Sunderland
Black Cats Match Preview: Hull City
Caretaker: Ricky Sbragia
By The Black Cats
December 19 2008
This weekend Sunderland travel to the KC Stadium to face Premiership new boys and high fliers, Phil Brown's Hull City. Kick off is 3pm, Saturday. The Black Cats will be full of confidence after a 4-0 win over Tony Mowbray's West Brom last weekend. Caretaker boss Ricky Sbragia told SAFC.com, "There has been a good atmosphere around the training ground this week after the 4-0 win over West Brom".
Adding: "It was a good and much-needed win - mind, I thought it would lift us a couple of places in the league!".
South Shields born and Sunderland fan, Hull Manager Phil Brown and his side, have gained great admiration this season for their attacking style and gung ho attitude to attacking the big teams when others would sit back and be happy to defend and hit back on the counter.
This is probably the reason why Hull are doing so well, they are prepared to attack.
"It's hard not to be surprised by how well Hull have done but good on them," said Sbragia. (SAFC.com) "Phil has done a great job. He has invested well and he has them organised.
"I took over at Bolton when he left and I met him a few
times. He's very thoughtful about the game and has some great
ideas which he is putting into practice at Hull."
However this could be exploited by the Black Cats, especially when you have a certain Djibril Cissé looking to run into space, which will become available if Hull go all out attack.
Sunderland will be without Scottish International 'keeper Craig Gordon and Club Captain Dean Whitehead, while Hull will be missing defender Paul McShane - McShane, a regular in the Hull side, is currently on loan to Hull from Sunderland, Premiership rules state that on loan player cannot play against their parent club.
Bernard Mendy is the most likely to replace McShane, however a re-jig of the back four will take place and Mendy will be probably revert to right back. A position I believe could be exploited as Mendy has been in the news recently talking about wanting to attack.
Craig Gordon shouldn't be too much of a miss as he's not having the greatest of seasons. His stand in Martin Fulop is in great form, keeping a clean sheet against West Brom last week, as well as a great performance in Sbragia's first game in charge at Old Trafford, saving all but 1 of 27 Manchester United attempts at goal, and even then he had absolutely no chance on the shot that provided the goal for Man United.
Sbragia also said: "The players seem really happy, there's a good feeling around the club and we're looking forward to the Hull game."
We should be looking at a hard fought match between two of the smaller sides in the league.
The last time the two sides met was in the Championship during Sunderland rise to the top of the table before being promoted to the top flight. On that occasion Sunderland won 2-0 with goals from Johnny Evans and Stern John.
The game at the KC Stadium is sold out so there should be a great atmosphere with the Hull City fans hoping to see their team extend their unbeaten streak to six games.
I predict a 2-1 away win.
Ha'way The Lads!
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