Sunderland know they missed an all-important opportunity to close the gap to the Championship top-three after defeat at home to Hull City.
That result was the Black Cats’ first home loss in the second tier this season, but after a late defeat at Elland Road in the previous fixture their title hopes took a big blow. Leeds United now have a 13 point gap at the summit with Sunderland currently in fourth place.
They moved five points clear of second placed Sheffield United with a 3-1 win over the Blades at Bramall Lane, with Chris Wilder’s side in second on 70 points. Regis Le Bris’ men are eight points behind the Blades, who occupy the final automatic promotion spot, with Burnley hot on their heels in third, on 68 points.
Sunderland will get the opportunity to add to their current points tally of 62 points this evening and hope their automatic promotion rivals drop points this weekend. The Black Cats head to Sheffield Wednesday looking to strengthen their grip on the play-offs while clawing back at some of the deficit at the top of the table.
However, with injuries to the likes of Dan Ballard and Enzo Le Fee, Le Bris has a number of selection calls to make. The biggest of those – that is, if you are to believe social media following the defeat to Hull – is in goal.
Some supporters feel Anthony Patterson’s form has taken a tumble in recent weeks, with calls for the experienced Simon Moore to come into the fold. However, the Black Cats head coach was full of support for the Sunderland academy graduate at his pre-match press conference and it would come as a surprise if he were dropped from the team.
“He’s been really good this season, he’s been really good,” Le Bris said. “When a striker or goalkeeper makes a mistake like that, the consequences are always different.
“But Anthony has been a very good goalkeeper for the team so far this season and is still a good goalkeeper. He can make mistakes and he has to learn from these experiences and find the best way to finish the season.”
With Ballard limping off against Hull, it’s likely Chris Mepham will come back into the fold partnering Luke O’Nien, having impressed in the first half of the campaign.
(Image: PA)
Le Bris has also hinted at further changes to his starting XI but wasn’t willing to accept fatigue as an excuse. He added: “It’s important to manage the squad for sure, to finish the league with good momentum. We have had many injuries, sometimes suspensions, so it wasn’t always possible [to rotate]. Now we have this opportunity a bit more because we are closer to a full squad. We will see.
“In a long season like this, this stage is like ‘the wall’ in the marathon and it is tough for everyone. We have to manage it properly and we know it’s normal to have fatigue, but at the same time it creates the condition to manage the squad and to involve the players in the recovery process.”
Romaine Mundle made long awaited return from the bench last weekend, and you’d expect him to start out on the left flank with Le Fee picking up a hamstring injury in that defeat. The Frenchman is expected to be out for around four weeks while, Ballard is set to miss up to eight.
Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham have both been mainstays in the midfield engine room and it would be surprising to see either of those dropped for the clash with the Owls. Patrick Roberts should also retain his place on the right-hand side of the pitch.
Le Bris also addressed the need to bring players out of the side if they looked fatigued and one player who has struggled in recent weeks is Chris Rigg. It therefore, wouldn’t come as a surprise to see Mayenda come into the team, operating in behind Isidor.
Predicted Sunderland starting XI:Patterson; Hume, Mepham, O’Nien, Cirkin; Mundle, Neil, Bellingham; Roberts, Mayenda, Isidor.
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