Probable Lineups
4-3-3
4-3-3
Probable Lineups Statistical Comparison
Goals
Assists
(6.6)
6.8
Average Ratings
6.7
(6.6)
34.5
Average Age
35
181.7
Average Height (cm)
182.5
(0.8)
0.7
Shots pg
0.9
(0.7)
(50%)
49%
Aerial Duel Success
56%
(51%)
(1)
0.8
Dribbles pg
0.7
(0.6)
(1.7)
1.3
Tackles pg
1.4
(1.3)
* Values in brackets (x) are overall player statistics in Premier League.
Missing Players
Middlesbrough
Sunderland
| Player | Reason | Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gastón Ramírez | Out | 6.84 | |
| Marten de Roon | Doubtful | 6.63 | |
| Grant Leadbitter | Doubtful | 6.4 | |
| Víctor Valdés | Doubtful | 6.66 |
| Player | Reason | Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy McNair | Out | 6.19 | |
| Duncan Watmore | Out | 6.56 | |
| Jan Kirchhoff | Out | 6.44 | |
| Bryan Oviedo | Out | 6.98 | |
| Sebastian Larsson | Out | 6.46 | |
| Billy Jones | Doubtful | 6.86 |
Team News
Middlesbrough
Sunderland
- Gaston Ramirez is suspended after his sending off against Bournemouth at the weekend, with Adama Traore expected to start in his stead.
- Fabio could also start at right-back following his recovery from injury, but Steve Agnew is sweating on the fitness of Grant Leadbitter, Victor Valdes and Marten de Roon.
- Sebastian Larsson is suspended here, while David Moyes is without Paddy McNair, Duncan Watmore, Jan Kirchhoff and Bryan Oviedo for the midweek trip to Middlesbrough.
- Billy Jones is a doubt for the Black Cats here, but is expected to recover in time to start at right-back.
David Moyes, I hope you are reading. It doesn't matter if you lose by 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 or 1. ATTACK. Stop adopting defensive structure with the objective being to keep a clean sheet. Set your teams up to SCORE GOALS . If you don't have the flair and ability on the break to use a sound defensive structure and score goals then your team is on a hiding to nothing and the footballing equivalent of having your laces tied together.
@Yes Why do you comment on every post? Surely you can't watch every match. To be fair to Sunderland they did have a go. Moyes doesn't set his teams up to defend, he can't now or they'll go down
@SethTrollins Wrong twice. If this is what you considering to be having properly a go then you don't understand football. You have to expose yourself more to counter attacks and throw more men forward. Again you are incorrect. Moyes is still setting his sides up with the intention of trying to scrape a 1-0 win. This is a negative strategy.
@Yes Bloody hell, you tell a lot of people they don't understand football. I think you'll find I do. I watched the match. My point is what makes you think Moyes is going for a draw? He has to go for it and Sunderland did, leading themselves open at times and even when there wasn't much happening their defence was poor, so they clearly just have a crap defence. Did you watch the match? You commented on the Arsenal match like you watched that too, you can only watch one. If your answer is no, then you can't say Sunderland played a negative style of football.
middlesbrough win
First HT draw (0:0)
0-1