Gav - @Gav1879
I know that on more than one occasion recently we’ve referred to an upcoming game as ‘the biggest of the campaign’ but, when talking about Saturday’s clash with Hull, I genuinely believe that we won’t play a more important ninety minutes of football all season.
Just think about the difference between what a win or a loss would mean, going forward. We win and we likely lift ourselves out of the bottom three, putting Hull right back amongst it in the process. With just over a week left of the transfer window it shows potential signings that we’re not a complete lost cause, and it would give fans hope that a change in our fortunes is around the corner.
Lose and, well, the severity of the tumultuous situation we find ourselves in only increases further, and our chances of survival look slim.
I’m backing the lads to scrape a win, somehow. Don’t ask me why.
Sunderland 1-0 Hull City
Michael - @afootyeducation
It really is a make or break game this weekend; we can’t really call it anything else. By hook or by crook Sunderland have to find a way to win. Whether that’s playing three centre-backs, going with two up top or whether it’s with or without any new faces through the door, the task at hand is an unenviable one.
Should we win, we go level on points with our opponents Hull City. Should we lose, then they widen the gap between the sides to six points, which would be a hammer blow for everyone connected to the club. We talk of massive games, often over-egging them at times, but this one really has an element of do or die about it.
I wrote earlier this week of turning corners this season, only to shoot ourselves in the foot the week after. This is yet another opportunity to win, and win against a direct relegation rival. However you jazz it up, or even play it down, it remains a six-pointer, and critical to how the rest of the season shapes up. I’m backing us to respond this week and play better, heaven only knows if we can play any worse.
Sunderland 2-1 Hull City
James Nickels - @JamesNickels
We quite literally have nineteen cup finals coming up in the remainder of our season. If we look at it any other way, relegation will be almost confirmed, and Chis Coleman knows this.
The current crop have the ability, as I have always claimed; but I have never seen a side lacking so severely in terms of both mental and physical toughness, of mind and body. The squad is littered with sicknotes, players who shirk responsibilities and others who are simply physically unsuited to the most physically-dominated division in the world.
Hull City find themselves in a similar position, strengthened by their ability to string a few results together. Yet, our fellow financially-stricken and injury-laden “North-East rivals” (they’re not) sit just four positions and three points above us.
Hull do not favour a long-ball approach, and nor do they pose a serious physical threat. On paper, they are in the mould of Norwich and Fulham - and thus I expect us to get that much needed home win and pile pressure on a Hull side which has won just two games in their last 15.
Sunderland 1-0 Hull City
Jake Hannah - @jake_hannah
What a dull period on Wearside! Unfortunately, not even a draw would be sufficient cause to feel some sort of optimism going into a crucial time in the history of the club. We need to start picking up points soon or risk being cut adrift from some below-average football teams.
There’s something about a relegation six-pointer that Sunderland seem to always hide from, and for that reason, I dread this game immensely. Rather than looking up the table thinking where we could go with a win, I have started worrying about what a loss could mean to our hopes of survival.
After the humiliating defeat to Cardiff last weekend, I can only see this game going in a similar manner, maybe slightly less humiliating though. I just really hope we give it a go!
Sunderland 1-3 Hull City
DETH ROGEN - @AsylumDoors
Both teams are utterly crap, with us slightly worse than the them so says the league table.
Hull have tightened up defensively under Nigel Adkins, but have tightened up to the extent that they’ve forgotten how to score goals. Luckily they play Sunderland this weekend who will no doubt make a stupid mistake due the total ineptness of our defence, which will in turn galvanise their front-line.
The next question is, do I believe we can break down Hull’s defence and nab an equaliser? Yeah, I do probably expect us to stick at least one in the onion bag - we can’t go on not scoring forever. I’m going for a low scoring draw that helps neither of us and plunges us both closer to League One.
Sunderland 1-1 Hull City
Mark - @Carrima
There seems to be a sense of optimism around the halls of Roker Report this week, if the rest of the predictions in here are to be believed. I have to wonder if the same optimism courses through the corridors of the Stadium of Light, though.
I’m normally quietly hopeful and excited going into games, even considering how far we can travel up the league table if we record a win. But to win means we need to score. And who’s left to do that? Grabban wanted out. Vaughan decided Wigan was a better place to be. Maja must be wondering what he’s let himself in for. Bain, we’re told, has been ‘working his socks off’ to find the striker Coleman said we needed after the Cardiff game: “It’s not a case of ‘I’m hoping’, we’ve got to do it. We have got to do it.”
And yet......
So, my usual up-beat, ‘we can do this’ approach is waning. And when I look at this game, forgive me, but Hull City will be licking their lips. Barnsley, Cardiff, countless others have broken their poor runs against us, more often than not at the Stadium of Light. So Hull will be coming knowing this is their chance to put a bit of daylight between themselves and the bottom three.
And who do we have to stop them? Hands up if you wanna give it a go, lads!
Sunderland 0-2 Hull City
Paddy - @PaddyHollis123
This will be the first of two massive upcoming matches for Sunderland. Hull are yet another team who will be looking to end a bad run on Wearside. No side visiting the SoL should have any fear, and if the Tigers get an early goal than the atmosphere could turn very sour.
The result on Saturday will hinge on if we can draft in a striker in time. If not, then it’s hard to see the score line being much more positive than at Cardiff (minus a few goals, hopefully). The only hope we could have is that it looks as though several players have returned to full training during the week, so at least our squad might not be as thread bare this weekend.
These days it’s difficult to find a positive outlook on games, and this is why I feel it will be another miserable home match for everyone associated with Sunderland.
Sunderland 0-1 Hull City
Adam - @DEG_adamjohnson
Another weekend in this demanding league and another must win game where we will inevitably fall short. I wish I could be positive, but with no talk of any new signings arriving before Saturday, it’s hard to see the team from the Cardiff game grabbing three points.
As for Hull, Nigel Adkins has managed to steady the ship in terms of conceding goals, but their goals have dried up. Despite their struggles, they’ve still got some competent players who can hurt us and ex-players who will be looking to prove a point. Without a win in their last seven games, they’ll be looking to turn their fortunes around at a stadium full of doom and gloom.
It’s simple for us, we have to win! Coleman needs to do everything he can to lift this squad and give them the hope and faith that they clearly lack. It’s difficult to imagine us winning, but I hope the players can prove me wrong and finally start fighting to stay in the division.
Sunderland 0-0 Hull
The Bromster - @ConnorBromley
After watching that 4-0 drubbing last week at Cardiff my alarm bells were ringing. This team has nothing about it. From goalkeeper to striker - not one player looks equipped to play at this level. The ones who do look okay - Gibson, McNair and Watmore - are injured.
The end is nigh, we are going down. This weekend though will probably give us some hope as we scrape a 0-0 draw.
Sunderland 0-0 Hull