Will Peterborough United's attacking style play into under-strength Sunderland's hands

Sunderland manager Jack Ross believes Peterborough United's attacking style will play into his own side's hands when the teams meet in a big League One game at the Stadium of Light tonight (October 2, 7.45pm).
Sunderland manager Jack Ross.Sunderland manager Jack Ross.
Sunderland manager Jack Ross.

The hosts are likely to have four key players missing tonight as Lee Cattermole is suspended and Lyndon Gooch, Denver Hume and Glen Loovens are all injured, but Ross is confident his team can end the perfect winning away record of Posh in front of a crowd expected to exceed 30,000.

Ross told the Sunderland-baased media: “It’s still relatively early in the season, but as the season has developed, so we have known this would be a big game for both teams.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Their form is good, and I’m sure they’ll look to be positive, but that might suit us better. When the game opens up, we’ve tended to be more effective.

Posh boss Steve Evans.Posh boss Steve Evans.
Posh boss Steve Evans.

“It’s a shame about the injuries as squad-wise we were as strong as we had been all season on Saturday.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every single game this season, but all for different reasons. We’re not shying away from where we want to be this year and to do that we need to beat teams like Peterborough, so that will be our aim tomorrow evening,”

Sunderland drew at Coventry at the weekend and are four points and two places adrift of Posh going into tonight’s match.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Posh are expected to have a full squad to select form apart from midfielder George Cooper and left-back Tyler Denton who are nursing slight knocks.

Posh boss Steve Evans said: “We have a lot of respect for Sunderland, they are an excellent football club and credit to the new owner who has worked really hard behind the scenes, but we are going there to play our football. We have won every game we have played away from home so far and we can take confidence from that going to Sunderland. Our fans will enjoy the stadium, the experience and hopefully we can give them the right result too.”

Posh have only played in front of four crowds over 30,000 in their Football League history, two in the second tier of English football, one in the third tier and a Division Four game in 1960!

Top crowds at a Posh Football League match:

43,067 at Newcastle (Championship, November, 2009),

36,478 at Crystal Palace (Division Four, September, 1960).

33.070 at Derby County (Championship, August, 2009)

32,503 at Middlesbrough (Division Three, May, 1967).