HULL PREVIEW

It’s a quick turnaround for the Lads as they head back home to the hallowed turf of the Stadium of Light to play their first cup match of the new season. It’s the Carabao Cup Third Round, yes you read that right, where the Lads host fellow Premier League side Hull City. Can RLB and his Lads progress and make the Fourth Round for the first time since 2021-22?

LAST MEETING

Sunderland and Hull have met only twice in the League Cup, with both sides recording a victory to their name. However, the last encounter was in the Covid season of 2020-21 which saw the East Yorkshire Tigers take the win. The sides played out a goalless draw over ninety minutes so penalties had to be the decider. Hull took that with five successful penalties out of five, with Will Grigg (the first penalty taker overall) being the only one to fail.

The only players involved that day who are still at their respective sides are the cult hero that is Luke O'Nien for us, whilst substitute goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright is the only one who is still at the Tigers although he’s spending this season on loan to nearby Grimsby Town.

OUR OPPONENTS

After winning the Championship play-off last season against the Boro, Hull have naturally rebuilt their squad. Therefore, like us, I’m fully expecting the sides that are going to be on show to feature several fringe players with the odd smattering of first teamers chucked in to bulk up the squad depth.

Hull reached the third round stage by defeating Championship side Stoke City at the Bet 365 Stadium in a penalty shootout. Third choice goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, signed last season on a free transfer from Rotherham United, was the hero as he saved Stoke’s fourth effort from George Hirst. Like in 2020-21 against us, the Tigers didn’t miss any of their five penalties. Coincidence, right?

THE LADS

With a huge Premiership game coming up against Arsenal, we can definitely expect several changes to be made from the squad that featured on Saturday against Brentford. Therefore, do not be shocked if you see a lot of lesser known names in the line-up. I would not be amazed if there are a few young professionals given a chance to impress in the starting eleven or from the bench.

I’m therefore going with the following squad, probably will be wrong however:

Ellborg

Jenson Jones ----- O’Nien ----- Alderete ----- Methalie

Ahoka ----- Sadiki

Rigg ----- Fofana----- Mundle

Isidor.