Sports
Match Preview – Shrewsbury Town vs Sunderland AFC: The Black Cats search for back-to-back wins
Sunderland travel to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday evening looking for back-to-back League One victories for the first time since mid-October.
Shrewsbury are fighting for survival at the foot of the table as visitors Sunderland sit just outside the play-offs and could move up to 4th with a win.
The home side have spent large periods of the campaign in the relegation zone. With just four wins from their 17 league matches this season you can see why. They have conceded in five of their last six games but will be hoping for a performance full of defensive steel come Tuesday evening.
The visitors will be eyeing up the midweek fixture against relegation candidates Shrewsbury as a potential catalyst to climb to the top of the table once again.
The side from Shropshire need to bounce back quickly from their 2-1 weekend loss to mid-table Cheltenham. Stability is required If they are to extend their stay in League One to six consecutive seasons, starting with a good result at home on Tuesday evening.
Victories on the road have been hard to come by for Johnson’s side as Sunderland have lost more away games than they have won so far this campaign. This coupled with their poor record against Shrewsbury makes this fixture a troubling one for the visitors.
Sunderland have won only one of their previous three trips to New Meadow with Johnson’s squad hoping for better returns come Tuesday night.
Four of their five league defeats this season have come away from the Stadium of Light so the team from Wearside need a big performance to maintain their position near the top of League One.
The 2-0 home win over Ipswich last Saturday ended a three game losing streak for the Black Cats who are looking for a spark to ignite their season.
Credit: @Sunderlandafcofficial Instagram – McGeady seals 2-0 win over Ipswich
Sunderland’s attackers have been starved of goals in recent games and have found the net on just four occasions in the previous six fixtures.
Salop’s form has been hampered partly by issues on the touchline, as Manager Steve Cotterill has just recently returned following Covid-19 complications.
However, given the success over Sunderland in previous years, this fixture might provide a platform for Shrewsbury to build from as they look for improvement on the pitch.
Black Cat boss Johnson has come under increased pressure following his sides recent run of poor results as the Black Cats will be looking to build on their performance last time out. The 40-year-old has been tasked with promotion to the Championship after a painful three year absence.
Sunderland left it late on Saturday with goals from Luke O’Nien and Aiden McGeady coming in the 85th and 93rd minute respectively – can they use their late momentum to put in a memorable performance tomorrow evening?
Team News
Two late goals for Sunderland at home to Ipswich on Saturday means the team from Wearside can cement their position in the play-off places with a win at New Meadow.
It’s likely that goalscorer McGeady will return to the starting eleven on Tuesday, however the biggest threat comes from elsewhere.
Ross Stewart will be keen to add to his tally of 10 goals this season in the trip to Shropshire as Sunderland look to win two games on the bounce.
There are no fresh injury worries for the away side who are able to put out a full strength team for the second game running.
Daniel Udoh’s strike for Shrewsbury on Saturday inside five minutes gave his side the perfect start last time out. However, the early goal was cancelled out by two first half strikes for Cheltenham before half-time.
Shrewsbury’s star man Elliot Bennett saw red midway through the first period which made it hard for Salop to hold onto their lead.
More importantly, Bennett misses the visit of Sunderland tomorrow evening as Matthew Pennington is likely to slot in at right wing-back, whilst Aaron Pierre takes his place in the back-three.
Shrewsbury have no pressing injury concerns going into the clash with the Black Cats.
Form
W L W D L L
L D L L D W
Leading up to this clash, Sunderland:
- Have failed to emerge victorious at New Meadow in their previous two fixtures.
- Have lost their last 2 away League One matches.
Potential Line-ups
SAFC: STFC:
Potential Shrewsbury team to face Sunderland.
Potential SAFC team to play Shrewsbury
Will Sunderland make it two wins on the bounce? Can Johnson’s side make the play-offs this season?
Pre-match thoughts?
Join in the conversation and have your say..
More to follow…
Newcastle United boss wants to extend the contracts of two players before losing them.
Eddie Howe has expressed in a recent fan Q&A his intentions to keep two out of contract players this summer, Loris Karius and Paul Dummett, according to the Athletic’s Chris Waugh, with both players current contracts set to end this summer.
6 players are currently set to become out of contract come June 1st, Loris Karius, Paul Dummet, Mark Gillespie, Matt Ritchie, Matty Longstaff and Ciaran Clark. However, it is only Karius and Dummett that appear to be safe of getting the chop.
Loris Karius has spent this season as Newcastle United’s third choice keeper, with only one appearance coming in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Final. Despite the loss, Karius did little wrong and contributed some wonderful saves late on in that game.
Paul Dummett has had the same treatment, with only one appearance coming his way, a Carabao Cup tie in the second round against Tranmere Rovers back in August. The 31-year-old Welshman is an experienced head and will no doubt have great respect within the dressing room having signed for the club back in 2012 making 205 appearances in that time.
Both players can expect new contracts from Eddie Howe as he has made it known that he wants them both to remain at the club next season.
Who would you want to remain at the club from the current out of contract list – let us know on our social media and follow us for latest North East Updates –https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates
10 players Eddie Howe could look towards with contracts expiring at the end of this season.
The free agent’s market is the absolute cheat code for clubs across the board, being able to avoid the rising transfer fees and getting players through the door through verbal agreements makes life much easier for clubs during the transfer window.
We have compiled a list of 10 free transfers NUFC could sign this summer from Europe’s top five leagues giving them a rating of the potential of them signing and the impact they would have.
- Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
The 29-year-old full back has his contract expiring this summer and with NUFC already being hinted at as his potential new club, this one is worth keeping an eye on over the next few months. He would slot straight in at left-back to have healthy competition for fan favourite Dan Burn and add a burst of class and pace to that left hand side. The Portugal international already has an impressive CV and would be looking to show that off to the St. James faithful.
Potential – A
Impact – A
- Yerry Mina (Everton)
With Everton potentially facing the drop this season, a jump from Merseyside to Newcastle could suit the centre back to a T. The 28-year-old Columbian international would add to NUFC’s already in form back line and bring some South American heat as they look to progress further next season. Mina possesses dominance, aggression, and a great ariel threat and would be a top addition to the magpies this summer.
Potential – B
Impact – A
- Jonathan Bamba (Lille)
An explosive winger who made his name known as Lille snatched the league title in 2021 in France, the 26-year-old is still yet to receive a contract extension from the club and could be looking elsewhere in the summer. Adding pace, flair, and drive to an already exciting front three for NUFC could be what fans need going into next season.
Potential – C
Impact – A
- Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)
Reportedly being close to leaving in the summer window of 2022, Youri Tielemans would be a fine addition to NUFC’s midfield being able to operate in a slightly deeper role to allow Bruno to push further up the field and do what he does best. The 25-year-old has his contract expiring this summer and with him and James Maddison already being linked to the club, this transfer seems to make so much more sense and would add heaps of quality to the centre of the field.
Potential – B
Impact – A
- Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Drive, power, and flair are the 3 best words to describe Crystal Palace star man Wilfried Zaha. The 30-year-old could be looking to depart his beloved club in the hope for European football next season and NUFC could be just the place for him. Being able to operate either on the left or down the middle, Zaha would thrive under Eddie Howe and be a fantastic addition to the front line.
Potential – B
Impact – A
A Sunderland football player on loan to Lincoln FC has had his loan terminated after he was charged with rape.
Jack Diamond, 23, had been arrested after a sexual assault in Washington, Tyne and Wear, last year.
Northumbria Police launched an investigation, but have now charged him with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Lincoln City FC said the player’s loan contract had been terminated “with immediate effect”.
His home club, Sunderland AFC, said he had been suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
In a statement, it said: “Sunderland AFC has been notified that criminal charges have been brought against Jack Diamond by the Crown Prosecution Service.”
“As this matter is subject to a legal process, the club will not be making any further statement at this time”.
The incident is alleged to have happened in May last year.
Mr Diamond, of Fatfield, also Washington, is due to appear before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in May.
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