Predicted Sunderland Lineup To Face Preston North End In The EFL Championship
The sorry state of affairs at Sunderland Football Club can’t really get any worse and the likelihood of them putting together a string of results to survive is getting smaller and smaller. The manner of the 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers has disappointed the already beleaguered fan base and the city is at an all-time low. It may only get worse for the North East side.
This weekend, they face an in-form Preston at the Stadium of Light before a tough trip to 5th placed Derby County. Sunderland are 5 points from safety and they have won only 5 games all season. They would probably need to win as many games again in their remaining 9 games to ensure they survive, which seems almost impossible.
Team News
Goalkeeper Jason Steele is suspended for this game after being sent off for handling outside the area against QPR, while the injury list remains long for the Black Cats. They will be without Duncan Watmore, Browning, Robbin Ruiter, Darren Gibson, Marc Wilson, Jonny Williams and Paddy McNair who has been called up for Northern Ireland despite his injury woes.
Formation: 4-1-4-1
GK – Lee Camp
The inconsistent former Forest goalkeeper had lost his place to Jason Steele until his moment of madness last time out. This is his opportunity to stake his claim for the shirt.
LB – Bryan Oviedo
Bryan Oviedo could be a great player for Sunderland but he is just as likely to crack one into his own net as he is into the opposition’s.
CB – John O’Shea
A shadow of the United player he once was, John O’Shea is somehow still going. Part of a defence that has conceded 66 goals this season so far.
CB – Lamine Kone
As little as two years ago, Kone was stopping strikers in the Premier League as his performances helped Big Sam’s Sunderland stay in the Premier League but that seems a long time ago now.
RB – Adam Matthews
Wales international Adam Matthews knows Chris Coleman well from the Welsh national team but he has yet to deliver anything like what is expected of him in a Sunderland shirt.
DM – Lee Cattermole
The Sunderland legend has come back into the side this season and does work very hard for his team but his powers are fading as he reaches 30 years of age.
LM – George Honeyman
Honeyman is a versatile player who can play a range of attacking positions but although he is 23 years old, he has yet to reach full maturity in this Sunderland team. The lack of leaders around him isn’t helping the cause.
CM – Ovie Ejaria
Ejaria has so far made 5 appearances in the Championship and the on-loan Liverpool midfielder has held his own in the games he has played in.
CM – Ethan Robson
Ethan Robson is one of the few options that Chris Coleman has in the middle of the park. He has started 4 games for Sunderland this season so far.
RM – Joel Asoro
The young forward from Sweden is one of the few bright spots for Sunderland this season. He is a talented lad who loves to take on the opposition.
ST – Josh Maja
Ashley Fletcher played 87 minutes on Tuesday and didn’t seem like he would score. Both Fletcher and Maja only have 1 goal each but Maja has so much more potential.