So the first North East derby takes place in the Stadium of (P)light and I’m optimistic of our chances.  Especially now that we have already beaten the Tottenham A team, now it’s turn of the B team. 

Sunderland had to spend if they were to have any chance of establishing themselves in this league with fellow rookie Manager Roy Keane attracting the sort of players Sunderland fans have only aspired to, and to be honest they’re still attracting players.  Whilst they are in awe over the players they now have, they haven’t gelled and we need to capitalise on that. 

Don’t get wrong I’m sure Sunderland will be just as up for it as we are but there are a couple of areas where I can see us doing well.

If Chimbonda plays in the way which I hope he does, it might just might give Downing that freedom he needs attacking wise and hopefully there can be areas of Chimbonda’s game that Downing can exploit.  Also it has occurred to me the central of midfield, now  Shawky is out,  with Digard and O’Neil it might give us a bit of bite and provide service to the wingers in Downing and probably Aliadiere. 

Up top Alves and Mido will get the nod and I’m convinced that one of them will score, Mido is doing really well at the moment and he appears to be a confidence player that can pull something from nothing like the Liverpool game for example. 

For the life of me I hope that the best young north-east player in David Wheater returns from ill health and that Alves can bag his second of the season and really start to kick off with his goal-scoring form which we all know he posesses.  We need the quality of our starting XI to both shine and harass.  I’d suggest an early goal would be more appropriate but it seems to be the trend for us at the moment that it just doesn’t seem to be working, especially away from home, and of course last season we scored within 6 minutes and ended up losing the game. 

A downside to this is the quality of Tuncay will be missed, as he seemed to be starting off his season with a goal against Stoke and impressive performances such as stunning skills against Liverpool, he really gave me optimism in as the creative part of the team but now we need to look elsewhere.

Boro’s team.

Turnbull, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, Aliadiere, O’Neil, Digard, Downing, Alves and Mido.

Sunderland’s Team.

Who bloody cares.

I’m going for a 2-1 winto Boro!

Stay out of trouble!

Come on Boro!

MarkA