ll full just short of .
I think this is our only game in April that isn't must win. Saying that a win would be massive and a draw would at least keep the run going.
Blackpool are playing Lincoln and have then got to play Sunderland twice.
Only 12 points separate 4th and 16th I don't think that will last much longer.
The play offs could have a very 1998 vibe to them.
Could we see Matthews in front of Gunter and Maatsen in front of Purrington in a 442? Stop McGeady and others getting crosses in. Be very harsh to drop Pearce on recent form. I would always prefer Watson to Pratley but I do wonder if Watson is only a game or so off triggering his extra year?
I think this is our only game in April that isn't must win. Saying that a win would be massive and a draw would at least keep the run going.
Blackpool are playing Lincoln and have then got to play Sunderland twice.
Only 12 points separate 4th and 16th I don't think that will last much longer.
The play offs could have a very 1998 vibe to them.
Could we see Matthews in front of Gunter and Maatsen in front of Purrington in a 442? Stop McGeady and others getting crosses in. Be very harsh to drop Pearce on recent form. I would always prefer Watson to Pratley but I do wonder if Watson is only a game or so off triggering his extra year?
In order to gain the momentum needed to crack the top 6 we need to win every game as it comes.
Therefore whilst we may be able to lose one or two during the run in, before each game the upcoming game is definitely MUST win.
I think this is our only game in April that isn't must win. Saying that a win would be massive and a draw would at least keep the run going.
Blackpool are playing Lincoln and have then got to play Sunderland twice.
Only 12 points separate 4th and 16th I don't think that will last much longer.
The play offs could have a very 1998 vibe to them.
Could we see Matthews in front of Gunter and Maatsen in front of Purrington in a 442? Stop McGeady and others getting crosses in. Be very harsh to drop Pearce on recent form. I would always prefer Watson to Pratley but I do wonder if Watson is only a game or so off triggering his extra year?
In order to gain the momentum needed to crack the top 6 we need to win every game as it comes.
Therefore whilst we may be able to lose one or two during the run in, before each game the upcoming game is definitely MUST win.
I don't disagree I just think this is the one we can most afford to not win if you get what I mean.
Its also early enough in the run in not to effect the form... Lose tomorrow and we can still go into the Play-Offs having won the next seven and potentially be the form team going into them - Three years ago when we lost to Rochdale on the final day of the season so already went into them on a downer
Good marker to see where we are at...dont think we have enough up front to worry them, so either a 1-0 /2-0 win for Sunderland. If we are to get anything out of the game other than a 0-0 we must score first.
Good marker to see where we are at...dont think we have enough up front to worry them, so either a 1-0 /2-0 win for Sunderland. If we are to get anything out of the game other than a 0-0 we must score first.
If Aneke plays well i think we do espeically if maatsen and dj/millar start we do have enough attacking threat.
1-1 nothing between us form wise at the moment, results rarely go as expected, so Sunderland fans will be a bit frustrated, we will continue on to the next game tails up. Innis continues to make the difference at the back, Aneke gets the equaliser. Looking forward to it, whichever way it goes to be fair, as we should see some half decent football.
A draw will be seen as a better result for us than them. That in itself will bring its own pressures. We need to start well and turn the screw on them a bit.
I fear this match may reveal the gaping chasm in quality between the two sides which no amount of effort or positive talk will paper over,
3-0 Sunderland.
Is 12 points a gaping chasm in quality? Is their 59 goals scored to our 55 goals scored a gaping chasm in quality?
Defensively you may have a point, but last time out we held them to a 0-0 draw with Pratley in-between Purrington and Famewo in defence.
We're unbeaten in 7 and nobody expects the play offs, but I cannot see this being a whipping.
In fairness it wouldn't matter who we were playing his post would be very similar.
If ever a user name summed a person up perfectly it would his.
Fair dos. Maybe not a gaping chasm then- but certainly a large gap.
Actually, I'm feeling rather optimistic that with Innis and Famewo back we might not be so porous at the back and can avoid humiliation but I saw nothing from the Darlington game to inspire any throbbing positivity.
It was a typical Lee Bowyer performance played at 45 rpm rather than 33rpm but with less attacking threat.
Very happy if Mr Adkins has sprinkled some magic dust about since then.
I fear this match may reveal the gaping chasm in quality between the two sides which no amount of effort or positive talk will paper over,
3-0 Sunderland.
Is 12 points a gaping chasm in quality? Is their 59 goals scored to our 55 goals scored a gaping chasm in quality?
Defensively you may have a point, but last time out we held them to a 0-0 draw with Pratley in-between Purrington and Famewo in defence.
We're unbeaten in 7 and nobody expects the play offs, but I cannot see this being a whipping.
In fairness it wouldn't matter who we were playing his post would be very similar.
If ever a user name summed a person up perfectly it would his.
Fair dos. Maybe not a gaping chasm then- but certainly a large gap.
Actually, I'm feeling rather optimistic that with Innis and Famewo back we might not be so porous at the back and can avoid humiliation but I saw nothing from the Darlington game to inspire any throbbing positivity.
It was a typical Lee Bowyer performance played at 45 rpm rather than 33rpm but with less attacking threat.
Very happy if Mr Adkins has sprinkled some magic dust about since then.
I didn't see the Darlington game, how did we get on?
I fear this match may reveal the gaping chasm in quality between the two sides which no amount of effort or positive talk will paper over,
3-0 Sunderland.
Is 12 points a gaping chasm in quality? Is their 59 goals scored to our 55 goals scored a gaping chasm in quality?
Defensively you may have a point, but last time out we held them to a 0-0 draw with Pratley in-between Purrington and Famewo in defence.
We're unbeaten in 7 and nobody expects the play offs, but I cannot see this being a whipping.
In fairness it wouldn't matter who we were playing his post would be very similar.
If ever a user name summed a person up perfectly it would his.
Fair dos. Maybe not a gaping chasm then- but certainly a large gap.
Actually, I'm feeling rather optimistic that with Innis and Famewo back we might not be so porous at the back and can avoid humiliation but I saw nothing from the Darlington game to inspire any throbbing positivity.
It was a typical Lee Bowyer performance played at 45 rpm rather than 33rpm but with less attacking threat.
Very happy if Mr Adkins has sprinkled some magic dust about since then.
Didn't realise we had slumped to the National League just yet, Grumps
Think this will be a very close game, they are going to be just as reluctant to go behind as we will be, and for that reason hopefully we can keep it tight and snatch a late win, 0-1 Chucks pinches it.
Comments
It's such a pity Washington is out but, on the plus side, I believe he's our only injury going into the last 5 weeks of the season. At least that gives Adkins the option to shuffle the pack to combat fatigue and the impact of niggling injuries once we get into the run of Saturday/Tuesday games after the Ipswich match on the 17th. Whilst our home form has been lamentable this season, I'd rather have 5 of the last 7 at The Valley than repeatedly travelling up and down the country (albeit we'll be clocking up the miles at Plymouth and Accrington).
Fingers crossed that we can get a result and maintain a credible challenge for that 6th place as we go into the home straight.
After our 98 play off final win in the following 19 seasons Sunderland had 4 seasons in the 2nd tier of which 3 of them they went up as Champions and 1 was losing play off semi final intermittent with 15 seasons of Premiership football .
they then had back to back relegations and are now in their 3rd consecutive season of league one
they may have lost the play off battles but we got relegated both times straight away after beating them , hopefully we can do what we did after the 99 relegation and bounce straight back but that’s gonna need a miracle run in that I think we’ll full just short of .
Blackpool are playing Lincoln and have then got to play Sunderland twice.
Only 12 points separate 4th and 16th I don't think that will last much longer.
The play offs could have a very 1998 vibe to them.
Could we see Matthews in front of Gunter and Maatsen in front of Purrington in a 442? Stop McGeady and others getting crosses in. Be very harsh to drop Pearce on recent form. I would always prefer Watson to Pratley but I do wonder if Watson is only a game or so off triggering his extra year?
Therefore whilst we may be able to lose one or two during the run in, before each game the upcoming game is definitely MUST win.
Huge result which starts the journey to a Sunderland/Charlton play off final in May.
If no Washington then Chuks must start and hope the ball sticks and we play to feet as well as the hit and hope balls in the air.
I hope I'm wrong but this Sunderland team are much improved under Johnson.
Catch up with Cullen, Pearce and Bauer prior to kick off, should be good
3-0 Sunderland.
Defensively you may have a point, but last time out we held them to a 0-0 draw with Pratley in-between Purrington and Famewo in defence.
We're unbeaten in 7 and nobody expects the play offs, but I cannot see this being a whipping.
If ever a user name summed a person up perfectly it would be his.
Fair dos. Maybe not a gaping chasm then- but certainly a large gap.
Actually, I'm feeling rather optimistic that with Innis and Famewo back we might not be so porous at the back and can avoid humiliation but I saw nothing from the Darlington game to inspire any throbbing positivity.
It was a typical Lee Bowyer performance played at 45 rpm rather than 33rpm but with less attacking threat.
Very happy if Mr Adkins has sprinkled some magic dust about since then.