Sky Blues On The Road - Sunderland AFC

WHO ARE THEY?
Formed in 1879 as the Sunderland and District Teachers Association Football
Club, Sunderland. The club joined the Football League eleven years later.

They won the FA Cup in 1973 and have yo-yoed between the top two divisions for the last thirty years.

Now playing at the 48,300 capacity Stadium Of Light after moving from Roker Park, former player Niall Quinn as the front man for a consortium took control of the club and after a poor start stepped down as manager to make way for Roy Keane.
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THEIR WEBSITE
http://www.safc.com/home/
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LAST MATCH
Coventry beat Luton Town 1-0 whilst Sunderland drew 0-0 at home with Crystal Palace

This is the 38th league and cup game between the two sides. City have won on thirteen occasions with thirteen draws.

The last game City played at the Stadium of Light was on Match 19th 2005 and saw the Sky Blues lose 1-0. In fact, you have to go back to 1977 and a Donal Murphy goal for the last City win on Wearside.

City beat Sunderland 2-1 in the opening game of this season. Daryll Murphy put Sunderland ahead in the 52nd minute but goals from Stern John and Gary McSheffrey gave Micky Adams side the victory.

City are 16th in the table with Sunderland eighth.
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TEAM NEWS
Colin Cameron is still out with an Achilles problem. Eliiott Ward is also out with a hamstring injury. Michael Doyle and Robert Page have been dropped after a training ground incident.

New centre half Che Bunce will be added to the squad which travels on Friday.

Stern John is expected to come into Roy Keane's squad for the game after being left out of the game against Crystal Palace. He is a 9-2 shot for the first goal.

Liam Miller pulled a hamstring against Crystal Palace and is very doubtful but both Stephen Wright and Kenny Cunningham
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MATCH OFFICIALS
The currently appointed referee is S.W.Mathieson . His assistants are R.T.Hewitt and M.McDonagh with the fourth official A.H.Greenwood.

This is Mr Mathieson's first City game of the season
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MATCH DETAILS
Kick off is at 3pm. Adult ticket prices are £24. Junior £8, Senior Citizen £14. Adults can pay on gate £24. Juniors and OAP tickets have to be purchased at Sunderland Ticket office if buying on the day City have been allocated 900 tickets.
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WEATHER FORECAST
Day-time temperatures are expected to be eight degrees dropping to a minimum of one degree when it gets dark
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HOW TO GET THERE
Coach Travel: Adults £24, Senior citizen/junior £21, Adult season ticket holder £19, Concession season ticket holder/JSB £12. Coaches will depart the Ricoh Arena at 9am.

A City fan based in York, Andy Bridge is running a 50 seater coach to the Sunderland away game on Sat 3rd February. The coach leaves from The Burton Stone Pub in York at 11am, (the pub will be open from 9.30am for drinks and Bacon Butties) and will stop at a pub in Newcastle both before and after the game, with the coach returning to York for 10pm. A seat on the coach costs £10. Anyone interested can contact Andy Bridge on 07845 644289.

By Road
M69,M1,M18,A1. Exit A1 at the Durham/Sunderland exit and take the A690 towards Sunderland. After eight miles turn left on to A19 signposted Tyne Tunnel. Stay in left hand lane and take the Sunderland slip road onto the bridge and over the river Wear. Right onto A1231 and follow signs for Sunderland. Over four roundabouts into Sunderland and two further traffic lights for the ground.

By Rail
Sunderland train station is 15 mins walk away. From the station,exit between WH Smith and the bakery. Turn left and walk down High St West and then turn left again and walk up Fawcett St to the Wear Bridge. From here you can see the ground.

BY METRO
Great if you are coming from Newcastle or the airport. Exit at St Peters for the station nearest the away end about a five minute walk away.

Parking

Limited street parking around the ground. Free Park & Ride at Sunderland Enterprise Park just off A1231.

Smoking and swearing are banned at the stadium. The stewards and police are amongst the worst in the country never mind the division. Expect pointless ejections.