Sunderland will be looking to continue to get their season back on track when they welcome Sky Bet League Two side Exeter City to Wearside in the second round of Capital One Cup.
Sunderland start badly
There was a sense of optimism around the Stadium of Light ahead of the new season with Dick Advocaat signing on a permanent basis and new signings coming through the door.
However, it has been quite the opposite with two defeats in three games and shipping eight goals in the process; which has seen them anchored to second bottom in the Premier League table.
Following 4-2 and 3-1 defeats to Leicester City and Norwich City respectively, fans beaome very disgruntled, though they did improve massively at the weekend against high-flying Swansea City.
They fell behind to a late first-half effort from Bafetimbi Gomis but Jermain Defoe’s second-half strike secured their first point of the season and they will be looking to kick on from that this Tuesday night.
The Black Cats have had recent romance with the League Cup competition too. It was only two years ago that they made it to Wembley before being defeated by Manchester City in the final, and Advocaat will be hoping he can reach those heights with his side this time around.
Exeter’s good start
Their opponents have been a complete contrast with Exeter starting their season in the fourth tier of English football reasonably well.
They currently sit outside the play-off places on goal difference with two victories against Yeovil Town and Dagenham & Redbridge, a draw with York City and a defeat to Northampton Town. The Grecians managed to squeeze past Swindon Town with a 2-1 victory to set up this tie with their top-flight opponents.
Many will be banking on Sunderland to ease through into the third round, but Exeter manager Paul Tisdale doesn’t fear his opponents, saying it’ll be a “great opportunity” to cause an upset and his team will be looking to play football the way “they do”.
Team news
O’Shea filled in for Younes Kaboul at the weekend, who is expected to have a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, he is joined by Adam Johnson and Jordi Gomez; the pair have shoulder and knee problems respectively.
Advocaat confirmed in his press conference that Adam Matthews is expected to make his full debut after his move from Celtic early in the summer. However, Billy Jones won’t be risked due to a slight knee problem.
Jeremain Lens will also sit out with a knock, whilst youngsters Lynden Gooch and Josh Robson will both be on the bench.
The two main injury concerns for the visitors come in the form of David Wheeler and Christian Ribeiro. Wheeler, who scored in the last round, has missed the last two league matches with an ankle injury, while Ribeiro limped out of the 0-0 draw with York last week.