Roker Report - Sunderland 3-1 Stoke City: As It HappenedSunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51357/rr-fav.png2014-10-07T08:23:02+01:00http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/rss/stream/66709002014-10-07T08:23:02+01:002014-10-07T08:23:02+01:00Talking Tactics: Stoke City (H)
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<figcaption>Alex Livesey</figcaption>
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<p>Steven Fletcher scored twice as Sunderland recorded their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Stoke City at the Stadium of Light</p> <h4>Line Up</h4>
<p><span>Gus Poyet made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 at home to Swansea City last weekend. Veteran defender Wes Brown was fit again after shaking off a calf problem, but could only manage a place amongst the substitutes leaving Santiago Vergini to continue alongside John O’Shea at the heart of the Sunderland defence.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Jordi Gomez was handed his first Premier League start under Poyet taking the place of Jack Rodwell in centre midfield, who like Wes Brown had to settle for a place on the bench.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Adam Johnson was missing from the side to the surprise of many, as Steven Fletcher returned to first team duty after a short exile to lead the line for the Black Cats. Connor Wickham dropped back to the left-hand side of midfield to fill the position vacated by Johnson.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Emanuele Giaccherini is still absent with an ankle problem.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sunderland lined up as usual with Poyet’s favoured 4-1-4-1 formation.</p>
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<h4>Opposition</h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mark Hughes was forced to make one change to the side that claimed victory over Newcastle United last Monday. Summer signing Mame Biram Diouf has made a strong start to his career at The Potters, but was unavailable for the trip to the Stadium of Light after sustaining a hamstring injury.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Marko Arnautovic was drafted in to replace the absent Senegalese forward.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Stoke spent big in the summer transfer window, and are showing signs of maturing under Hughes who is gradually moulding the side into a dynamic attacking outfit as oppose to the physical, long-ball approach we had become used to under Tony Pulis.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Stoke lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with the imposing 6"7 figure of Peter Crouch leading the line.</p>
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<h4>Approach</h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sunderland were by far the better side against Swansea last Saturday, and were only one finishing touch away from a faultless performance and their first three points of the season.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">There was plenty for Poyet to be upbeat about performance wise, but there’s no doubt that the Uruguayan will have had his side working on their conviction in front of goal in training leading up to the visit of Stoke.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Black Cats have a tough pair of Premier League fixtures approaching away to Southampton and at home to Arsenal, so a victory over Stoke would go a long way to giving Poyet’s men a much needed lift and provide a cushion between themselves and the bottom three.</p>
<h4>Execution</h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sunderland started extremely positively, almost just as they had ended the game against Swansea last weekend. The Black Cats were on the front foot and looked eager to take control of the game early on. In the fourth minute Sunderland’s positivity was rewarded, as Connor Wickham headed home a well delivered cross from Steven Fletcher.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Poyet’s men were ahead in a league game for the first time since the opening weekend of the season, but much to my disappointment, the players reacted by lowering the tempo and settling into a more conservative approach almost welcoming Stoke to plot their reply. Eventually, Stoke did reply, capitalising on a lapse in concentration from Sunderland defensively. A quickly taken free-kick inside their own half caught the Black Cats out of shape. Larsson was missing to cover in midfield, and Lee Cattermole made the wrong decision coming out of position to attempt and fail to dispossess Victor Moses leaving Charlie Adam free to receive and carry the ball into the penalty area to finish low across the face of Vito Mannone.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Much to the credit of Sunderland, they reacted well, like they have done on several occasions already this season when coming from behind to claim a result. The effective utilisation of attacking set-plays has been one of the most visible improvements in Sunderland’s game since Gus Poyet took charge just over a year ago, and it was thanks to an inventive and thought-out approach that the Black Cats regained the lead. A quick short corner from Larsson to Gomez allowed the Spaniard a better angle for a cross, and the returning Steven Fletcher scored his first goal of 2014 with a well-taken and precise header.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Again, after going ahead I feel Sunderland perhaps took their foot off the gas a little too much and may have ended up allowing Stoke to draw level again if not for a few near misses. However, in the 79th minute the Black Cats eventually did put the game to bed, and it was Fletcher again with the goal. A counter-attack caught Stoke over-committed at the other end of the field, and a cross from Wickham after a mazy run went through Rodwell to Fletcher who finished high into the empty net.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Confidence is a huge thing in football, and Fletcher will no doubt now be brimming with it after netting a brace and providing an assist. In fact, there was a marked improvement in the 27-year-old’s all round game. Fletcher held up the ball a lot better than he has done in recent weeks, and he managed to win half of his aerial duels against what is still a physical Stoke side – but he must follow this performance up some consistency.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">One aspect of Sunderland’s game that has become noticeable this season and was again apparent on Saturday is the slight change in ethos. When Poyet took charge, the Black Cats became renowned for their ultimate possession play, but this doesn’t seem to be quite the case anymore – especially in comparison to last season. It appears that Poyet has now begun to deploy a more direct approach in the transition between defence and attack, and a good way of visualising this progression is by looking at the distribution of Vito Mannone.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Last season under Poyet around 90% of goal-kicks were played short. The two centre-backs would split and take up a position at each corner of the penalty area pushing the two full-backs further forward widening the play, while the sitting midfielder would come short to make an option. Now, as displayed in the visual above, Poyet appears to be giving instructions to play a lot more direct from the goalkeeper, rather than have his side nurture possession. There could be a number of reasons for this change. It could be that Poyet now feels his current squad are more equipped with playing through the team a lot quicker, or it could be that the Sunderland manager considers the previous approach too risky defensively. In my opinion the approach last season was most effective when Ki Sung-Yung was operating as the deepest midfielder, so it may be that with the Korean now gone Poyet feels he no longer has a player within his midfield who is comfortable enough on the ball to utilise this particular tactic.</p>
<h4>Conclusion</h4>
<p>A good win at the perfect time. Sunderland have by no means been bad in the opening seven games of the season, and with this victory now sit in a place in the table which reflects their performances so far. I do feel that Stoke could have punished the Black Cats on occasions, and perhaps Poyet's men were let off at times dues to Mark Hughes' reluctance to give up on utilising Steven N'Zonzi as an advanced midfield player. The 25-year-old Frenchman really was dreadful on Saturday, and a more accomplished attacking player may have made Sunderland pay in some of the positions N'Zonzi found himself in.</p>
<p>Poyet's controversial starting XI was more than justified by the eventual outcome. It appears the Uruguayan values the presence of impact from the bench, and it could be that he dropped both Johnson and Rodwell purely for that reason in the absence of Giaccherini and Alvarez.</p>
<p>Notable performances from Wickham and Fletcher, and Sunderland seem a lot more balanced with Patrick Van Aanholt and Billy Jones occupying the full-back positions.</p>
<p>Hopefully this win will instil some confidence into the players ahead of two tricky fixtures away at Southampton and at home to Arsenal, but it's a shame that they now have to endure an international break which will no doubt suck the momentum out of the side.</p>
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https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2014/10/7/6918747/talking-tactics-sunderland-stoke-city-analysis-statsAlexander Stebbings2014-10-06T16:38:13+01:002014-10-06T16:38:13+01:00Quick Kicks - Hooray For Routine Wins!
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<figcaption>Nigel Roddis</figcaption>
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<p>Here's what Stephen Goldsmith made of Sunderland 3-1 Stoke City. </p> <h4>What The Gaffer Said</h4>
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<p dir="ltr">It was tough because we started well and got a goal which meant everything was perfect, but then they scored the equaliser and perhaps people started getting a little nervous.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We didn't get nervous. We were calm, playing the game and believing in what we do with good movement, which are the things we work on - when you do things in training and it works in games the players buy into it and believe.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Overall we can now look at the table in a different way because now we have lost one in seven which is not a bad start.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I am the type of person who likes to accept responsibility when it doesn't go well because I am in charge and I pick the team. Of course when you make hard decisions like today - leaving Jack Rodwell and Adam Johnson out. It is nice when it works because it shows that Fletch was doing something in training in the past two weeks that we needed.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Last year that partnership was largely made by Fabio Borini and Connor Wickham at the end of the season with Johnson standing out, but today it was Connor and Fletch, which is fantastic for us because it creates a situation where you know the role of every player.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Look at the last goal with Connor because you do not see many players with the power and ability to go past so many people and pull it back. Maybe two years ago Connor would try and shoot from there but today he had the strength and the quality to pull it back, which is something everybody can see is improving.</p>
<p>It is a very good start. Every single game has been very competitive and we have had chances to win in every single one. We needed to score two or three and have a very good weekend so we will keep believing in what we do and if we take our chances it will be a great season for us.</p>
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<p>Gus, like the rest of us, was very relieved at this result. It was put to him after the game that the international break could be a nuisance and disruptive to newly found momentum.</p>
<p>He didn’t agree and seemed to imply that, if anything, it was welcomed; not least so that the injured players could have extra time to recover, but also so that everybody can just breathe a huge collective sigh of relief and enjoy the win for a little longer.</p>
<h4>Sunderland Can Do Routine Wins At Last!</h4>
<p>It’s no great secret that there’s not a lot of difference between squads outside the top seven or eight. What’s likely to keep you away from a relegation dog fight is the ability to win your home games against the majority of these sides.</p>
<p>It sounds simple because it is, and it’s something often taken for granted when achieved successfully and without fuss.</p>
<p>Fans often lament the fact their sides offer nothing more than produce these routine home wins year after year, but when you’ve been involved in nerve-racking relegation battles for a couple of seasons then you start to long for it. Striving for mid-table mediocrity is the line I like to use.</p>
<p>When those easier looking fixtures came around last season, we struggled. It took a ridiculously good run at the end of the season to compensate for that and left a feeling of ambiguity surrounding how good we actually were as a side.</p>
<p>I read someone’s tweet the other day suggesting this was our first win on a Saturday at home since Di Canio’s triumph over Everton in 2013! That’s quite something.</p>
<p>Beating an average side with a fairly average performance - give me more of it. Please.</p>
<h4>Each Player Stepped Up</h4>
<p>I say it was a fairly average performance, maybe I’m sounding harsh with that. I certainly didn’t think there was a bad player - something which is vitally important.</p>
<p>You can barely afford passengers in the Premier League and it was a solid 7/10 display throughout, with Steven Fletcher elevating himself above that.</p>
<p>More on him…</p>
<h4><b>Hats Off To That Man</b></h4>
<p>Steven Fletcher, eh? Questionable goal celebrations aside, it was a centre forward display close to perfection from him. And it was all down to the man himself.</p>
<p>Sure, Wickham’s movement and running was the closest thing we’ve had to replicating our attacking shape since Borini was here, meaning Fletcher often had a partner to play off.</p>
<p>But he still did things differently and played that lone(ish) front role well. His movement off the ball was as good as I can remember from him, and I don't mean simply finding space in the box. He pulled defenders around and offered himself to his midfielders.</p>
<p>His assist for Wickham's goal was what you need from a player in that role too, and frankly, I can't recall him showing the desire/understanding to produce that in many games previously.</p>
<p>You could see the confidence start to ooze from him once he'd both created one and scored one, and you almost felt it inevitable he'd score again if presented with the chance. And he did.</p>
<p>This abuse our fans have apparently directed at him during games, well, I must have missed that. But I'll hold my hands up and admit I was very much questioning his ability to play in this system. I didn't question his quality, I just concluded that the set up didn't look right for him.</p>
<p>He can continue to prove me wrong all he likes with those displays. His performance level improved unequivocally on Saturday, and previous (constructive) criticism (if you could even call it that) has been fair.</p>
<h4><b>Let’s Not Get Carried Away</b></h4>
<p>I don’t mean to go out on a negative note when I remind people that it isn’t inconceivable to lose at Southampton and then to Arsenal at home. With Giacherrini and Alvarez likely to be injured throughout October, the mood may have changed somewhat by the end of the month.</p>
<p>I’m happy though, as I think most of us are. We’ve looked very capable of being a side who should avoid a relegation battle comfortably.</p>
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https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2014/10/6/6917889/quick-kicks-sunderland-stoke-analysis-reaction-hooray-for-routine-winsGoldylad2014-10-04T21:14:52+01:002014-10-04T21:14:52+01:00Sunderland 3-1 Stoke City: Player Ratings
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<figcaption>Alex Livesey</figcaption>
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<p>Winning is back! Here we rate the players who made it happen.</p> <h4>Vito Mannone - 7</h4>
<p>Very solid and dependable and very little bounced away from him.</p>
<h4>Billy Jones - 8</h4>
<p>Another really excellent performance from the full back. A far more restrained performance that we saw last week but it was exactly what was required.</p>
<h4>Santiago Vergini - 9</h4>
<p>Immaculate. Stoke are still a physical side and all concerns over his suitability for a central defensive role in England must now have been utterly dismissed.</p>
<h4>John O'Shea - 7</h4>
<p>He was good and solid, but didn't stand-out.</p>
<h4>Patrick van Aanholt - 9</h4>
<p>Looks an absolute snip and a peach of a summer signing. Seems to see danger nice and quickly.</p>
<h4>Lee Cattermole - 8</h4>
<p>Very good, as ever. Pick of the midfield.</p>
<h4>Seb Larsson - 7</h4>
<p>Off the ball he was industrious as ever but dithered far too much on it for my tastes.</p>
<h4>Jordi Gomez - 7</h4>
<p>Very good in the first half but a bit sloppy at times after the break.</p>
<h4>Will Buckley - 6</h4>
<p>Just didn't quite work for him, though the referee really didn't help him with some of the things he was letting go.</p>
<h4>Steven Fletcher - 9</h4>
<p>Fletch is back! That, for me, was Fletcher's best ever performance a Sunderland shirt. Any other day he'd have probably breezed to our man of the match award.</p>
<h4>Connor Wickham - 9</h4>
<p>Man of the match - just.</p>
<h4>Adam Johnson - 6</h4>
<p>Didn't really do much other than float set pieces harmlessly into the goalkeeper's hands. Injected some positivity towards the end, though.</p>
<h4>Liam Bridcutt - 6</h4>
<p>Steady-Eddie.</p>
<h4>Jack Rodwell - 6</h4>
<p>Nice... errrrrm... 'dummy'.</p>
<h4>The Lee Cattermole Award For Man Of The Match - Connor Wickham</h4>
<p>The youngster shades it for our newly-named Man of the Match award with a supremely powerful performance. Fletcher outscored him on the day, but the run Wickham produced for the third goal was like a runaway train. Superman himself could have been asked to stop him and he'd have probably brought the whole Justice League along with him for some back-up. Wow.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2014/10/4/6908203/sunderland-3-1-stoke-city-player-ratingsmichaelgraham2014-10-04T18:01:03+01:002014-10-04T18:01:03+01:00Match Report: Sunderland 3-1 Stoke
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<figcaption>Nigel Roddis</figcaption>
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<p>Sunderland win for the first time in the league this season as Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher strike to earn the home side all three points.</p> <p>It took some time but Sunderland finally clinched all three points from a Premier League game this season and, as if that wasn't enough, all three goals were scored by our starting strikers, with Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher on the scoresheet.</p>
<p>Gus Poyet made two changes from the goalless draw against Swansea, with Fletcher and Jordi Gomez replacing Adam Johnson and Jack Rodwell. Those changes saw Wickham move out wide to accommodate Fletcher who started up front, although not a popular decision due to the Scottish international's struggles in front of goal, Poyet's decision paid dividends as the pair linked up to steer Sunderland to victory.</p>
<p>The opening goal came in the fifth minute when Fletcher got away down the right with the help of a lucky ricochet and put in a great cross that left Wickham, on his 50th Premier League appearance for Sunderland, with the relatively simple task of heading past Asmir Begovic.</p>
<p>That probably should have been the catalyst for the home side to push on but like the Capital One Cup defeat to the same opponents 10 days ago, Sunderland went into their shell after taking the lead. Despite being giving a warning sign after Stephen N'Zonzi shot tamely at Vito Mannone when he really should have done better, they soon allowed Stoke to get back into the game, which they duly did in the 15th minute when Victor Moses fed Charlie Adam and the Scot took advantage of John O'Shea backpeddaling by firing through our captains legs into the back of the net, leaving Mannone with no chance.</p>
<p>Unlike the Capital One Cup defeat, the home side made amends for conceding just eight minutes later when Seb Larsson took a short corner to Jordi Gomez, who found Fletcher with his cross and he made no mistake with a cushioned header into the far post, breaking his nine-month goal drought in the process.</p>
<p>After taking the lead for the second time in the space of 24 minutes, Sunderland once again took their foot of the pedal and played cautiously, almost allowing Stoke back into the game yet again, with Mannone making smart saves from Charlie Adam's free kick and Peter Crouch's acrobatic volley. Will Buckley did test Begovic at the other end with a shot that looked suspiciously like a miscued cross but we went in at the break 2-1 up.</p>
<p>The second half started as the first half ended, with Sunderland happy to sit back and stifle Stoke's counter attacking tactics but that led to few chances of note to either side, as both Mannone and Begovic had very little work to do.</p>
<p>Oussama Assaidi's deflected cross forced a smart save from Mannone in the 73rd minute but that was as close as either side came until 11 minutes from time, when Wickham took the game by the scruff of the neck. The big striker received the ball from Patrick van Aanholt just inside his own half, surged past three defenders, ignored a likely foul on him to square the ball but after second half substitute Rodwell comically missed the ball and an open goal, Fletcher was on hand to wrap up victory and his second goal of the game by steering the ball into the roof of the net.</p>
<p>It was certainly not a vintage performance by Poyet's men but it was a good victory against a side who were unbeaten away from home in the league this season. With Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea and Manchester City up next at the Stadium of Light, it may prove to be a crucial three points at a vital time and we can now head to Southampton in a fortnight with a bit of confidence as we look to build on our first league win of the season.</p>
<p><b>Sunderland (4-3-3): </b>Mannone; Jones, Vergini, O'Shea, van Aanholt; Larsson (Rodwell 71'), Cattermole, Gomez (Bridcutt 71'); Buckley (Johnson 60'), Fletcher, Wickham.</p>
<p><b>Stoke (4-2-3-1): </b>Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wilson, Muniesa; Whelan (Bojan 70'), N'Zonzi; Moses (Assaidi 18'), Adam, Arnautovic; Crouch (Walters 78').</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2014/10/4/6907447/match-report-sunderland-3-1-stoke-strikers-do-score-goalsAndy Tomlinson2014-10-04T14:08:17+01:002014-10-04T14:08:17+01:00Sunderland vs Stoke: Lineups
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<figcaption>Mark Runnacles</figcaption>
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<p>The teams are in for today's goalless draw with Stoke City.</p> <p>Gus Poyet had made two, slightly surprising, changes from the team that drew 0-0 with Swansea. Adam Johnson and Jack Rodwell drop to the bench, to be replaced by Jordi Gomez and Steven Fletcher. Wes Brown returns to the bench, while Ricky Alvarez doesn't make the squad at all, presumably out with injury.</p>
<p><b>Sunderland (4-1-4-1): </b>Mannone; Jones, Vergini, O'Shea, Van Aanholt; Cattermole; Buckley, Larsson, Gomez, Wickham; Fletcher</p>
<p><b>Subs: </b>Pantilimon, Brown, Bridcutt, Rodwell, Mavrias, Johnson, Altidore</p>
<p>Meanwhile Mark Hughes has made just one chance to the team that beat Newcastle 1-0 on Monday night, with Arnautovic replacing Mama Biram Diouf.</p>
<p><b>Stoke (4-2-3-1): </b>Begovic, Bardsley, Shawcross, Wilson, Muniesa; N'Zonzi, Whelan; Arnautovic, Adam, Moses; Crouch</p>
<p><b>Subs: </b>Sorensen, Pieters, Huth, Ireland, Assaidi, Walters, Bojan</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2014/10/4/6906941/sunderland-vs-stoke-lineupsLuke Bowley2014-10-03T17:00:03+01:002014-10-03T17:00:03+01:00Preview: Early Chance For A Slice Of Revenge
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<figcaption>Jozy Altidore celebrates his opener against Stoke in September | Nigel Roddis</figcaption>
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<p>Sunderland face Stoke City for the second time within the space of a fortnight tomorrow after being dumped out of the Capital One Cup by the Potters in September. The Black Cats disappointingly lost the tie 2-1 having taken an early lead and will be looking for a much better outcome this time around. </p> <h3>Sunderland Team News</h3>
<p>Experienced defender Wes Brown returns to the squad following a calf problem which ruled him out of last weekend's draw at home to Swansea City. However, he may have to settle for a spot on the bench after John O'Shea and Santi Vergini helped the team to keep a clean sheet against the Welsh side.</p>
<p>Crocked loanee Sebastian Coates is definitely out with a worrying thigh injury, while playmaker Emanuele Giaccherini remains a doubt with an ankle knock that has been troubling him recently.</p>
<h3>Stoke City Team News</h3>
<p>Powerful striker Mame Biram Diouf misses out after pulling up during Monday night's win over Newcastle with a hamstring strain. Though the injury isn't as bad as first feared, he won't be ready to take part tomorrow.</p>
<p>Marko Arnautovic is favourite to replace Diouf in the forward line, while USA international midfielder Geoff Cameron could make a welcome return after five weeks on the treatment table with a hernia problem.</p>
<h3>Predicted Line-Ups</h3>
<p><a title="Click to view tactic" href="http://sharemytactics.com/27617/"><img alt="Sunderland vs Stoke City - Football tactics and formations" src="http://sharemytactics.com/27617/Sunderland-Stoke-City-formation-tactics.png"></a></p>
<p><strong>SAFC (4-1-4-1):</strong> Mannone; Jones, Vergini, O'Shea, van Aanholt; Cattermole; Johnson, Larsson, Rodwell, Buckley; Wickham.</p>
<p><strong>SCFC (4-2-3-1):</strong> Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wilson, Muniesa; Whelan, N'Zonzi; Arnautovic, Adam, Moses; Crouch.</p>
<h3>Key Match-Up: Connor Wickham v Ryan Shawcross</h3>
<p>It's high-time for Connor Wickham to add goals to a series of satisfactory performances so far this season and Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross will be the man tasked with stopping him.</p>
<p>Wickham was absolutely flying at the end of last term, but has failed to strike in six league matches up to now. There are extenuating circumstances he could point to in explanation of that; he was played out of position at the beginning of the campaign and then a severe lack of chances created - prior to last weekend - has stopped him getting amongst the goals since resuming his favoured position up-front.</p>
<p>Shawcross would've been hoping for an England call-up from Roy Hodgson this week, but he missed out despite manager Mark Hughes talking up his chances recently and it'll be interesting to see if that affects his performance tomorrow. He's usually a strong, no-nonsense defender who won't give Wickham an inch if on top form.</p>
<p>However, if Wickham utilises his considerable frame and upper-body strength to good effect, then it could turn out to be a particularly uncomfortable afternoon for Shawcross on his 27th birthday.</p>
<h3>Sunderland Recent League Form: DDD</h3>
<p>Draw: Tottenham Hotspur (H) 2-2</p>
<p>Draw: Burnley (A) 0-0</p>
<p>Draw: Swansea City (A) 0-0</p>
<h3>Stoke City Recent League Form: LDW</h3>
<p>Loss: Leicester City (H) 0-1</p>
<p>Draw: Queens Park Rangers (A) 2-2</p>
<p>Win: Newcastle United (H) 1-0</p>
<h3>Last Time Around: Sunderland 1-2 Stoke City (23/09/2014)</h3>
<p>Sunderland took a 16th-minute lead at home to Stoke less than two weeks ago when drawn together in the Capital One Cup third round, but the Black Cats couldn't hold onto their advantage and eventually succumbed to a Marc Muniesa double in response.</p>
<p>American striker Jozy Altidore claimed his first goal of the season to put the hosts in front with a neat turn and shot from the edge of the area.</p>
<p>However, Spanish defender Muniesa struck back on the half-hour mark by putting the ball beyond keeper Costel Pantilimon at his near post.</p>
<p>He whacked home the winner in the 71st minute with his second of the evening, thus making a fine impression on manager Mark Hughes and earning the former Barcelona product a starting spot for the very next league match.</p>
<h3>The Ref: Neil Swarbrick</h3>
<p>Lancashire referee Swarbrick has already been in charge of a Sunderland fixture this season on the opening day of the campaign at The Hawthorns. He handed out four yellows during that match, including one in the direction of Sunderland defender Valentin Roberge.</p>
<p>He generally gives out a reasonable amount of yellow cards, with an average of 3.5 per game during last season. Meanwhile, the north-west official seems reluctant to send anyone off the field of play, with just one red shown during the entire 2013/14 campaign and once again so far this term.</p>
<h3>What The Managers Said</h3>
<p><strong>Gus Poyet:</strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font></span></i></p>
<blockquote>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 150%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span>"I think we are in good shape. It seems incredible we are saying this without a win but it is true.</span></i></p>
<p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br></i></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 150%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span>"We’re not an easy team to play against and we are very competitive, getting stronger and taking more chances whilst adapting to the games.</span></i></p>
<p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br></i></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 150%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span>"We need to make sure that little difference comes for us, and it will, because we keep on trying and insisting on the things that we believe.</span></i></p>
<p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br></i></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 150%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span>"Stoke have got a very specific way of playing, so we need to be very aware because they have good players and a lot of power."</span></i></p>
</blockquote>
<p style="vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 150%;"><strong>Mark Hughes:</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span><em>"I made changes for the Cup game – and so did Gus – but a number of the players who were involved that night will be involved again tomorrow. <br><br>"A win is a win; there’s always a little psychological edge to every game and we will try and use the fact that we’ve already beaten them at their place to our advantage. <br><br>"We know we’re capable of going up there and winning and we’re in a good place at the moment, particularly away from home. <br><br>"Having said that, we’ve got to be aware that they will be looking to make amends for their defeat in the Cup I’m sure, but the confidence we got from that – not only the result but the performance as well – will stand us in good stead." </em><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;"></span></p>
</blockquote>
<h3>Roker Report Predicts</h3>
<p>Tricky one this: Sunderland emerged victorious in their last home league meeting with Stoke, but faltered after taking the lead in the Cup clash against the same opposition less than two weeks ago.</p>
<p>Stoke have looked strong away from home this season, with an impressive five points coming from their three league matches on the road so far, as well as knocking Sunderland out of the League Cup on 23rd September at the Stadium of Light.</p>
<p>Gus Poyet's men displayed some encouraging signs when conjuring more chances than usual against Swansea City in their last game, but failed to convert those opportunities through sheer wastefulness. However, the goals will arrive if they continue being brave enough to both create and burst into the box as often as they did last Saturday.</p>
<p>The home side's defence has been largely solid throughout the early part of the campaign and therefore it's painfully obvious where the main issues reside. However, Wickham and Fletcher both came incredibly close to breaking their Premier League duck for this campaign and it'll surely all come together if they retain that same level of persistence shown against the Swans.</p>
<p>I'm going for a 1-0 win for the Black Cats to finally put a Premier League victory on the board.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2014/10/3/6898049/preview-early-chance-for-a-slice-of-revengeDavid Lee Wheatley2014-10-03T14:39:58+01:002014-10-03T14:39:58+01:00Fan Focus: The Potters Perspective From TEAMtalk's Mark Holmes
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x4kkOOKQRtjKpebEusERZZ9JFXc=/0x10:4000x2677/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/40772274/455979382.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Nigel Roddis</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With Stoke in town it's time to catch up with an old Roker Report friend, Mark Holmes. We believe Sunderland's recent history can be accurately traced by our chats with Homzy alone, so it's great to have him back. </p> <p><b>Lessons learned, yadda yadda yadda, transitional period, blah blah blah, new Sunderland etc etc... we've been getting you on Roker Report for years and the more things change the more they seem to stay the same. Do you see any difference between this 'new' Sunderland and the zillion or so previous 'new' Sunderlands?</b></p>
<p><b>MH: </b>The Gus Poyet Sunderland is certainly different to the Martin O'Neill or Paolo Di Canio Sunderland, but, to this outsider at least, there doesn't seem to have been any drastic changes made over the summer. The organisation certainly seems to have improved, however.</p>
<p><b>On the other hand, Stoke City seem to have really changed over the last year or so. Set piece bullying appears to be out, lightning quick counter attacks appear to be in. Is there actually anything left of Pulis' Stoke at all?</b></p>
<p><b>MH:</b> If you define 'set-piece bullying' as scoring lots and conceding few from those situations, then, yes, Stoke have definitely lost that as a strength. But there's still a good physical presence remaining in the team, they still dominate most teams in the air, and they certainly won't shy away from a battle. The difference is that Hughes has added a great deal of pace to the side, enabling them to cause problems when they sit deep. There is also a Plan B these days - Stoke now regularly look to keep the ball for long periods in games, although turning that sort of dominance into chances has proven a problem so far this season.</p>
<p><b>How is Phil Bardsley getting on?</b></p>
<p><b>MH:</b> He looked nervous in his first couple of games but he's settled brilliantly since then and looks a vast improvement, defensively at least, on Geoff Cameron at right-back. He hasn't exactly been swashbuckling going forward yet, but his crossing ability has also improved the team.</p>
<p><b>Lee Cattermole looked all but certain to be a Stoke player in January, but has enjoyed a quite remarkable turnaround since to become arguably Sunderland's most important player. How do you manage to motivate yourself to get up in the morning knowing you came so close to signing such an unquestionable footballing god?</b></p>
<p><b>MH:</b> Ha! Just as Sunderland fans were split over whether he should be sold in January, Stoke fans were split over whether he would be a good buy. I thought he would have been but, either coincidentally or as a direct result of knowing his place in the team wasn't certain, Glenn Whelan stepped up his standards. He was already in form but his performances in the second half of the season were outstanding. So the non-move seems to have worked out well for all parties.</p>
<p><b>Is there anything in this Sunderland side that even remotely worries you?</b></p>
<p><b>MH:</b> I always worry when we come to the Stadium of Light as our record there is so poor. I'm also always wary of the quality Adam Johnson can produce on his day, and it was noticeable how much joy you had down your right-hand side against Marc Muniesa in the recent cup game. Muniesa is set to play again so that's a slight concern.</p>
<p><b>What should Sunderland be wary of this weekend?</b></p>
<p><b>MH:</b> Victor Moses is the obvious one. He's one of those players that has you off your seat even when he gets the ball on the edge of the box. His pace is unbelievable! Unlike in previous years, though, there's no one threat that Sunderland can look to double mark. Marko Arnautovic is likely to play on the opposite wing and can run a full-back into the ground if he's on his game. Up front, Peter Crouch is playing as well as he ever has for the club.</p>
<p><b>I have to remind you that last time you were here, you predicted relegation for Sunderland, only to be proven wrong with the rest of us. From the outside, what did you make of the great escape and what kind of a season do you see us enduring this time?</b></p>
<p><b>MH:</b> I did indeed, and I'm still amazed you got out of trouble! That was remarkable and, even as a neutral, great to watch. I have literally no idea what inspired the upturn in form, though, and I've not seen too much so far this season to suggest those performances could become the norm. In fact, with goals so hard to come by, it could be just as much of a struggle to stay out of trouble this season. There are definitely three worse teams in the league than Sunderland, but you need a win quickly to stop the rot.</p>
<p><b>Let's have a prediction!</b></p>
<p><b>MH:</b> Obviously, I hope that win doesn't come on Saturday! I can't see Stoke not scoring and can't see Sunderland scoring twice so for that reason a 1-1 scoreline seems nailed on.</p>
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https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2014/10/3/6899993/fan-focus-sunderland-stoke-premier-league-teamtalk-mark-holmesmichaelgraham