English FA CUP
2012-02-08 - Middlesbrough vs Sunderland
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: FA Cup 4th Round Replay
Wednesday 8 February 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Middlesbrough
The Middlesbrough fans coming to the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday night will be looking to get one over on their local rivals after earning a 1-1 draw in the original tie. They have also been given the additional incentive of hosting Arsenal in the 5th Round of the FA Cup, although the priority remains trying to get back into the Premier League.
Tony Mowbray has performed well in his role as manager of the club and it is a surprise to see them in 6th place in the Championship, although the top is so congested that a couple of wins or losses could see them out of the Play Offs or challenging for an automatic promotion berth. Middlesbrough have a 5-8-2 record at home this season, scoring 15 goals and conceding 12.
Despite a strong start to the season, Middlesbrough have begun to drop down the table in recent weeks as a bad run of form threatens to disrupt their season. They have won just 1 of their last 8 games in all competitions, that coming in a FA Cup tie here against lower-League Shrewsbury Town. Middlesbrough have won just 1 of their last 4 home games, and have failed to find the net in their last 2 played here.
There are a number of injuries in the squad, although Tony Mowbray said he is confident he will be able to send out a competitive side. Julio Arca is available after serving a suspension, but Marvin Emnes, Faris Haroun and Barry Robson are all doubts. Scott McDonald, Nick Robson and Danny Coyne are out.
Sunderland
The Martin O'Neill factor continues getting the most out of this Sunderland side as they maintained their surge up the Premier League table with an impressive 0-1 win at Stoke City on Saturday. With both Manchester City and Manchester United out of this competition, Sunderland fans may be dreaming of a long FA Cup run with the winner of this tie due to meet Arsenal at home in the next Round.
The Black Cats are 8th in the Premier League table and are only 6 points worse off than Liverpool, a real surprise considering their start to the season which ended with the removal of Steve Bruce as manager of the football club. Sunderland have a 4-2-6 record away from home in the League, scoring 14 goals and conceding 13.
Sunderland are now 6-1-1 in all competitions over their last 8 games and are unbeaten in their last 4 since losing 1-0 at Chelsea in unfortunate circumstances. It is also telling that 3 of their 4 away wins in the Premier League have come since O'Neill took over as manager, while they also recorded a 0-2 win at Peterborough in the last Round of the FA Cup. The team have won 4 of their last 5 away games in all competitions.
Wayne Bridge cannot take part in this game as he was only brought in on loan after the original tie was played. Lee Cattermole, Nicolas Bendtner, Wes Brown and David Vaughan all look set to miss out again, while Frazier Campbell should continue up front.
Head to Head
Sunderland and Middlesbrough drew 1-1 in the original game at the Stadium of Light, but this will be their first meeting at the Riverside Stadium since the 2008/09 season in a game that finished 1-1.
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 3 visits to this ground, although the last two have both ended in draws.
Middlesbrough have lost just 1 of their last 9 home games against Sunderland.
Prediction
This should be a game full of passion on Wednesday night as both sides will feel they have a chance of winning this game and hosting Arsenal in the next Round of the Cup.
I think Sunderland have the edge as it can be hard for a lower-League side to put in two big efforts against an opponent from a higher Division, while the injuries are definitely crippling the home team more than the Black Cats in my opinion.
I also feel that Martin O'Neill likes setting his teams up in counter-attacking fashion, tactics that seem to suit his teams more on their travels than when the onus is on them to attack as it is at home.
We saw that from his Aston Villa side in recent seasons, and I think it is no real surprise that Sunderland have been much more effective away from the Stadium of Light since O'Neill took charge of the club.
A lack of goals is a real worry for Middlesbrough to deal with, and they have come off the boil in the Championship in recent weeks so I think Sunderland will be too strong for them here. It is a shame that the price is drifting in on Sunderland, but I still think they are worth taking at odds against to come through this tough tie.
The Pick :
Middlesbrough 0-2 Sunderland
