Sunderland will target their first win of 2015 when they begin their FA Cup campaign at home to Leeds United on Sunday (KO 1pm). The meeting is the first in the competition between the two sides since 1973, when Second Division Sunderland upset the odds to lift the cup Wembley. The Black Cats began the New Year with an action-packed 3-2 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, during which Jack Rodwell and Adam Johnson marked their returns to Manchester with second-half goals. Leeds, meanwhile, haven’t featured since the 30th December when they were beaten 2-0 by Derby County at the iPro Stadium, meaning they currently sit two places and just one point above the Championship relegation zone. Gus Poyet will be hoping to have midfield-reinforcements at his disposal on Wearside, with Liam Bridcutt returning to training ahead of Sunday’s tie. Emanuele Giaccherini and Ricky Alvarez will also be hoping to earn a place in the starting XI, after receiving praise from the head coach following cameo appearances against Man City. Lee Cattermole, however, will miss out. The visitors will also be hoping to call upon a previously injured player with Adryan returning to the bench for their defeat to Derby, after missing the Boxing Day defeat to Wigan Athletic. Last season the Black Cats were also drawn against lower-league opposition, and they will be hoping to emulate the professional display they produced against Carlisle United after sealing a 3-1 win on Wearside. They will also be hoping to improve upon their overall showing in last season’s competition which ended in the sixth round at Hull City, and recapture the momentum built from their stunning run to Wembley in the Capital One Cup. The Whites will also be looking to put a painful cup upset behind them after suffering a shock third-round defeat to Rochdale last season, which was followed by exiting this season’s Capital One Cup to League One side Bradford City. Sunday’s match will kick off at 1pm, with full match coverage and reaction available via safc and on Twitter by following @SunderlandAFC.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 23:31:41 +0000