Sunderland travel to Rotherham United in their final game of 2023 this evening.
Sunderland go up against bottom club Rotherham United at the New York Stadium this evening, in Michael Beale‘s third game in charge.
The former QPR and Rangers boss suffered a 3-0 defeat vs Coventry City at the Stadium of Light in his first game before picking up an impressive 1-0 win at Hull City last time out.
As things stand, Sunderland sit in 6th place of the Championship table compared to Rotherham United in last place.
The Milers though go into this one on the back of a 1-0 win at home to Middlesbrough on Boxing Day; new boss Leam Richardson’s first win in charge and Rotherham’s first win since October.
Sunderland team news ahead of Rotherham United
Sunderland have been dealt a couple of fresh injury blows ahead of this one with Niall Huggins and Bradley Dack both ruled out.
Dack was forced off early against Hull City with a hamstring injury and Sunderland Echo say that he’s likely to miss the next couple of weeks at least, whilst Huggins missed the Hull game entirely and has since been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Elsewhere, the Black Cats are expected to be without all of Dennis Cirkin, Aji Alese, Jay Matete, Luis Hemir, Corry Evans, and Elliot Embleton for tonight’s game.
How will Michael Beale line up tonight?
The win at Hull City wasn’t pretty, but it was a win, and it was a game with several impressive player performances.
Pierre Ekwah shone in a somewhat new set up under Beale, with Jobe Bellingham playing more advanced and also putting in a good performance.
We could likely see an unchanged line up barring Dack who started up front at the MKM Stadium; Beale has the likes of Mason Burstow, Eliezer Mayenda, and Nazariy Rusyn to deploy as the no.9, and it could be Mayenda that starts as he’s featured in seven of the last nine games now.
Here’s how we think Sunderland will line up against Rotherham United tonight…
Patterson (GK)
Hume
Ballard
O’Nien
Seelt
Neil
Ekwah
Clarke
Bellingham
Roberts
Mayenda