Sunderland 3-3 Bolton

Something like 19 games without a home win for Sunderland, who do you want tipping up to break that spell? yes BWFC, I'd settle for a point again.

2-1 Sunderland.

We have improved recently but looking at November's fixtures we could really do with turning them over on Tuesday and to do that - and to have a chance of getting more points next month - the team needs to push on again. Despite his miss at Fulham, I reckon Armstrong should be given another start on Tuesday, not just for his pace but also that he is a Newcastle player and if he wants to endear himself to his parent club, there's no better way of doing it that scoring against their arch enemies.
The importance of the game won't be lost on Sunderland and they know that a win for us would put them deep in the poo so it's going to be very tough and I just hope that we can come away without too many cards as we simply can't afford to lose players to suspension, especially going into next month's fixtures starting with Norwich next Saturday.
Difficult to see how it will go on Tuesday so I'll stick with my original Octoberfest prediction of 1 - 1 whilst hoping that we can turn them over to compensate for the draw with QPR - a game I thought we might win.

Depends on whether we came away from Fulham without any more injuries.
I'm marginally optimistic about this as we're showing some signs of life going forward.
1-1 at best

We are always obliging to teams who need a win so we are bound to lose this one, i'll go 2-1

MartinBWFC wrote:Something like 19 games without a home win for Sunderland, who do you want tipping up to break that spell? yes BWFC, I'd settle for a point again.

2-1 Sunderland.

You’re a very negative, miserable bastard aren’t you

We’ll win 3-1. Ameobi will steal the show

2-0 Vela Armstrong

We never win these games.

We'll no doubt gift them an early goal and they'll no doubt go on and win 4-0.

Twats!

Preview: Five talking points ahead of Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers

1. Unbeaten run

Wanderers head into Tuesday night's game unbeaten from their last three outings after picking up maximum points against Sheffield Wednesday before seeing late goals deny them victories against both Queens Park Rangers and Fulham.

However, with Phil Parkinson's men slowly narrowly the gap between themselves and the teams outside the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone, the Whites will be confident heading into their clash with fellow strugglers, Sunderland.

Facing a side yet to win at home in 2017, a victory for Bolton would see them leapfrog Simon Grayson's side off the foot of the second tier table.

And while the Trotters have not won on the road at this level since April 2015, could that all be about to change on Tuesday night? Only time will tell.

2. Former Black Cats

Both Ben Alnwick and Will Buckley could line up against their former employers on Tuesday having enjoyed stints with Sunderland earlier in their career.

Now established as Wanderers' first choice goalkeeper, Alnwick started his career at Sunderland as he made 22 appearances in three years at the Stadium of Light before moving on to Tottenham Hotspur.

Buckley meanwhile, made 24 appearances in three seasons with the Black Cats as a lack of first team opportunities saw him spend time out on loan with Leeds United, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday.

Both players will be eager to prove a point and come out on top against their old club if selected on Tuesday night.

3. North East boys

As well as Ben Alnwick and Will Buckley returning to their former home, a clash with the Wearsiders could also provide an interesting night for the Whites' former Newcastle United and Middlesbrough players.

Andrew Taylor and David Wheater both came through the ranks at the Riverside Stadium, while Sammy Ameobi and Adam Armstrong both learned their trade at St James' Park - the latter currently enjoying a half-season loan stint with Bolton from the Magpies.

While injury may rule Taylor out, the remaining trio are likely to encounter a lively welcome with footballing rivalries fierce in the North East.

With Alnwick and Gary Madine also returning to their roots, the North East contingent are set to be backed by a large following of friends and family on Tuesday night.

And with all hungry to silence the Sunderland crowd for various reasons, there are plenty of sub-plots to keep your eye on at the Stadium of Light.

4. Injury news

Andrew Taylor is expected to miss Tuesday's trip to Sunderland after limping off against Fulham at the weekend, with Antonee Robinson on standby to replace the experience full-back.

Elsewhere, Filipe Morais and Adam Le Fondre are both doubtful after picking up knocks, with manager Phil Parkinson confirming young striker Connor Hall has been included in the Trotters' travelling party as they look to combat another Saturday-Tuesday turnaround.

5. Pay on the day

Tickets will be available to purchase on the night at the Stadium of Light.

Available on a cash only basis from turnstile number 71 at the visitors' entrances, there will be no increase in prices.

Supporters can collect pre-booked tickets or duplicates from Sunderland's ticket office, which is a separate building adjacent to the stadium at the top of the green car park and is open right up until kick off at 7.45pm.

Advance tickets remain on sale directly from Bolton Central or via the phonelines (0844 871 2932 (option 2 then option 1)) until midday on the day of the game with prices as follows;

Prices

Adults: £25

Over-65s: £19

Under-22s: £16

Under-16s: £10

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Ref watch: Tony Harrington to oversee Sunderland trip

Tony Harrington will oversee Wanderers' Sky Bet Championship clash with Sunderland on Tuesday night.
An experienced official having been involved in the game since 2008, the Cleveland-based referee will be running the rule over his 14th fixture this term.
 
Mr Harrington last took charge of a Bolton game back in September, sending off Filipe Morais as the Whites lost 2-0 away at Bristol City.
 
So far this term, he has dished out 51 yellow cards and two red cards, while he issued 121 yellow cards and four red cards in 34 games last season.
 
Paul Hodskinson and Mark Dwyer will run the line while Andrew Madley is the fourth official.

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Report: Sunderland 3-3 Bolton Wanderers

Wanderers picked up their second successive point on their travels with a six-goal thriller against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening.

The deadlock was broken shortly after the half hour mark, with Sammy Ameobi drilling home from 25 yards past a helpless Robbin Ruiter, but the home side were level on the stroke of half time through Lewis Grabban.

The Mackems were ahead meanwhile shortly before the hour mark through Grabban with his second of the game from close range, but their lead lasted just three minutes as Gary Madine poked home an equaliser from five yards out.

The drama wasn't finished however, with Karl Henry notching his first goal for the club when drilling the ball into the bottom corner after connecting with Antonee Robinson's beautifully weighted cross into the box, but Patrick McNair had the Mackems back on level terms with 11 minutes to go to ensure that the spoils were shared come full time.

TEAM NEWS

There was one change to Wanderers’ starting XI with Antonee Robinson replacing Andrew Taylor who picked up a knock against Fulham at the weekend.

Late on in the warm-up meanwhile, Jeff King took the place of Adam Le Fondre amongst the Whites’ substitutes.

FIRST HALF

With the game getting underway at a floodlight Stadium of Light, it was Wanderers who started strongly with them winning a corner kick inside three minutes, only to see Robbin Ruiter punch the set-piece away from danger.

And Mark Beevers almost snatched the lead in the seventh after collecting a Gary Madine knock-down in the area, but the centre-half’s volley flew narrowly wide from 12 yards out.

The home side responded in turn however with a period of pressure from themselves, winning a succession of corners as they piled men forward in a bid to break the deadlock, but failed to trouble Ben Alnwick in the Bolton goal.

Antonee Robinson and Adam Armstrong almost combined for the opener inside 15 minutes when the former fed the on-loan Newcastle man from the left flank, but he was inches away from connecting as Ruiter smothered the ball.

Up the other end meanwhile, Beevers spared Bolton’s blushes when heading away a goalbound Aiden McGeady shot from the edge of the box.

Nobody was able to gain a real foothold in the clash however as momentum swung to and fro.

With the game reaching its half hour mark, Wanderers came close again with Madine’s powerful header from a corner being just held by Ruiter.

And just two minutes later, the deadlock was broken and it was that man Ameobi again with the effort, drilling the ball home from 25 yards past a helpless Sunderland keeper.

A sucker punch for the home side but the biggest boost for Wanderers, Sunderland set about trying to find an immediate route back into the clash but found themselves hammering aimlessly against a resolute Bolton defence.

But against the run of play and on the stroke of half time, the hosts were level as Grabban latched onto a through-ball and slotted home past Alnwick to pull Sunderland back in to the clash and ensure that the scores were level at the break.

SECOND HALF

With no changes for Wanderers and one for Sunderland - James Vaughan replacing Jonny Williams - the second period got back underway.

Having levelled just prior to half time, the hosts' tails were up as they looked to start strongly and kick on in the clash.

And although the Whites were enjoying forays into Sunderland territory, they were struggling to trouble Ruiter in open play with the Mackems back in their numbers and being restricted to long-range efforts.

And with 57 minutes gone, the home side were ahead as Grabban tapped home from a matter of yards out after being fed by McGeady.

Their lead was to last just three minutes however, with Madine pulling Bolton back onto level terms when collecting a knock-down just five yards from goal, with him given the simple task of poking the ball beyond Ruiter when one-on-one.

The game had sprung into life, with both sides giving their all in a bid to put themselves ahead.

And incredibly, just seven minutes later, Bolton re-took the lead as, following superb work by Robinson, the youngster lofted the ball into the mix with Henry on hand to volley home to the absolute delight of the travelling Wanderers.

The home fans were in absolute shock, but Simon Grayson's side immediately put pressure on the Trotters as they went in search of their third goal of the game.

Bolton meanwhile weren't for resting on their laurels, with them pushing forward at every opportunity in a bid to put the result to bed.

But with 11 minutes to go, Sunderland were level once again through McNair whose shot from the edge of the box sneaked into the bottom corner of the net.

The stage was set for a grandstand final ten minutes, with neither side happy to settle for a point, and it was end-to-end stuff at the Stadium of Light.

And with four minutes added on, it was absolute pandemonium, with the home side throwing everything at the Whites.

But come the final whistle, the spoils were shared following a six-goal thriller under the floodlights.

FULL TIME

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Sunderland are by far the worst side we have played this season. Should have won, Madine was excellent. If Birmingham win tomorrow the bottom 3 could all be cut adrift. 

Expect Sunderland to change manager in the next couple of days.

Grayson already sacked.

DEANO82 wrote:Sunderland are by far the worst side we have played this season. Should have won, Madine was excellent. If Birmingham win tomorrow the bottom 3 could all be cut adrift. 

Expect Sunderland to change manager in the next couple of days.

With any luck they'll take Parky.

DEANO82 wrote:Grayson already sacked.

Shut that door.

Whenever we go infront we always end up sitting too deep with 11 men behind the ball. Then when we clear it nobody is there as an outlet so the opposition just pick a it up and comes at us again. Not sure why Parky doesn't see it.