Hull City v Sunderland preview

Sunderland head to the KC stadium tomorrow looking to further dent Hull’s already slim chances of Premier League survival.

Hull were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa midweek and are in desperate need of three points if they are to escape the drop zone and catch West Ham, currently four points ahead of them.

Hull manager Iain Dowie said: “We’ve got to make sure come Sunderland we put three points on the board – no question about that.”

The controversy over Hull’s precarious financial position also paints a worrying picture as the Tigers drink in the last chance saloon. Current chairman Adam Pearson this week pointed the finger at his predecessor Paul Duffen as relegation looms.

Sunderland arrive at the KC stadium with little to play for after successfully securing their Premier League status for another season with a 2-1 win over Burnley last weekend.

However, after starting the season like a train before a mid-season slide Sunderland could still meet their aim of finishing in the top 10. With fixtures against Hull and Wolves approaching and the visit of Manchester United in between Sunderland will be looking to chase the pack ahead.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said: “We had a wonderful start, a horrible middle and at the moment we’re having a decent end to our season.

“If we can get another couple of wins before now and the end of the season it will have been one of those nearly seasons that could have taken off.”

Sunderland will see this game as an ideal opportunity to improve their dreadful away record, winning just one game on the road all season. They also have a chance to get their first back-to-back victories of the campaign.

The black cats go into the game having won all three of their previous Premier League encounters and all of the last five games against Hull.

TEAM NEWS

Hull will be forced to make at least on change to their team against Aston Villa in midweek as striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink suffered a blow to the head and was carried off on a stretcher. The Dutchman was taken for a CT scan that confirmed no lasting damage however tomorrows game will come too soon for him.

Either Jozy Altidore or Geovanni could be thrown in as replacements with Iain Dowie in dire need of a win.

Sunderland have captain Lorik Cana back in contention after a groin injury that could mean youngster David Meyler drops to the bench.

Sunderland look set to have two former Hull City players in their starting XI with stand in captain Michael Turner proving a rock at the back so far this season. Fraizer Campbell should also start after snubbing Hull in the summer for Sunderland and having a successful loan spell with the Tigers.

The match will come too soon for midfielder Lee Cattermole and Andy Reid and George McCartney both ruled out with hamstring injuries.

Possible starting teams:

Hull City: Duke, McShane, Sonko, Mouyokolo, Dawson, Fagan, Cairney, Boateng, Kilbane, Bullard, Altidore.

Sunderland: Gordon, Hutton, Turner, Ferdinand, Richardson, Campbell, Cana, Henderson, Malbranque, Jones, Bent.

James Gollagly’s prediction: Hull City 1-3 Sunderland

Portsmouth can rise again, says Mandaric

Portsmouth are the first club in the top flight to enter administration, with debts in excess of £70 million.

They now face a nine point deduction, which will leave them 16 points off Burnley who are in 19th place and almost certainly see them relegated to the Championship.

Pompey who have struggled through the course of this season have had four different owners, all of which have failed to stabilise the club.

The south coast club were set to face a winding up order on March 1, but opted to go into administration in a desperate bid to save the club.

It was believed that there were four separate parties who were interested in taking over the club, but no deal was completed before Thursdays deadline.

Rise again

However in the midst of all this mess, former Portsmouth chairman, Milan Mandaric, now chairman of Leicester City, believes that his old club can rise from the ashes and become and force once again.

“What’s happened is sad. It’s been one mess after another. It’s something we didn’t want to see happen but we have to deal with it.

“The community lives and breathes for the club there and there is no reason why it can’t grow out of this and be even stronger.

“I’m quite sure Portsmouth in two or three years time can be as solid as they were two or three years back.

Pompey, who just two years ago contested and won the FA Cup final under Harry Redknapp, now see themselves preparing for life it he second tier of English football.

Stepping down

The club’s chief executive Peter Storrie revealed today he will leave the club when he has helped a new buyer take over.

In a statement posted on the clubs official website Storrie said:

“Once the sale is complete, I will tender my notice to the new owners as set out under the terms of my contract.

“I have really enjoyed my eight years at the club and the success we have enjoyed on the pitch: winning promotion to the Premier League and seven years in top-flight football, culminating in winning the FA Cup in 2008.

“I will really miss the genuine fans who have been so supportive and good to me…”

Portsmouth travel to Turf Moor for tomorrows Premier League encounter with Burnley, hoping to get a vital three points to at least give themselves a fighting chance of staying in the Premier League.

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Reading Vs West Bromwich Albion FA Cup Fifth Round Preview

Brian McDermott will be looking for his Reading side to continue their good run of form as they play West Brom in their fifth round FA Cup tie.

The Royals, unbeaten in three games, have had a very successful cup run this season and will fancy their chances at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Beating Burnley at home in the last round and Liverpool in the one before that, McDermott will believe his side will be able to make it to the sixth round for the first time since the semi final cup run of 1927.

Speaking to Readingfc.co.uk, McDermott said: “We’re really looking forward to it. We should have a good crowd, a special atmosphere and a special day.

“The FA Cup is a great competition and everyone has memories of it. We were talking about Bob Stokoe, Alan Sunderland, fantastic memories. Now we have our own memories, beating Liverpool at Anfield with Shane Long scoring, then beating Burnley and we want more of it.

“It’s a good game for us because it’s at home. We’re pleased to have our fans behind us. I don’t like to talk about giant killings because we are Reading, we are a big club.”

West Brom will not be easy to walk over however, as they are currently top of the Coca-Cola Championship, unbeaten in seven and have won four games on the trot in all competitions.

The Baggies will be seeking a 12th away game without defeat, having not lost on the road since their league trip to Barnsley on 29 September.

Having beaten Newcastle in the previous round will help Roberto Di Matteo’s men gain confidence for the task ahead:

In an interview with wba.co.uk Di Matteo, who twice won the competition with Chelsea, said: “It’s a great competition the FA Cup in England

“We’ve tried our best in previous games and that’s what we’ll do on Saturday – we’ll try to get through to the next round.

Both sides will be looking for a win and a chance of playing one of the bigger teams left in the competition at the Quarterfinal stage.

Team News

Matt Mills is available for Reading after serving a suspension and should replace cup-tied Zurab Khizanishvili. Gylfi Sigurdsson and Marek Matejovsky are close to a return but Royals’ boss Brian McDermott must do without Noel Hunt, Chris Armstrong and Julian Kelly.

West Brom will have to make changes from the side that went top of the table after beating Scunthorpe – with Mark Nouble cup-tied. Jerome Thomas is suspended while Marek Cech and Ishmael Miller are injured.

Form Guide (All competitions)

Reading: WWWLW

Last Match: vs Plymouth Argyle (h) 2-1

Last Win: vs Plymouth Argyle (h) 2-1

West Brom: WWWWD

Last Match: vs Scunthorpe United (h) 2-0

Last Win: vs Scunthorpe United (h) 2-0

FA Cup History:

Reading: Semi Finalists in 1927

Lost the most FA Cup ties out of any other team currently in the Football League.

West Brom: Winners in 1888, 1892, 1931, 1954 and 1968

Runners-up in 1886, 1887, 1895, 1912 and 1935

Head-to-Head

These clubs have already met in the league at the Hawthorns this season, when the home side won 3-1.

Reading have won their last three home league and cup meetings with the Baggies, and have not lost in six on their own patch since Albion’s 2-0 second level league victory in January 1995.

This is the third time they have been paired together in the FA Cup, and honours are even at one win a piece. The most recent was Reading’s success, after extra time, in a third round replay at the Madejski in 2006

Superb strikes ditch Reading as Burnley march on

Burnley will face Sheffield United in a Roses clash at Wembley for a place in the Premier League after beating Reading 2-0 in the second leg of their semi-final, going through 3-0 on aggregate.

Two stunning goals from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson early in the second half saw the Clarets through after a nervy and tight first 45 minutes.

Reading had started the brighter side and the visitors had to rely on goalkeeper Brian Jensen to keep them in the game, palming Shane Long’s fierce shot away to safety and generally handling the ball well.

The Clarets were restricted to the odd chance on the break. Twice Reading’s stopper Marcus Hahnemann saved Clarke Carlisle headers from corners comfortably and Wade Elliott’s deflected volley was the only other bright spot for Burnley in a testing opening.

Referee Mike Riley then had a big call to make as Jensen lumbered off his line and out of his area to handle the ball. But Riley deemed it accidental, correctly so, and Jensen saved Dan Harding’s resulting drilled free-kick.

Burnley looked to see out the early stages of the second period but went one better, taking the lead just a few minutes in. Paterson was given far too much room to cut inside from the right touchline, amble forward twenty yards, and smash home a glorious left-foot drive inside Hahnemann’s far post from well outside the penalty area.

Reading manager Steve Coppell, who seemed to offer his resignation in a post-match interview, reacted by throwing on three substitutes, Glen Little, Dave Kitson and Stephen Hunt, but as the team struggled to settle Burnley put the tie to bed.

Jensen booted the ball long to Thompson, who held off Duberry to bring the ball down after it bounced awkwardly. The Scot then looked up and flicked the ball instinctively towards the goal, where Hahnemann was just too far off his line to stop it crashing in off the underside of the bar.

After that hammer blow Burnley’s progression was never in doubt, and they will fancy their chances in the winner takes all game on Bank Holiday Monday at the national stadium having beaten Kevin Blackwell’s Blades twice already this campaign.

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