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MATCH PREVIEW – Sunderland AFC VS Lincoln City: Black Cats go top with win

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Sunderland welcome Lincoln to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening...

Sunderland welcome relegation-threatened Lincoln City to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening knowing that a win would take them to the top of League One.

Lee Johnson’s side have been in free-flowing goalscoring form, scoring 11 goals in their previous 3 games, including the 5-0 demolition of Sheffield Wednesday last time out at home.

The Black Cats have a fantastic home record winning ten of their twelve battles one Wearside and are currently on a 10 game unbeaten run.

Sunderland faced a tough fixture last time out, drawing 3-3 away at Wycombe in a top of the table clash. The away side scored in the closing stages and thought they had claimed all three points before conceding in the 99th minute as the hosts rescued a late point.

Ross Stewart scored another two goals at Adams Park, the Scottish frontman having now netted 17 times in 25 league appearances this season, making him the leading goalscorer in League One.

Despite having played more games than most of their promotion rivals, the Black Cats can lay down a huge marker in the race to the Championship on Tuesday evening with a win over Lincoln. The hosts are one of the favourites for the automatic places and have all the momentum heading into the second half of the season.

Johnson’s side still have key games against Wigan and Rotherham coming up in the next couple of months but face six games in the next eight against teams in the bottom half of the table, knowing that if they continue their unbeaten form they will have some much-needed momentum for the crunch games ahead.

Sunderland edged the Papa John’s trophy meeting between the two sides back in October, winning 2-1 at the Sincil Bank Stadium courtesy of goals from Dan Neil and Stephen Wearne.

Meanwhile, Lincoln only moved outside of the relegation zone at the weekend, getting the better of promotion contenders Oxford United. The Imps (nicknamed after the legend of the Lincoln Imp) would have expected to continue their fine form from last season which saw them agonisingly miss out on a place in the Championship after their League One play-off loss.

However, Michael Appleton’s side have struggled to find any sort of form this term and face a battle for survival for the remainder of the season. The side earned an unexpected victory over Oxford to move Appleton’s team outside of the bottom four, ending a seven-game winless streak in the process.

Given the players at his disposal, Appleton will be confident that Lincoln will eventually move clear of any danger, but they require more performances like the one at Sincil Bank at the weekend.

FORM

 W D L W W D

D L L D L W

  • Sunderland have won their last two matches against Lincoln in all competitions, winning 2-1 at home in the second leg of last season’s League One play-offs and 2-1 in the EFL Trophy earlier this season.
  • In 2021, Sunderland won 19 home matches in all competitions, only ever winning more in two years in their history: 24 in 1962 and 23 in 1998.
  • Since a run of three consecutive away league clean sheets in April 2021 – all 1-0 wins against Bristol Rovers, Burton Albion and Shrewsbury Town – Lincoln have kept one in 13 games on the road, a goalless draw with Doncaster in November.
  • Lincoln have only won away at Sunderland once in seven attempts in all competitions (D3 L3), a 4-2 win on Boxing Day in 1959.

TEAM NEWS

Sunderland will be without midfielder Corry Evans, who will have to sit out after suffering a head injury at Wycombe. Johnson has suggested that none of his other sidelined players will return, as Jack Diamond is likely to be named a substitute once again on Tuesday evening.

Denver Hume is available but expected to have a place on the bench.

Bailey Wright is also a doubt after missing the weekend draw in Buckinghamshire, whilst Aiden O’Brien is being monitored as he recovers from Covid-19. Thorben Hoffmann, Lee Burge and Leon Dajaku are also among those who are likely to be absent following positive Covid tests before the weekend.

Anthony Patterson will start in goal once again. Lee Johnson gave an update this morning:

“All we can do is pray, really. I don’t think we’ll have any injuries back, but I’m not sure. Maybe Aiden O’Brien can play a part, we’ll just have to see. The boys have got to recover, and we go again. We’re on the right path, we keep going, we stay strong, and we’ll keep trying to improve.”

Lincoln defender Lewis Montsma sustained a knee injury against Oxford, leading to Lasse Sorensen having to deputise in a deeper position than usual. Fellow central defenders Joe Walsh (quad) and Adam Jackson (concussion) remain out, with Regan Poole and TJ Eyoma set partner each other at Sunderland on Tuesday.

Given the club’s injury list, midfielder Sorensen may line up in that role on Tuesday, while Anthony Scully will be assessed after making his first start since November 20.

Michael Appleton is ready to recall Max Melbourne from his loan spell at Stevenage amid Lincoln City’s centre-back shortage. With no back-up in the heart of defence, Melbourne looks set to rejoin the club, although it may only be a short-term solution.

POTENTIAL LINE-UPs

SAFC:                                                                                               LCFC:

 

Pre-match thoughts? Score predictions? Will Johnson’s side go top of League One?

Join in the conversation and have your say…

News

Harvey Barnes Injury worse than thought – Confirmed

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Confirmation has come in this morning that Newcastle United Winger Harvey Barnes has been ruled out until 2024.

 

The winger doesn’t need surgery however the  foot injury will keep him out for 3 months. Eddie  Howe has spoken about the injury: “It’s come at a shocking time for him — he was just finding his rhythm & getting to know what is expected of him.”

 Eddie Howe on Injuries:

“We think he’s going to be out for around three months. No surgery required which is good news but his foot is now in a boot. It’s an injury underneath his toe.

He’s now started his recovery and he’s got to rest to let it recover then we can build him back up again.”

On Callum Wilson and Sven Botman:

“We’re going to see today. Callum has very minor hamstring tightness.

We’ll give him every chance of being available. Same with Sven – we’ll make a late check on him.”

On Emil Krafth:

“Emil will play for the U21s tonight. It’s really, really good to see him come back and hopefully do well today.”

In an exclusive Interview with the North East Update You Tube channel -Wor Flags – Champions League Plans Revealed!

We met with Wor Flags – a follow up interview from our video with them last year where they reveal their Champions League plans, discuss the Newcastle United Documentary, their Andrew Cushin song and appeal for your help, you can see the video below….

 

Wor Flags Donation link – https://worflags.org.uk/donate/

 

You can see some of our other North East Update Youtube videos below..

 

 

 

 

 

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Sports

4 left out as Newcastle submit official Champions League squad

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Newcastle United Season Prediction

Newcastle United have submitted their official squad to UEFA for the 2023/24 Champions League group stage.

 

‘List A’ includes 23 senior players, while ‘List B’ will include two homegrown youngsters in Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley; who’ll both be eligible to feature.

Four senior players have been left out which may not be a suprise to many NUFC fans, with Matt Ritchie, Javier Manquillo, Emil Krafth and Mark Gillespie all missing out of Eddie Howe’s squad.

Here’s the full ‘List A’ squad that’s been sent over to UEFA ahead of our group stages games against PSG, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan:

  1. Miguel Almirón
  2. Harvey Barnes
  3. Sven Botman
  4. Dan Burn
  5. Martin Dúbravka (GK)
  6. Paul Dummett
  7. Anthony Gordon
  8. Bruno Guimarães
  9. Lewis Hall
  10. Alexander Isak
  11. Joelinton
  12. Loris Karius (GK)
  13. Jamaal Lascelles
  14. Tino Livramento
  15. Sean Longstaff
  16. Jacob Murphy
  17. Nick Pope (GK)
  18. Fabian Schär
  19. Matt Targett
  20. Sandro Tonali
  21. Kieran Trippier
  22. Joe Willock
  23. Callum Wilson

Newcastle champions league fixtures were recently confirmed, see below..

  • Matchday 1: AC Milan v Newcastle United – 19th September, 5.45m
  • Matchday 2: Newcastle United v Paris Saint-Germain – 4th October, 8pm
  • Matchday 3: Newcastle United v Borussia Dortmund – 25th October, 8pm
  • Matchday 4: Borussia Dortmund v Newcastle United – 7th November, 5.45pm
  • Matchday 5: Paris Saint-Germain v Newcastle United – 28th November, 8pm
  • Matchday 6: Newcastle United v AC Milan – 13th December, 8pm

 

How far can NUFC go in the competition?

 

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Watch Yankuba Minteh score first goal for Feyenoord in 5-1 win on Sunday

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Newcastle United loanee Yankuba Minteh has scored his first competitive goal for Feyenoord, scoring in Sunday’s 5-1 win over FC Utrecht.

After starting in their 6-1 win over Almere City last weekend, the Gambian teenager came off the bench and scored in stoppage time, rounding the goalkeeper and finishing calmly to seal another convincing victory for the Dutch champions.

This rounds off a positive few weeks for the 19-year-old winger, who was our first summer signing after sealing a £6m move from Danish side Odense.

Last month he helped spark a comeback draw away to local rivals Sparta Rotterdam, before starting his first Eredivisie game against Almere. Now, he’s come off the bench and bagged his first goal for the club.

See the goal here

 

 

 

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