Sunnaland v Unbeaten away under Fozzy

Can't see us winning this one, maybe a draw but more likely 2-0 to the hosts. Clarke will need to be watched, very talented player.

Preview: Sunderland vs. Plymouth Argyle

Sunderland square off against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that may move the club back into the Championship playoff places.

The Black Cats currently sit in eighth spot in the table at a time when Plymouth make the trip to the Stadium of Light in 15th position.

Michael Beale would have gone into last weekend's Tees-Wear derby knowing that a win over Middlesbrough would have gone some way to winning over Sunderland's fanbase.

Instead, Beale had to make do with a comeback draw at the Riverside Stadium, taking him to 11 points from eight games since his arrival in the North East.

While that return is below expectations, it has been enough to keep Sunderland in the mix for promotion, with just four points separating them from fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion.

Of all the teams in contention for the playoffs, Sunderland have the most favourable run of fixtures on paper, facing no team in the top eight until March 5.

Nevertheless, we are at the stage of the season when teams lower down the standings are fighting for survival, as has been the case with Plymouth under Ian Foster.

Losing Steven Schumacher to Stoke City was deemed to be a blow at the time, but it has brought a new lease of life to Argyle with a hatful of fresh faces.

Back-to-back victories have been posted against Cardiff City and Swansea City in the Championship, taking Plymouth up to the dizzy heights of 15th spot after promotion from League One in 2022-23.

Although Plymouth went down 4-1 to Leeds United in the FA Cup fourth round on Tuesday, that setback will not dent confidence and enthusiasm surrounding what has been an excellent comeback campaign to the second tier.

A run of three successive fixtures at Home Park follow this game, the location for three quarters of Plymouth's points, but they will be desperate to build on finally ending their 14-game winless streak on the road last week.

Sunderland Championship form:
DWLLWD

Sunderland form (all competitions):
WLLLWD

Plymouth Argyle Championship form:
DLDDWW

Plymouth Argyle form (all competitions):
WDWDWL

Team News

Having scored Sunderland's equaliser against Boro, Nazarii Rusyn will expect to be handed a recall down the middle of the attack.

Patrick Roberts is also pushing for an opportunity after recovering from injury, while Daniel Ballard is expected to shake off a knock.

As for Plymouth, the likes of Darko Gyabi, Adam Forshaw and Alfie Devine should all return after being ineligible for the FA Cup tie with Leeds.

Lino Sousa is also pushing for a place in the starting lineup after Plymouth signed the former Arsenal youngster on loan from Aston Villa.

Michael Cooper and Jordan Houghton will both miss out for the visitors due to injury.


Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Hjelde; Neil; Ba, Ekwah, Bellingham, Clarke; Rusyn

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Hazard; Phillips, Gibson, Galloway; Mumba, Gyabi, Forshaw, Miller; Whittaker, Devine; Hardie

Who will win Saturday's Championship clash between Sunderland and Plymouth?
Sunderland

We say: Sunderland 2-2 Plymouth Argyle

Although Sunderland are the marginal favourites for this contest, it feels as though they are playing a resurgent Plymouth at the wrong time. With their new signings back in the side, we expect the Pilgrims to earn a share of the spoils in an entertaining tussle.

Referee

Anthony Backhouse is the man in the middle, (Championship Games: 8, Yellow Cards: 41, Red Cards: 0, Penalties awarded: 2)

Assisted by Sam Lewis and Alex James

The fourth official is Will Finnie.

Taken from the web

For the techys amongst us, can I watch Argyle TV using a fire stick which I could get from Curry’s ?

Fozzie's first league defeat today. Yet another team far too good for Argo who will have all the possession and be extremely dangerous and lightening quick on the attack. But Argo will help Sunderland by generously continuously giving the ball to them.

Mackems 3-1 Argo (Whittaker)

it is a winnable game but its not going to be easy this isnt the same team we played at home park. If we take a draw ill be happy with that.

Ou est Bundu aujourd'hui?

Injured? Dropped completely?

If we're as lethargic as we were on Tues night we'll be beaten by 4 or 5.

Les Miserable wrote:

If we're as lethargic as we were on Tues night we'll be beaten by 4 or 5.

we have another game tuesday at home against Coventry followed by next week again we play leeds at home again thats on tv again so with what you said which is true Foster is going to have to squad manage today well to keep the players fresh as possible.

Speaking of Foster the club are sure taking their sweet time appointing his backroom staff hes been here a month and so far only a goalkeeping coach has been hired. No assistant, no fitness coach/head of sports science and no additional coach either to replace the 3 that joined the snake at stoke.

Freathy wrote:

Ou est Bundu aujourd'hui?

Injured?  Dropped completely?

Calf injury i believe

Angry wrote:

Les Miserable wrote:

If we're as lethargic as we were on Tues night we'll be beaten by 4 or 5.

we have another game tuesday at home against Coventry followed by next week again we play leeds at home again thats on tv again so with what you said which is true Foster is going to have to squad manage today well to keep the players fresh as possible.

Speaking of Foster the club are sure taking their sweet time appointing his backroom staff hes been here a month and so far only a goalkeeping coach has been hired. No assistant, no fitness coach/head of sports science and no additional coach either to replace the 3 that joined the snake at stoke.

Cov is Wednesday night mate, yes agree on the backroom staff and my worry is our fitness isn't up to scratch, needs sorting and dewsnip can get back where he belongs in the directors box.

Les Miserable wrote:

Angry wrote:

Les Miserable wrote:

If we're as lethargic as we were on Tues night we'll be beaten by 4 or 5.

we have another game tuesday at home against Coventry followed by next week again we play leeds at home again thats on tv again so with what you said which is true Foster is going to have to squad manage today well to keep the players fresh as possible.

Speaking of Foster the club are sure taking their sweet time appointing his backroom staff hes been here a month and so far only a goalkeeping coach has been hired. No assistant, no fitness coach/head of sports science and no additional coach either to replace the 3 that joined the snake at stoke.

Cov is Wednesday night mate, yes agree on the backroom staff and my worry is our fitness isn't up to scratch, needs sorting and dewsnip can get back where he belongs in the directors box.

i stand corrected thankyou. Fitness of the squad needs to improve. I gather Elliot once the snake left just wasn't as interested as i guess he was told he couldn't go with the others and had to remain till the new boss was appointed so didn't work as hard. We need to get that addressed soon as we can with someone who can improve and maintain the fitness levels of the squad as we enter the business period of the season.

Speaking of Foster the club are sure taking their sweet time appointing his backroom staff hes been here a month and so far only a goalkeeping coach has been hired. No assistant, no fitness coach/head of sports science and no additional coach either to replace the 3 that joined the snake at stoke.


When Foster was asked whether he would be looking to bring in a new No 2, he said: "I think it was important I just came in and had a full assessment of the people that are here, and what type of personality and coach the players need.

"I'm not in any rush to do it. The technical of myself, Kevin and Darryl are fine at the moment and when it's right for the club and for the players we will look to bring somebody in, but at the moment we are absolutely fine."

Argyle's backroom staff also includes physio Gareth Law, head of recruitment Jimmy Dickinson, head of football data Ross Goodwin, lead performance analyst Sam Morcom, first team analyst Harry Powell and sports therapist Abner Bruzzichessi.

Tgwu wrote:

Speaking of Foster the club are sure taking their sweet time appointing his backroom staff hes been here a month and so far only a goalkeeping coach has been hired. No assistant, no fitness coach/head of sports science and no additional coach either to replace the 3 that joined the snake at stoke.


When Foster was asked whether he would be looking to bring in a new No 2, he said: "I think it was important I just came in and had a full assessment of the people that are here, and what type of personality and coach the players need.

"I'm not in any rush to do it. The technical of myself, Kevin and Darryl are fine at the moment and when it's right for the club and for the players we will look to bring somebody in, but at the moment we are absolutely fine."

Argyle's backroom staff also includes physio Gareth Law, head of recruitment Jimmy Dickinson, head of football data Ross Goodwin, lead performance analyst Sam Morcom, first team analyst Harry Powell and sports therapist Abner Bruzzichessi.

It wont be fine the longer it goes on this isnt England schoolboys where you can get by on a skeleton crew cause you dont play that often. He and the club really should be having someone lined up by now to at least take over Elliot Turner's role if they are waiting for someone to be free to become the assistant head coach.

Foster obviously doesn’t have a managerial history whereby he can call on assistants he’s had in the past. Seasoned managers will quite often have a back room team mothballed, ready to go when their boss gets a new gig. It’s different with Foster due to his coaching pathway.

I do agree though, I’d like to see one or two additions but I guess it has to be people he knows and trusts.

Just so long as it ain’t Stevie G.

Sublime from Hardie.

Great ball from Whittaker (another 500k on his head)

Argo really up against it now. Sunderland will go on to get another one now.

And they did. Game over.

Bollox a second half collapse…ffs

fell apart no idea how to see out games away from home and fitness levels are dropping as it showed.

Foster needs to stop bullshitting about his backroom staff being fine and get those appointments made cause this squad needs help. our board did everything on the dirt cheap last month in terms of transfers and not actually strengthen the squad depth leaving us still missing another striker and games are piling up now and as we saw earlier this week in the cup and today our players cant cope with the games without gassing out the longer the game goes on.

Shambolic 'defending' as per. Mumba needs to warm the bench for a while and I'm not convinced by Philips, also question fozzie I'm afraid for even starting him after he was out on his feet tuesday night, should've rested him and started scarr or pleggy.

Also yet to see many positives from darko or devine, need pointage against cov Wednesday night and they are currently flying.

Forshaw obviously out for the season then FFS. Remainder of the season beginning to feel like it'll be one big car crash of injuries and heavy defeats culminating in inevitable relegation

The old 'game of two halves' scenario. We were very good in the first half, they had some pressure as you would expect but never really threatened, I can only remember 1 save from Hazard and that was comfortable. The movement was good, the midfield was strong, Forshaw pulling the strings again. Great vision from Whittaker put Hardie through and a brilliant finish for 1 - 0. The Stadium was quiet, apart the Argyle fans up in top stand.

Second half it was two different teams. They came out with much more energy and pace and we couldn't get out of our half. The free kick for their first goal was questionable to say the least, but the way the wall broke was poor and meant Hazard had no chance. Then we conceded 2 goals that we seem to be prone to. On the left, cutting in and curling the ball into the far corner. Good finishes to be fair, but both times they were allowed far too much time and space to get the shots away. Same thing happened in the 2 matches against Leeds.

Forshaw had to go off, hopefully nothing too serious, but then it was game over. Disappointing, because we looked so good in the first half.

Gibson was the star at the back, Forshaw ran things in the middle until he went off and Hardie looked sharp. I worry a little bit about the wing backs, we get caught down both sides at times because Mumba and Miller are too high and both of them tend to ball watch and don't track runners. They're both fine going forward but need to improve their awareness defensively.

Ref was poor for both sides, gave some odd decisions, and got in the way of players and the ball far too often.

3 home games coming up, all against strong teams in the top half.

Freathy wrote:

Forshaw obviously out for the season then FFS.  Remainder of the season beginning to feel like it'll be one big car crash of injuries and heavy defeats culminating in inevitable relegation

why would that not shock me at all if that does indeed turn out to be the case. An Injury prone player gets another payday from a club that does transfer business on the cheap to sit in a treatment room for most of the time that his contract runs till.

i understood why we let Butcher go but in hindsight perhaps we should have kept hold of him till the end of the season seeing as Houghton is out for a short spell too.