Hello and welcome to the Sunderland AFC live blog for Friday, April 12.
With six games left, Jack Ross' side currently lie two points clear of Barnsley in second-place and have a game in hand on the Tykes as the season draws to a close. Sunderland will have to cope without some of their key men against Coventry tomorrow, though.
"They [McGeady, Cattermole, and Magiuire] are still struggling," assistant manager James Fowler said. "They have done a little bit of training today, and we are still monitoring them ahead of the weekend.
"This game might come a little soon, one or two might sneak in [the squad], but we will see over the next 24 hours or so. Dylan will probably miss out this weekend."
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Sunderland 1-1 Burton
Signing off
That will be all for today folks. Make sure you join us tomorrow for live coverage from the Stadium of Light of Sunderland vs Coventry, starting at 11am with all the build-up.
Mark Robins appreciates SAFC's strength
He said:
It’s a great game to be involved with at this time of the year.
“They’ve been really good and they’re unbeaten so far this year and we want to test that and try get three points for ourselves.
“They’re a good team and they’ve got some good players. They’ve got the best squad in the division, brilliant facilities, they have everything going for them.
“They’ve had some real tough times over the last couple of years with relegation from the Premier League and then last season from the Championship, so they’ll be looking to bounce back as quickly as they can.
“They have a few injuries that they’ve had to cope with, and the manager has come down from Scotland and has done an unbelievable job.
“It will be a difficult test, but it’s one we are all relishing and we want to continue the form that we have been showing and hopefully we can turn things on its head and get a result.”
Info on the flag diaplay
Red and White Army are urging supporters to show their colours this weekend, as they prepare to launch a brand-new flag display in the Stadium of Light’s Roker End.
The independent supporters’ group, which has been fundraising throughout the last few months, has raised an incredible £10,000 thanks to Sunderland AFC fans, who will see the fruits of their generosity this Saturday when the Lads host Coventry City.
After swiftly reaching their target, RAWA asked fellow supporters to submit their ideas on how best to enhance the identity of the Roker End, so that the spirit of the fabled Roker Roar could be reborn at the Stadium of Light.
And after an overwhelming response, RAWA commissioned the design of multiple flags, including the iconic surfer flag that was proudly displayed last weekend ahead of the Checkatrade Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium.
The flag, which was proudly produced on the banks of the River Wear, is just one of the new additions, with a multitude of large waver flags depicting the club’s famous heritage also set to be unveiled.
SAFC’s executive director, Charlie Methven, said: “The re-naming of the South Stand to the Roker End was just the start, and thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the Sunderland fans, I believe it will quickly become an iconic element of the matchday experience at the Stadium of Light.
“Thousands have been heavily involved in making the Roker End a reality, from the re-naming to the Captain’s Mural, and this is the latest step towards creating something truly special that represents the people at the club’s core – the fans.
“We have witnessed the power of our support throughout the season, and it will be more valuable now than ever before, as Jack Ross and his players strive to seal an instant return to the Championship.
“So, arrive early this weekend and whether you are in the Roker End or not, let’s create an atmosphere between now and the end of the campaign that fires up the Lads and pushes them over the line.”
Chairman of RAWA, Andrew Hird, added: “This initiative comes directly from the club’s supporters, and it’s absolutely not a replica of the club-led displays you see from time to time, where they produce thousands of plastic flags and paper clappers.
“Throughout the last eight months, we have worked closely with the club to identify how we can improve the atmosphere at the Stadium of Light, and although we recognise that flags and scarves don’t make noise, we believe this pre-match display can be the spark that ignites our support and cements the Roker End as our true home end.
“Coupled with the Captain’s Mural that was unveiled in January, this is just the start, and we hope that it will continue to grow in the coming months and years, as further supporters are encouraged to bring their own creations to life.”
A group of volunteers will be in the ground early to get things ready for the display, and RAWA are asking for more fans to get involved. If you want to be part of it, please email info@redandwhitearmy.co.uk.
Stephen Elliot looking forward to tomorrow
Should be a great atmosphere and then there’s the flag display
Charlton captain still fighting for top two
Jason Pearce said:
It’s going to be difficult for them.
“If we keep winning and they keep looking behind and see that Charlton keep winning, they know they’ve got to win.
“But we are four points off it, which at this point of the season is a decent gap but we’ll keep plugging away to close that gap.
“He’s said to us all along we can get top two, drilling it in to us.
“We’re playing well and getting victories, but we need to keep our feet on floor, because if we take our foot off the gas the gas, we’ll get beaten by any team in this league. “
Barton bemoans Sunderland's budget
He said:
It will be on the finances. I don’t have a magic wand (to sign Ched Evans permanently in the summer).
One side in our division [Sunderland] has spent more on agents’ fees than our entire budget. If they decide they want him there is nothing we can do about it. They were sniffing around him in January.
He’s a great player, becoming a real leader in the dressing room. I’d love to have him but I say the same about Coyley, Soutts, Jason Holt – great characters, who really added to our group.
We are hoping they like it enough here that if they are not playing for their parent clubs in higher divisions they will be part of what we are trying to build at this football club.
League One manager and player of the month announced
Luton’s Mick Harford won Manager, while Bristol Rovers’ Jonson Clarke-Harris won Player.
Luton were unbeaten in 6 in March, picking up 14 points as they continued their march towards promotion.
Clarke-Harris netted eight goals and got one assist to bag the award for player of the month.
Jackett on the promotion race
The Portsmouth boss said:
People ask managers for predictions and it’s very, very difficult to predict and get it right.
‘You can look at all across the leagues, like we all do, and obviously the one that’s the most important is the top of League One, because it involves ourselves.
‘But it’s really hard to predict.
‘The realism is we are going to need 90-plus points. We are on 77 at the minute with 18 to go, so it doesn’t leave a lot of margin for error in the last six games.
‘Similarly, we do feel it is possible for us and it’s in our own hands.
‘There is now a 10-point gap between fifth and sixth, so you are looking at the top five who are in for promotion. And I am pleased to say we are one of them.
‘It’s going to be 90-plus points for second place, again I don’t know that, it’s just a prediction.
‘We are three points off averaging two points a game – and that is a pretty good return.
‘It does look like we’ll need a high amount of wins to do it and we’ve responded well to that challenge.’
Hume on flying under the radar in SAFC's academy
There was plenty of attention to some of Hume’s team-mates, which took the pressure of him
Fowler: Ross deserves more credit
The SAFC assistant said:
I don’t know if he gets the credit he deserves - maybe you get the credit at the end of the season, maybe you never get it, I don’t know.
“He’s come in to a massive club and he’s enjoying that challenge.
“People talk about budgets but it’s also about how you manage that budget.
“We came in last summer when the club was under new ownership and there was a big turnaround of players because some of them didn’t want to be here, and they eventually left.
“The manager came in as a relative unknown from Scotland and I think he has proved himself on the training pitch with the players.
“His engagement with the press and with the fans has been impressive.
“So I don’t know if he has been given the credit he deserves for the turnaround, given the situation he found the club in and the pressures of having to deal with everything last summer.
“When you’re at a big club you have to deal with that pressure and expectation from the fans, and from others outside, who feel you should be certs for automatic promotion.”
Sunderland's Stadium of Light could have a new name next season
Sunderland are in ‘late-stage negotiations’ with a national company over a multi-year sponsorship deal which could see the Stadium of Light renamed next season.
Executive director Charlie Methven has confirmed Sunderland is in talks with a company about an agreement which could net the Black Cats an annual sum significantly higher than the six-figure amount that the club currently receives from shirt sponsor Betdaq.
Methven refused to identify the company at this stage but says it is neither a betting company nor a payday loan firm - and revealed that the club has ruled out allowing a payday loan company attach their name to the stadium.Sunderland are in ‘late-stage negotiations’ with a national company over a multi-year sponsorship deal which could see the Stadium of Light renamed next season.
Executive director Charlie Methven has confirmed Sunderland is in talks with a company about an agreement which could net the Black Cats an annual sum significantly higher than the six-figure amount that the club currently receives from shirt sponsor Betdaq.
Methven refused to identify the company at this stage but says it is neither a betting company nor a payday loan firm - and revealed that the club has ruled out allowing a payday loan company attach their name to the stadium.
Hello and welcome to our live blog!
Just one day to go until Sunderland are back in action at the Stadium of Light - stick with us for all the build-up and team news!
