Welcome to the Sunderland AFC live blog for Tuesday, December 4.
The Black Cats ' were held to another draw at Walsall's Bescot Stadium on Saturday - having also drew there 2-2 seven days earlier.
Last weekend had been in the league but this draw was in the FA Cup second round. They looked good to be in the draw for the third round at half time thanks to Aiden McGeady's goal. But a sloppy second half cost the Black Cats and they will be in the next round draw, but will require a replay on December 11 at the Stadium of Light to beat reach that round.
Meanwhile, next up for Sunderland is the first knockout round of the Checkatrade Trophy where they host Notts County on this evening.
We'll have all the latest Sunderland news, views and gossip throughout the day.
Signing off
That will be all here folks. Switch over for live match updates, starting with all the build-up and team news, here:
What's on the site?
A round up of what’s on the site:
Ten years since Roy Keane left Sunderland - what happened to all of his Black Cats signings?
Reece James not used to taking Football League Trophy seriously - now he wants to get to Wembley
Checkatrade Trophy favourites Sunderland to balance progression against league priorities
Watch Notts County game live
You can watch tonight’s match on
SAFC v Notts County UK Match Pass - £10 per game*
Fans in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man can watch eligible matches on a pay-per-view basis via www.safc.comlive
> Existing users / previous purchasers can log-in here to purchase
SAFC v Notts County International Match Pass - £5.99 per game
Supporters outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man can watch matches on a pay-per-view basis via www.safc.comlive
> Existing users / previous purchasers can log-in here to purchase
FA Cup replay date announced
Sunderland will face Walsall at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday December 11. Tickets on sale on Thursday at 9am.
Pay on the door tonight
Fans can pay on the door this evening for Sunderland’s Checkatrade Trophy clash with Notts County.
Details via safc.com:
Cash turnstiles will be available for supporters wishing to pay at the door to see Sunderland’s last 32 Checkatrade Trophy tie with Notts County tonight.
Kicking off at 7:45pm, Jack Ross’ side, which is likely to include Duncan Watmore in the squad, will take on Neil Ardley’s side at the Stadium of Light with the winning marching on to the last 16.
Tickets are now OFF sale. However, they will go back on sale at East Stand turnstiles 35-36 from 6:15pm, priced at £10.
North Stand turnstiles 31-32 will also be open, priced at £10 once more.
Reece James targeting Wembley Checkatrade Trophy trip
“The previous two managers I’ve been under didn’t really want to progress, they wanted to concentrate more on the league because they knew how intense the schedules could be.
“I’ve never really got past the knockout stages in the competition before. But it’s nice to now and once you’re already through it now, you want to go all the way to the end.
“I think it would be good for the club to win a trophy – other than the league potentially – it would be nice for the fans to have something for the fans to celebrate.
“Any boy wants to play at Wembley. When you’re watching England play there, just to go and have a chance to play there and have a chance of winning a trophy there is massive.
“Any player wants to play at Wembley so I think there’s no denying that we want to carry on in that competition.
“You don’t often get that chance. When that comes upon, you want to do your best to get there.”
Full story.
Sunderland favourites to win the Checkatrade Trophy
But they must balance progression against league priorities.
Aiden McGeady
Aiden McGeady’s fine form for Sunderland has been rewarded as he was voted the club’s player of the month for November by supporters.
McGeady scored four goals in as many games last month and backed that up with two assists for the Black Cats.
As a result he won a massive 59% of votes from Sunderland fans to win the Betdaq-sponsored club award. His closest rival was goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin who received nine per cent of the votes having won the award himself in October.
The 32-year-old forward has been in great form recently, with his four strikes in November complimented either side of the month to make his current record six goals in the last seven games.
Ross on team selection
Sunderland manager Jack Ross confirmed he will make changes for tonight’s game with Notts Co.
“We will make a lot of changes, people can understand why.
“We want to keep progressing in every competition but that isn’t easy to do, you can see that already and with a replay coming up as well.”
Duncan Watmore
Duncan Watmore will start Sunderland’s Checkatrade Trophy game against Notts County tomorrow as he makes his first-team comeback after more than a year on the sidelines.
Watmore has been out of action since suffering a cruciate ligament injury last November, just six games after returning from a similar injury he sustained in December 2016.
But after a long period of rehabilitation, he played an hour for Sunderland’s U23s last week in his first taste of competitive football, and will follow that with a first-team return as Jack Ross’ side takes on the Magpies in the last 32 of the competition at the Stadium of Light.
“Duncan is in the squad and will start tomorrow,” confirmed Ross’ assistant James Fowler.
Welcome
Morning everyone and welcome to today’s SAFC live blog.
We’ve got all the preview to tonight’s Checkatrade Trophy second-round tie coming up, plus reaction to last night’s FA Cup draw.
