Sunderland will take on Accrington Stanley at the Crown Stadium, and the game is going to have repercussions on both ends of the table. The Black Cats are fighting for promotion and Stanley are fighting to stay in League One. This tie would have been played earlier, but the match was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch. Hopefully, we will see the two teams take the pitch this time around.
Stanley are two points above the relegation zone so we don’t expect them to be a pushover at this point of the season. The Wearside outfit is coming on the back of a heartbreaking defeat in the Checkatrade Trophy final where they lost to Portsmouth on penalties.
Team News
Will Grigg is a doubt because of his ankle injury. Reece James limped off in the final, and he is also likely to miss out. Adam Matthews, Chris Maguire and Duncan Watmore are going to miss out because of their respective injuries. George Honeyman is going to sit out because he is still suspended.
Sunderland Predicted Lineup Vs Accrington Stanley
Formation (4-2-3-1)
Defence
Jon McLaughlin is set to start in goal, and the Scotsman has been impressive in between the sticks. We expect Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne to come back in the lineup for this midweek clash after he didn’t play any part in the weekend’s final. Tom Flanagan should be his partner in the centre back role.
Versatile midfielder Luke O’Nien is set to continue in his new found right back role. With Reece James unavailable through injury, Denver Hume is likely to start in the left back role as he played an impressive cameo in the final. Bryan Oviedo is also an option, but we feel that Hume is ahead in the pecking order at the moment.
Midfield
The experienced duo of Lee Cattermole and Grant Leadbitter are likely to start in midfield. Cattermole will be disappointed after missing the penalty in the final, and he should look to make up for that in this game.
With Honeyman suspended, Max Power is likely to play in the no. 10 role. Lewis Morgan has looked impressive ever since he joined on loan from Celtic. He is expected to start on the right flank. Aiden McGeady’s brace in the final went in vain, but Ross would hope for another good performance from his experienced man. He should start on the left.
Attack
With Will Grigg being a major doubt, Kazaiah Sterling is expected to lead the line in this away clash.
