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MATCH PREVIEW – Doncaster Rovers vs Sunderland AFC: Black Cats can move into automatic promotion places with win

Published

1 year ago

December 27, 2021

Sunderland know a win over Doncaster would see them move into second...

Sunderland travel to relegation-threatened Doncaster Rovers on Monday afternoon knowing a win would see them move into second and within a point of table toppers Rotherham.

The Black Cats haven’t played since their decent display away at the Emirates in the Carabao Cup and will be hoping they have the quality to collect the three points to take them into the League One automatic promotion places.

The hosts, on the other hand, head into the game without a win over the visitors in any of the last six meetings between the sides since 2015 and sit just one point above the foot of the table in 23rd.

Doncaster haven’t played since the 11th December, when they picked up just their fourth league win this term in the 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury, who were hugely wasteful on the day.

Sunderland are currently seven games unbeaten in League One (4 wins and 3 draws) and were disappointed by the 1-1 scoreline last time out at Portman Road, as Nathan Broadhead netted his fifth of the season.

However, the visitors are without their star striker after the Everton-loanee limped off in the 5-1 defeat to Arsenal, having suffered a repeat of a hamstring injury.

Johnson’s side will be confident they can get back to winning ways this afternoon and continue their unbeaten run against Doncaster which dates back to 2015. The team in Red and White are looking for promotion back to the Championship after three long years in the third tier and will expecting to add three more points to their tally at the Keepmoat Stadium.

The Black Cats have moved to a more direct style in recent weeks which features front-foot, attacking football and they showed glimpses of their quality against Premier League opposition last time out.

Despite losing 5-1, the Wearsiders made a good account of themselves both on and off the pitch, and will be full of confidence ahead of their clash with Rovers. A win would see the Wearsiders leapfrog the Latics in second after their Boxing Day game was cancelled due to Covid.

The hosts are by far the lowest scoring side in the league and have netted just 13 times in 21 games. Since gaining promotion to League One in 2017, Doncaster have improved each season but this campaign has been a struggle for the home side who are currently second bottom of League One.

Sunderland have struggled away from home at times this season and need to pick up the three points to keep the pressure on their promotion rivals, especially with Rotherham slipping up yesterday afternoon in their 1-0 away loss at Accrington Stanley.

Today is a huge opportunity for the visitors. It’s the last away trip of 2021 for the Black Cats who seek their fourteenth win this campaign as 20 places and 27 points separate the two sides. Sunderland won 4-1 when the two sides last met back in February.

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Monday’s game will mark the 10th meeting between Doncaster Rovers and Sunderland. The hosts have won just one of their previous meetings while the visitors have won six times. There have been two draws between the two sides.
Doncaster Rovers have lost just two of their last nine home league matches (W4 D3) since a six-game losing run between April and August.
Sunderland manager Lee Johnson is looking to win away at Doncaster in the league for the first time since August 2014, when he was Oldham manager. He has lost once since then, a 2-1 defeat with Barnsley in October 2015.

TEAM NEWS

The most notable absentee is on-loan Everton striker Nathan Broadhead who suffered a hamstring injury last time out in the Carabao Cup quarter-final having got his side back into the game with a sublime chip.

Broadhead has scored seven goals this term, with five of those coming in League One, with the 23-year-old netting four in his last three games, making him a big miss for the visitors on Monday afternoon.

Luke O’Nien is set to sit out his eighth consecutive game after picking up an injury in November’s clash with Shrewsbury Town, while Aiden McGeady is not expected to feature until January after sustaining a knee problem. Leon Dajaku hobbled off the pitch after just 41 minutes in versus Ipswich Town two Saturdays ago and but the German forward is expected to make the match-day squad.

Both Dennis Cirkin and Corry Evans have been sidelined through hernia and calf problems respectively and are yet to return to full fitness, meaning they’re unlikely to return to the starting eleven this afternoon.

Doncaster Rovers have been fielding a very young team in recent weeks given their long injury list, but the players have shown plenty of fighting spirit under caretaker boss Gary McSheffrey and will need that in abundance on Monday when they face the promotion favourites.

Fejiri Okenabirhie, Ben Close, John Bostock and Anthony Greaves are all unavailable for selection due to injuries and will miss the game against Sunderland.

POTENTIAL LINE-UPs

SAFC: Doncaster:

Pre-match thoughts? Can Sunderland move into the automatic promotion places? Will Johnson’s side extend their unbeaten run?

Join in the conversation and have your say…

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MATCH PREVIEW – Newcastle United vs Manchester United: Howe’s side look to avoid fourth straight defeat

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Featured

Newcastle United to Reveal New Shirt Sponsor?

Published

1 week ago

March 13, 2023

Chris Tubman

footballinsider247 are reporting that the main shirt sponsor slot for Newcastle United is expected to be filled by airline SAUDI, who sponsored Newcastle’s mid-season tour of their owners’ homeland in December.

They state ‘This site revealed in February that there is frustration at St James’ Park that they have inherited a kit deal with Castore worth just £5m per year with no break clause and several seasons left to run.’

Newcastle’s recently appointed CEO Darren Eales has already previously expressed that the club at looking at all commercial opportunities and fans on Twitter were keen to mock up their expectation for the new shirts, see below and let us know your thoughts and also see our below video on how NUFC can increase commercial avenues..

Eddie Howe’s team are currently in a strong position to achieve a European slot which would increase revenue into the club allowing more spend whilst staying within Financial Fair Play which is something Howe has spoken about on several occasions as they look to stay within. If the club do reach a European slot it should help significantly with recruitment in the summer by making it a more attractive proposition to any incoming targets.

What do you think of the kits – let us know on our facebook page and join in on the conversation.

You can also download our FREE app – https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates

Credit: NUFC kit concept – twitter

Featured

Amazon filming Newcastle United for “All or Nothing” style documentary

Published

1 month ago

February 8, 2023

Lewis Thompson

Amazon Prime are currently filming behind-the-scenes footage at Newcastle United for a new documentary.

The docu-series will provide an insight into the club and its efforts to secure a top-four finish and a piece of silverware in the 2022-23 season.

Reports today revealed that camera crews have been filming a four-part documentary for their All or Nothing series. Sky Sports’ Keith Downie confirmed that the series will cover the club and the new owners as they attempt to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy.

The All or Nothing series has previously documented other Premier League Clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal, and Spurs as well as the Brazilian national team, Juventus, and the All Blacks of rugby.

Something I mentioned last night on @tfNUFC: Camera crews have been filming behind-the-scenes at Newcastle United for a four-part documentary to be shown on Amazon.
The series will chart the club & its owners as they attempt to win a trophy & qualify for The Champ League #NUFC

— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) February 8, 2023

Newcastle face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final on February 26 at Wembley.

🗓️ 26.02.23@ManUtd 🆚 @NUFC #EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/V23zWPDoxP

— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 1, 2023

The Magpies have featured three times in Europe’s most prestigious competition.

Most recently in the 2003-04 season as they reached the third qualifying round, eventually losing on penalties to Serbian side FK Partizan.

The season before the Toon finished third in the 2002-03 Champions League group stages, winning twice against Bayer Leverkusen and drawing with Inter Milan 2-2 at the San Siro. The lineup that night; Given, Solano, O’Brien, Dyer, Shearer (C), Bellamy, Speed, Griffin, Hughes, Dabizas and Viana.

The series is expected to air later this year and will be available on Amazon Prime.

Based on previous seasons, you can expect exclusive access to training sessions, team meetings and match days, giving fans an in-depth look at what goes on behind the scenes on a day-to-day basis at Newcastle United.

It is set to be an incredible storyline and one that should provide fans with some real insight into what it takes to compete at the top level of professional football.

What do you think Newcastle fans?

Does this excite you or do you stand more with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who once said the cameras could be intrusive to the dressing room when he turned down the offer from Amazon In 2018?

Join the conversation on our Facebook page…

Sports

Newcastle target rejects Everton move following £45m bid.

Published

2 months ago

January 30, 2023

Lewis Thompson

Everton have made a £40million bid with £5m in add-ons to sign Connor Gallagher from Chelsea.

This comes after Newcastle completed the signing of Anthony Gordon, the club’s second most expensive transfer behind Alexander Isak.

Everton received an initial fee of £40m plus add-ons that could increase the deal to £45m.

EXCL: Everton have submitted a bid to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea. It’s £40m proposal plus £5m add ons. 🚨🔵 #EFC

Chelsea will make a decision soon as there are also other clubs interested in Gallagher — and player has to decide his future too. pic.twitter.com/xZeuGqaR01

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 30, 2023

The Toffees currently sit 19th in the Premier League and are looking to reinvest the money from the Gordon deal to sign much-needed players under newly appointed manager Sean Dyche.

But, multiple sources have reported today that Gallagher is not actively pushing for a move and has no intention of going to Goodison Park. However, with Chelsea having met the record-breaking €120m release clause for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, Gallagher may be forced to leave the club if the transfer is complete.

🚨| Conor Gallagher is not interested in a move to Everton 🔵 pic.twitter.com/0CYzXjBoBd

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 30, 2023

This leaves Newcastle an option as the player would prefer a move to a top-six club.

This morning, Eddie Howe said, “We’ll see what we can do to try & bring a player in. There’s no guarantees. In terms of permanent signings, it will be very difficult. We’ll look at a potential loan. But it’s got to be the right player & not one for the sake of it”.

Due to financial fair play, the only way Newcastle could sign the player is through a loan, with an obligation to buy the player for at least £45m, the same price they paid for Anthony Gordon.

Gallagher has been playing regular Premier League football over the last two seasons. Since returning to his parent club Chelsea, the 22-year-old has been linked with a move away to numerous Premier League clubs.

Last season he was named Crystal Palace’s Player of the Season by their fans. He also won the Player of the Month award twice, Goal of the Month once, and was awarded the Young Player of Year at the 2022 London Football Awards.

In the same season, he made 36 appearances scoring eight goals and registering three assists that earned Palace a 12th-place finish, one point behind Newcastle.