[Archived] Sunderland Preview - 20:00 Monday 18th October

[DanLad]

If I've read the stats correctly on Skybet (it was part of a sidebar) we've won 8 and drawn 2 of our last 10 games against opposition in the lower half of the table. Hopefully a good omen!

[Mike Graham]

I cannot see who will put a decent ball in and who will score for Rovers? Perhaps we should rely on a goalkeeping error or own goal again to scab a point.

feeling low about this one. 0-v-3 with a sub 20,000 gate

[John]

Important to get a win tonight as don't want to linger too long near the bottom of the table - Sunderland from their pre-match comments fully know what to expect, just hope we can find enough quality (from somewhere) to win this one.

[DanLad]

MATCH FACTS

From Yahoo matchpack

Sunderland have the worst shooting accuracy in the Premier League hitting the target with just 26% of their efforts.

Only Wolves have fired in fewer shots in the Premier League this season than Blackburn.

Rovers have completed 60% of their passes, a lower percentage than any other team in the top flight.

Seven of the last 10 meetings in all competitions have been won by a one-goal margin and the other three were draws.

Sunderland have only won two of the last 10 Premier League meetings with Blackburn.

Sunderland have only won two of their last 32 Premier League away games.

Blackburn have only lost five of their 33 Premier League home games under Sam Allardyce.

Only one team (Man Utd) have stopped Blackburn from scoring at Ewood Park in the last 13 matches played there.

Sunderland have only kept one clean sheet in their last 21 Premier League away matches.

The Black Cats have won more penalties than any other team so far (3) and converted them all.

[waggy]

massive game tonite,think the game has a draw written all over it,but we need 3pts before we play the pool and chelski,lets hope the real DAVID DUNN turns up

[Tom]

massive game tonite,think the game has a draw written all over it,but we need 3pts before we play the pool and chelski,lets hope the real DAVID DUNN turns up

The real David Dunn seems to be an overweight crock. I'd rather have the one that's sometimes fit and a bloody good player.

[RevidgeBlue]

Sam has been on Skysports news saying we need to get back to keeping clean sheets as that was the backbone of our success last season.

Also repeated his oft quoted mantra that we need to start converting more of our chances.

Imho (and I know I'm not a football professional or expert like Sam)that's wrong. The reason we don't score enough goal is because we don't create enough chances - certainly not clear cut ones. We need to start playing better football and hence start creating more chances of which we will convert a percentage.

[Iceman]

Rovers 3-0 Sunderland. M Diouf, Benjani and MGP

[Amo]

Rovers 3-0 Sunderland. M Diouf, Benjani and MGP

How long before you woke up?

[RevidgeBlue]

Rovers 3-0 Sunderland. M Diouf, Benjani and MGP

Again I'd love to be proved wrong but I'd have thought there's more chance of my UFO from the takeover thread landing on the centre spot pre kick off than us scoring three goals in one game at the moment!.

Darren Bent's fitness or otherwise could prove the key factor tonight.

[DanLad]

Again I'd love to be proved wrong but I'd have thought there's more chance of my UFO from the takeover thread landing on the centre spot pre kick off than us scoring three goals in one game at the moment!.

Darren Bent's fitness or otherwise could prove the key factor tonight.

LOL! Alien visitation! Maybe teleportation will be a handy way of us getting support to the lone striker?

If Bent's not fit, he'll only get a couple!

I've got a strange feeling we might win this one, maybe even handsomely. It's not a good sign...

[Iceman]

(Please don't use that word again), ill just remain positive for every game. Im bound to be right a few times, and i cannot take this negative crap anymore. Rev, your UFO has 6 fingered aliens in it, straight from Dingledome

[RevidgeBlue]

Maybe teleportation will be a handy way of us getting support to the lone striker?

Cracked it!

[b12_simon]

The real David Dunn seems to be an overweight crock. I'd rather have the one that's sometimes fit and a bloody good player.

I thought you were being very harsh there, til I re-read and saw the "r".

Back to tonight; history says draw or narrow home win but I share peoples' nerves. I don't have a good feeling about this.

[Tom]

Ha ha, I'd love for Dunny to ger back to his best but looking at his history I'm not sure if the real Dunny is the injured one or the fit one.

I heard a shocking stat about the number of times he's missed the Christmas period in his career but the number escapes me.

Nervy feeling about tonight but there's no reason why we can't get 3 points if we go at them, sit back and they'll punish us.

Is Cattermole getting sent off tonight or is he already banned?

[brian_gallagher85]

We'll I'll be in attendance this evening so we'll more than likely not get all three points, I think the last home win I saw was over the Dingles....almost exactly a year ago! I'm on the Clithroe train from Manc Victoria now, bring on the Mackems!

[joey_big_nose]

Sky Sports' Possible XI, they're usually wrong but I like the look of this team.

Robinson

Salgado Nelsen Samba Givet

Emerton Dunn Jones Pedersen EH Diouf

MB Diouf

I would go for that - I would have said Emerton should be dropped but he seems to have found some form from somewhere.

Not sure why people are saying Nzonzi should start ahead of Jones. Jones has been much better than Stephen this season. He might not be able to pass, but then niether can Nzozni at the moment and Jones covers a huge amount of ground and is one of the best tacklers I have seen in recent years. He can even drive forward with the ball at pace which none of our other players can do. Nzonzi just sits and offers very little either defensively or offensively.

ps. MB Diouf up top is not that inspirational. A toss up between him and Kalinic. God I wish one of our strikers looked at least mildly effective.

[dubdubdub]

I would go for that - I would have said Emerton should be dropped but he seems to have found some form from somewhere.

Not sure why people are saying Nzonzi should start ahead of Jones. Jones has been much better than Stephen this season. He might not be able to pass, but then niether can Nzozni at the moment and Jones covers a huge amount of ground and is one of the best tacklers I have seen in recent years. He can even drive forward with the ball at pace which none of our other players can do. Nzonzi just sits and offers very little either defensively or offensively.

ps. MB Diouf up top is not that inspirational. A toss up between him and Kalinic. God I wish one of our strikers looked at least mildly effective.

I don't blame any of our strikers for the task they're given. It's more of a job for a headless chicken than a footballer. Di Santo at least chased the ball down...we'd be better off with him.

What really pisses me off is that he looks like a player for Wigan. I don't think we flatter anybody.

[92er]

Not sure why people are saying Nzonzi should start ahead of Jones. Jones has been much better than Stephen this season. He might not be able to pass, but then niether can Nzozni at the moment and Jones covers a huge amount of ground and is one of the best tacklers I have seen in recent years. He can even drive forward with the ball at pace which none of our other players can do. Nzonzi just sits and offers very little either defensively or offensively.

I am now rather underwhelmed with Jones in midfield, especially when he tries to go forward with the ball.

I thought he was excellent against Everton and really snuffed out Cahill.

It's as though he now thinks he's a player. I'm sure he must be under instructions but I think he is much better in a defensive role in midfield.

Or as a centre half.

[Exiled_Rover]

Not looking forward to this.

[chaddyrovers]

Hopefully Dunn will play from the start and give us more creatively in midfield with Pedersen and Nzonzi. Jones and Samba at centre back. think Nelsen is out injured. Think Emerton on right, Kalinic up front, E.Diouf on left. I hope darren bent is not fit but then Gyan will play and from what i saw at the world cup he's quality striker and will cause us a threat! Sunderland play 4-5-1 and Henderson is in top form.

I will go for 2 nil. With Kalinic and Samba to scored. (I hope so anyway!)

[SamTheShrew]

Sam has been on Skysports news saying we need to get back to keeping clean sheets as that was the backbone of our success last season.

Also repeated his oft quoted mantra that we need to start converting more of our chances.

Imho (and I know I'm not a football professional or expert like Sam)that's wrong. The reason we don't score enough goal is because we don't create enough chances - certainly not clear cut ones. We need to start playing better football and hence start creating more chances of which we will convert a percentage.

Amen to your last part Rev, the sooner BFS realises this the better.

Going to miss most of the game due to my weekly 5-a-side.

It would be nice to come back to a lead of any kind!

[BuckyRover]

I'm expecting a 1-1 draw and board meltdown.

Obviously I hope I'm wrong.

[SamTheShrew]

1-1 after taking the lead in the 1st half and going in at HT 1-0 up...

[Tom]

I think the crowd may turn if we were to lose tonight, let's hope we don't have to find out.

Out of interest how are we faring compared to last season?