{"id":604120,"date":"2021-11-06T04:28:05","date_gmt":"2021-11-06T08:28:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=604120"},"modified":"2022-08-07T14:12:10","modified_gmt":"2022-08-07T18:12:10","slug":"fa-cup-league-break-for-sunderland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/11\/06\/fa-cup-league-break-for-sunderland\/","title":{"rendered":"FA Cup a Welcome League Break for Sunderland\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunderland<\/a> take a break from league football this weekend as they entertain Mansfield Town at the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup<\/a> first round. The Black Cats have endured a disastrous last three games and this Saturday could a welcome league break for Sunderland – if they win.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Welcome League Break for Sunderland as They Look to Progress in FA Cup<\/span><\/h2>\n

Poor Form Needs Addressing and Confidence Rebuilt<\/span><\/h3>\n

Following an impressive start to the season where Lee Johnson\u2019s new-look team looked like genuine title contenders, results and performances have faltered badly. A first home defeat of the season against the then lowly and managerless Charlton Athletic<\/a> was followed by successive away defeats where the team capitulated, losing 5-1 at Rotherham United and 3-0 at Sheffield Wednesday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saturday brings the chance to get back to winning ways against League Two outfit Mansfield. Lee Johnson is expected to make a number of changes to give some players a break and give others the chance to shine and force their way into the first team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A win and a good performance for the Black Cats is a must to halt their recent poor results. Some fans have questioned the team\u2019s ability to challenge for promotion and also head coach Lee Johnson. A victory would help settle any discontent and give the club the boost it needs before league football resumes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lee Johnson Looking for a Response\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Speaking following the recent two away defeats and ahead of the FA Cup game, Sunderland<\/a> head coach Lee Johnson says he is looking for a response from his squad. <\/span><\/p>\n

He said: \u201cYes we are disappointed but it is how we respond. We want to win all of our games. We are trying to create a winning culture, the league is the most important, but we have won every single cup game since Mansfield last season.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am keen to stress that we give everything that we have to go and win the game.<\/span><\/p>\n

“No part of his is going into the game half-hearted, whether it\u2019s Arsenal or Mansfield, we\u2019re going to give the best version of ourselves, which we haven\u2019t done that in recent games.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Potential Banana Skin?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sunderland<\/a> face Mansfield at the Stadium of Light in the first round of the FA Cup for the second consecutive season. In 2020, the Stag\u2019s new manager Nigel Clough<\/a>, who was born in Sunderland, heaped more misery on the Black Cats manager at the time Phil Parkinson<\/a> as they recorded a 1-0 victory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunderland have almost an entirely new squad now with many acquisitions arriving and youngsters being promoted to the first-team squad. This is a potential banana skin for Lee Johnson\u2019s team due to their recent form. However, they face a Mansfield side with just three league wins all season and currently lying in 20th position in League Two.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Town recorded their first win since August 14 last weekend when they beat Tranmere Rovers 2-0. Boss Nigel Clough has insisted his team won\u2019t be travelling to Wearside just to make up the numbers. <\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking to iFollow Stags<\/a>, he said: “Hopefully we can relax and play off the back of a victory. We want to continue playing well, not just for the FA Cup but after that as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe won\u2019t be putting half a team out. We will be going there to win.\u00a0We just need to keep playing as we have in recent weeks. [In] Our last three performances we deserved to have seven points rather than four from nine.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>