Sunderland will make the 600-mile round trip to Gillingham this evening targeting progression in the Emirates FA Cup (KO 7.45PM).
The Black Cats will visit Priestfield Stadium for the first of two games to be played in the next couple of weeks, in search of ending a frustrating period of cup fixtures and booking their place in round two of the competition.
Phil Parkinson’s side played out a 1-1 draw with the Gills in the initial tie at the Stadium of Light earlier this month.
Aiden McGeady broke the deadlock that day with a low strike from 18 yards before Olly Lee’s free kick found a way past Jon McLaughlin early in the second period.
That draw was sandwiched between two defeats in the Leasing.com Trophy, confirming the Black Cats’ exit from the competition.
Tonight’s game will be the fourth cup tie Sunderland have faced on the trot, and Parkinson will be determined to get back to winning ways before the Lads restart their league campaign on Saturday.
With a home double header against Coventry City and Burton Albion to come, the pre-match talk has been centred around progressing and building momentum ahead of a key stage in the season.
And the lads will be hoping to do just that, having defeated the Gills by scoring four on their last two visits to the Medway.
However, Sunderland will be without 10 first team faces. Joel Lynch, Jordan Willis and George Dobson have been ruled out as four players remain on international duty.
Elliot Embleton, Charlie Wyke and Lynden Gooch continue to be absent, but Will Grigg has recovered from illness and has successfully come through the last few training sessions.As a result, Parkinson is likely to include seven or eight youngsters in his squad, with Brandon Taylor and Jack Bainbridge expected to be among those names travelling south.
Gillingham, meanwhile, welcome Sunderland optimistic of progressing in the Emirates FA Cup.
Steve Evan’s side reached the fourth-round last term, after knocking out then Premier League side Cardiff City.
Strangely, it was the Bluebirds’ South Wales neighbours, Swansea City, who ended their cup dream before they went onto the quarter-finals where the eventual winners Manchester City edged out a 3-2 tie.
However, the run for Gillingham proved memorable after seeing off Hartlepool United, with the help of a replay, Slough Town and Neil Warnock’s Cardiff.
DON’T MISS A KICK
Due to the very tight turnaround, tickets will be available for cash purchase only on the night of the game at turnstiles 14-17.
Tickets are priced at £15 for adults, £10 for over-65s and £5 for under-18s.
The game will not be streamed but live commentary will be available from Priestfield.
BBC Radio Newcastle’s Nick Barnes will be broadcasting live right here on safc.com from 7pm.
As ever, there will be comprehensive coverage across our digital channels including safc.com’s matchday blog and live updates on Twitter via @SunderlandAFC.
