Regular Faces Miss Out As Sunderland Host Stoke

Stoke City head to the Stadium of Light tonight (23rd September, 7:45) for their Capital One Cup clash against last year`s runners-up Sunderland. Three goals from Liverpool loanee Fabio Borini saw the Black Cats dispatch the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea in last year`s competition before coming unstuck against Manchester City at Wembley. Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas all slotted chances past Vito Mannone to ensure Borini`s 10th minute opener was a mere hiccup.

Sunderland`s 2013-14 run in the competition will also be remembered amongst quizzers everywhere as the side`s Quarter-Final win over Chelsea became the first competitive game in Britain to have a goal awarded by goal-line technology. Lee Cattermole`s own-goal was given by the referee following a successful consultation with the HawkEye system. Guy Poyet`s men progressed through to the third round in this year`s Capital One Cup after securing a decisive 3-0 victory over Championship Birmingham City. Second half goals from Jordi Gomez, Adam Johnson and Connor Wickham proving enough to avoid an upset.

The Potters were just as clinical in their preceding second round clash, beating League 2 outfit Portsmouth 3-0 at home. A brace from Jonathan Walters saw Stoke two goals in front before a successful Wednesday night was completed with former Pompey man Peter Crouch`s 90th minute header.

City`s superior Premier League position cannot stop them from being 21/10 (Coral) outsiders for tonight`s match-up. Last year`s finalists Sunderland are 8/5 with william hill despite a series of below-par results seeing them teetering above the relegation zone. Elsewhere, it`s 12/5 (bet365, betfred, Betvictor, Matchbook, Totesport) for the two sides to be tied after 90 minutes.

Fans in the Potteries will be disappointed to be without their second round hero Walters who is currently sidelined with a calf injury. The 31-year-old missed the team`s 2-2 draw with league new-boys Queens Park Rangers and Stoke`s assistant manager Mark Bowen has today confirmed the forward`s absence. In an unenforced change, Marc Muniesa is set to make his second appearance in the League Cup, having started all of his team`s league matches watching on from the bench. The 22-year-old Catalonian centre-back signed a four year deal with the West Midlands club in 2013 upon leaving Barcelona on a free transfer.

Should Muniesa be selected to play as a centre-half, he could well be joined by perpetual bench-warmer Robert Huth. The German has been trying to re-establish himself in the starting line-up ever since a long-term knee injury left him match-watching for almost a year. The former Chelsea man has made his only competitive appearance for the club this year in their hosting of Andy Awford`s Pompey in the second round.

Last season`s sensation, Oussama Assaidi may also make his first start since re-joining the club on loan from Liverpool. The Moroccan has taken part in his first full training sessions back from four months in rehabilitation after two separate knee issues caused the midfielder to miss the pre-season. Both betfred and Totesport make the 26-year-old 5/1 to mark his first full appearance in 2014/15 with a goal at any time.

Sunderland will be hoping to defend this season`s solid home record (two draws against Tottenham and Manchester United) despite manager Poyet making wholesale changes to the team that drew with Burnley last time out. Back-up `keeper Costel Pantilimon should take the place of Mannone between the sticks whilst defenders Billy Jones and Sebastian Coates are expected to get game time.

Up the other end of the field both Steven Fletcher (calf) and Emanuele Giaccherini (ankle) will miss the clash with injuries. Fletcher may be replaced by profligate Josy Altidore who failed to hit a single shot on target despite coming on as a 67th minute substitute against Burnley. He is 8/1 (bet365, Betvictor) to open the scoring.

Go To bet365

#Ad

23/09/2014     © Frixo 2026