Welcome to another edition of Roker Riches, as the Lads prep for a couple of cup games, starting with a run-out against Mansfield Town, before a dead rubber in the Papa Johns in the week against Bradford.

Our form in the league has been atrocious since that 0-1 loss at home to The Addicks, so I am not sure if this is a welcome chance to rebuild and reset, or if I wish we had another league game to get the recent losses and poor performances out of the system.

Ask on Saturday evening is my best advice, but the way we have been playing, Farringdon Comp 1st XI could give us a game just now, especially if they have a couple of tall lads up front.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

We take on Mansfield Town in the FA cup next, as playing this early in the FA cup is another honour we earned when we dropped out of the top two divisions. More games, when too many games seem to already be an issue.

With a bit of luck we will regroup and prevail with a youngster-fuelled victory, and will rest the senior team while showing them the error of their ways through video replays and coaching masterclasses. Our next game in the league is two weeks away, against another strong side at this level, Ipswich Town.

We need to sort our sh*t out ahead of that, we are all sure of that point.

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The Roker Riches table...

The only winner among that misery last weekend was Danny, who netted a decent profit of over £70 quid from his acca. All the Sunderland bets were smashed into row Z, as we played like a right bunch of clowns, led by Head Clown Aiden who got his marching orders early in the second half.

Danny takes the lead thanks to his win, and the only company he has above the starting kitty of £200 is Malc.

Michael is risking dropping into double figures, and if it were not for family birthday excuses, Bomber and Phil would have had more yellow cards this week. Malc the Riches page lead is clearly getting soft, a bit like our defence. Both will change going forward, we all hope.

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Banker’s Bonus...

The kids are surely going to restore our faith in all things red and white this weekend.

The Riches team will get an extra tenner for next match if the lads secure a win, and £20 if at least one goal is scored by one of the team who mainly resides in the Under 23 side.

Photo by Will Matthews/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Surely this has to give the Riches lads some extra ammo for the Ipswich visit after the international weekend. Surely?

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This round’s bets!

Anthony Gair says...

Depression Booster

Right, stay with me for this - Sunderland are mint, I promise, and I expect us to field a ‘second string’ which will bring some of our quality to the forefront. So, Sunderland to score more than 3 goals, and Will Harris to score last is 18/1. £5 (note the smaller amount this week) returns £95. What? It’s better than putting it on Mansfield to win 0-1 innit?

Photo by Will Matthews/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Do I have to do another one? - ACCA

BTTS ACCAs are historically mint during the early stages of the FA Cup, and this week, I’ll be doing one myself which includes Non-League sides.

AFC Wimbledon - Guiseley, Carlisle - Horsham, Charlton - Havant and Waterlooville, Gateshead - Altrincham, Halifax - Maidenhead.

All of these sides score, and £10 will return you £216. Get it on!

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Luke ‘Bomber’ Davies says...

Never Bet on the FA Cup Treble

Year after year the FA Cup throws out coupon-busting results, particularly in these early rounds. If you want my advice (and who wouldn’t following my glorious form in Roker Riches… ahem)then steer clear!

Here’s a little treble to tempt you away from those bet-killing non-league teams;

- Chelsea win (-1 handicap) - Fulham win - Real Madrid win

£10 returns £54

Sunderland Bet Builder

Completely backtracking on my never bet on the FA Cup stance (in my defence the banker is forcing my hand!) I’m expecting a youthful and exuberant Sunderland to continue the delightful change in fortune the cups have brought in comparison to our current league form!

Forward runs, forward passes, and GOALS! Try this bet builder on for size, see how it fits;

Sunderland to win, Over 2.5 goals, Broadhead anytime scorer

£5 returns £59.42

Photo by Will Matthews/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Phil Butler says...

Decent Price Treble.

Torino, Leicester and Sassuolo all to win away from home over Saturday and Sunday.

£5 returns £75.63

Sunderland to win 1-0.

I think we’ll name a much-changed side so a narrow victory seems like a reasonable punt.

£5 returns £35

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Paul Fletcher says…

Sunderland to get beat 1-0:

I have a bad feeling about this one, a very bad feeling. I think we’ll have 75% of the possession, 20+ goal attempts, loads of corners and somehow draw a blank. Mansfield, on the other hand, will have one attempt on goal, score from it and proceed to dump us out of the cup. £5 returns £115

Double Chance Sunday Sixfold:

Draws have ruined a lot of accumulators this season, so I’m taking them out of the equation entirely. My six chosen teams don’t even have to win! I just need Cologne, Wolfsberger AC, Feyenoord, Real Betis, FC Zurich and Rakow all to avoid defeat this Sunday, then I’ll be in profit. £5 returns £42.58

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Danny Roberts says...

Sunderland to lose:

It’s streaky Johnson’s time to lose, and confidence is low. Makes sense to go for Mansfield to win this one. £5 returns £45.

Championship trio:

I don’t like betting on the FA Cup, so I’ll stick to the Championship. So I’ll go for Fulham, Millwall and Huddersfield all to win. £10 returns £46.03.

Photo by Will Matthews/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Malc Dugdale says...

HT FT - Draw then SAFC win, vs Mansfield

I think the gaffer will ring some major changes and it will take the team a half to settle but we will beat the Stags at our place. With odds of 100-30, a fiver returns £21.67.

I can see at least 3 premier league draws happening this weekend - The Manchester derby is likely to end in a stalemate for me, as I think will Palace v Wolves and Brighton vs the Scum. This draws odds of nearly 49-1, so my wee fiver returns £248. Back this away lads and lasses.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Michael Dunne says...

Sunderland 1-0 Mansfield

I am expecting a scrappy tight victory. The lads aren’t playing well and confidence will be low. Any sort of win will do. £5 @6/1 returns £35

BTTS Acca

I need a win of some sort and have gone for a low odds bet this week. Three games with both teams to score. West Ham V Liverpool, Leeds V Leicester and Bournemouth V Swansea. £5 returns £22

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Please remember to gamble responsibly, and enjoy the footy!

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