[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

After three matches in six days last week, this week has felt curiously devoid of action, and that emptiness has, for many of us, been slowly filled with a rising sense of optimism.  Some of that comes from our most successful cup run in seven years, some from the discovery of a potent new strike partnership at Albion, some merely from having put clear space between ourselves and the relegation zone again.

While those positives have created a feelgood factor, it doesn't alter the fact that the pressure is still on us to amass another 10-12 points over the next couple of months from some very tricky matches.  If we want to get to Wembley, we need to make sure our affairs are in order in the league in the meantime.  Make no mistake: this Saturday is an important one for us.

"Gus, whose idea was it to sign Billy Jones?"

Sunderland have had a strange season; aside from a nightmare hammering at Southampton in the autumn, they've largely flown under the radar, steering clear of the relegation zone and avoiding most people's lists of favourites for the drop, but remaining constantly in the mix nevertheless.  The signing of Jermain Defoe has given them a boost, but they've been very short on wins in 2015, and after losing at home to QPR and suffering a humiliating exit from the cup at Bradford, they trail us by two points and will be desperate for a victory.  Gus Poyet's relationship with the fans at the Stadium of Light is turning sour, and it's up to us to try and take advantage of that.

The six-pointer between Hull and QPR this weekend means that at least one team will gain ground on us, so we could really do with a result ourselves.  If nothing else, getting a draw and denying Sunderland points would be a good return and keep us in the upper fringe of the dogfight.  It's a slight concern that away form under Pulis isn't fantastic, and we can't afford another first half-hour like we had against Burnley, but hopefully last week's home wins may have banished that particular demon.

We've got the momentum - we just need to keep it.

Classic Match

Sunderland 0-1 West Bromwich Albion

Football League Division One: 18th April 2004

Eighty-five minutes of all-out defence followed by a crucial last-gasp winner on the counter?  I'll take that again all day long...

[betterthanbaird]

That 1st paragraph is exactly how I'm feeling.

I'm hopeful of a win but a draw should be most likely, I'm a bit worried Sunderland will react after recent performances and score a few but Pulis should stop that.

I think we all know the defence and front 2 but we actually have 6 viable options for the midfield 4 and I'm not sure who'll get the nod. What I hope is that we don't put Morrison and Gardner wide but put one of them and one of the pacier options (Sess, McMan) so we'll be a bit more balanced. Sess and Gardner would both be against their former club which could inspire them a bit.

I'll probably be in the car (not far from Sunderland) during this but come on you baggies.

[drewks]

Stairs - can you please arrange it that an automatic 'Like' from me goes under Ska'd's Match Threads?

I think that S'land are really feeling the pressure with Poyet feeling compelled to write some sort of open letter to the fans, asking for continued support. To me this is a pretty desperate measure and if we can hold them for the first half, or even sneak in front, they'll start the 'negative fickling' that some crowds seem adept at - a la WSham last week.

With this fragility in THEIR camp I really think we can take advantage, gradually turning the screw in midfield to frustrate them coming forward and looking sharp on the break. As the baird hints at (above) this could be tailor made for Sess and Gardner (who I hope starts) in their respective roles.

TP will have again stressed the importance of this one, him and Gerry Francis will've done their homework.....
......an optimistic 2-0 win for us

(PS....CMON TP - Give Gamboa 20 mins )

[betterthanbaird]

Stairs - can you please arrange it that an automatic 'Like' from me goes under Ska'd's Match Threads?  

I think that S'land are really feeling the pressure with Poyet feeling compelled to write some sort of open letter to the fans, asking for continued support. To me this is a pretty desperate measure and if we can hold them for the first half, or even sneak in front, they'll start the 'negative fickling' that some crowds seem adept at - a la WSham last week.

With this fragility in THEIR camp I really think we can take advantage, gradually turning the screw in midfield to frustrate them coming forward and looking sharp on the break. As the baird hints at (above) this could be tailor made for Sess and Gardner (who I hope starts) in their respective roles.

TP will have again stressed the importance of this one, him and Gerry Francis will've done their homework.....
......an optimistic 2-0 win for us      

(PS....CMON TP - Give Gamboa 20 mins   )

You thinking Gardner wide or central? (same question about Morrison to everyone)

[Stairs]

Drewks. Totally agree. If people have not 'Rated' Ska'd yet then they should. It's a fantastic thread and I look for it every week

[WBA-Josh]

The usual 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 hybrid formation with 1 change to the team that beat the bubble blowing bastards.



Subs
Myhill
Olsson
Gamboa
Pocognoli
Gardner
McManaman
Nabi

I think we will win 2-0 with a double from Ideye.

---

For anyone interested in my health progress, I had my colonoscopy this evening and everything looked fine up there apart from a couple of tiny ulcers. A picture was taken of the ulcers and a couple of biopsy's were performed and sent away for testing. The woman who performed the colonoscopy thinks that the ulcers are there because of the moviprep that I had to take to flush out my colon. They will inform me of the test results in a few weeks.

[drewks]

You thinking Gardner wide or central? (same question about Morrison to everyone)

... Gardner central for me; I'm a big Mozza fan but I'd start Gardner instead of him in this one, and bring Mozza on, depending how the game is panning out, later - probably be for a tiring Mac, maybe? Who knows

[Squirrel Regis]

Josh,
Sounds like good news bud. Fingers crossed for 3pts on Saturday for a good week.
C O Y B

[aries22]

I think that S'land are really feeling the pressure with Poyet feeling compelled to write some sort of open letter to the fans, asking for continued support. To me this is a pretty desperate measure and if we can hold them for the first half, or even sneak in front, they'll start the 'negative fickling' that some crowds seem adept at - a la WSham last week.
With this fragility in THEIR camp I really think we can take advantage, gradually turning the screw in midfield to frustrate them coming forward and looking sharp on the break. As the baird hints at (above) this could be tailor made for Sess and Gardner (who I hope starts) in their respective roles.
TP will have again stressed the importance of this one, him and Gerry Francis will've done their homework.....
......an optimistic 2-0 win for us

Agree with all those comments about the pressure on Poyet and Sunderland, and it'll do wonders for me to see those tiresome Wearside fans put in their rightful place.
Hopefully our back four will perform again, and the more we keep Sunderland at bay, the more the Sunderland fans will get on their team's backs, and we can take full advantage with what should be a superior midfield and forward line.
PS I couldn't help noticing that the Sunderland manager in Ska'd's clip was Mick McCarthy. Ha ha! We've done for him a few times.

[talkSAFT]

For anyone interested in my health progress, I had my colonoscopy this evening and everything looked fine up there apart from a couple of tiny ulcers. A picture was taken of the ulcers and a couple of biopsy's were performed and sent away for testing. The woman who performed the colonoscopy thinks that the ulcers are there because of the moviprep that I had to take to flush out my colon. They will inform me of the test results in a few weeks.

Good news, Josh. I had a colonoscopy last year - at Penzance. Better than watching the Cookery and Antiques programmes!