Gooch 7
Tuesday 26th August 2025
Sunderland v Huddersfield Town - Carabao Cup
Stadium of Light ***Kick-Off: 19:*45
Tickets & Match Coverage
Tickets: Tickets are still available.
TV/Stream: Full live match coverage is unavailable in the UK
Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online)
Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter feed (@RokerReport) and check out the player ratings after the full-time whistle atwww.RokerReport.sbnation.com!
The build-up...
After the euphoric highs of a Premier League triumph over West Ham, the comedown kicked in following a humbling 2-0 defeat at Turf Moor.
However, there is no need to panic.
Yes, many will say it was Burnley and that we should be beating such teams to stay up, and they do have a point. Yet, it is not so simple. Scott Parker’s side were at home and were hellbent on securing a result, given their undesirable upcoming fixtures.
Furthermore, it is far too early to be slamming the Lads for losing a game away from home. The performance was not great, and in truth, it could have been worse, but it is about how you pick yourselves up after such setbacks. Regis Le Bris’ brain will be ticking over, and he will be devising a plan to get back to securing results.
With that in mind, a Carabao Cup tie with Huddersfield Town provides an ideal opportunity for Le Bris to freshen things up and give the promotion lads a shot at first-team football.
Last season, the Frenchman did not place any emphasis on the domestic cup competitions, and it is unlikely he will do so this time round. However, given the strength of our squad, only a win should suffice at the Stadium of Light.
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing last season’s heroes in action, and I am sure they will be itching for minutes too. Dan Neil, Patrick Roberts, and Anthony Patterson should get run outs, while there are some key decisions to make all over the pitch.
Indeed, what should Le Bris do in attack?
Getty Images
Given that Eliezer Mayenda has started both of the Premier League games, it is almost certain that one of Marc Guiu or Wilson Isidor will be given the nod. A home game with the Tykes would give both an opportunity for goals and much-needed confidence to carry into the league.
As well as the old contingent, several of the new boys are likely to start. At the back, we still seem scarily short, meaning that there might not be too much in terms of rotation. However, it will be interesting to see if Arthur Masuaku is given minutes and whether he shows the attacking threat he delivered at Besiktas.
What about the opposition? Well, they are not to be underestimated. Of course, they are a League One outfit, but as they showed against Leicester City, they are going to give it a right go.
Lyndon Gooch will return to Wearside for the first time since he left the club in 2023, and he should be given a hero’s welcome when he walks out onto the pitch. I am sure his eyes would have lit up when he saw the draw, and he will be out to prove a point if selected.
Lee Grant has flourished in his first role as manager, guiding Huddersfield to four league wins from five. Moreover, they have only shipped two goals, which both came in a narrow 3-2 defeat to Steve Bruce’s Blackpool. While it is early days, they sit second in the table and already look like promotion contenders.
The Tykes have a couple of familiar names who could cause some problems for the lads, including Alfie May, Marcus Harness, and Dion Charles. However, the goals have been shared around Grant’s squad, highlighting their threat all over the park.
Despite their resounding success in the third tier, they are exactly that, third tier. Anything other than a win would be disappointing, and the 11 men who grace the Stadium of Light are expected to prove a point.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Enzo Le Fee of Sunderland applauds the fans during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
The betting…
The bookies have the Lads as favourites at 4/7 to win the game, and the Tykes can be found at 5/1, while a draw is 10/3.
Head to head… at Sunderland
(All competitions)
Sunderland wins: 38
Draws: 27
Huddersfield wins: 26
Sunderland goals: 148
Huddersfield goals: 121
Last time we met at… the Accu Stadium
Wednesday 14th February 2024 | Championship | Huddersfield 1-0 Sunderland
Huddersfield: Nicholls, Pearson, Balker (Nakayama), Lees, Spencer (Jackson), Kasumu, Matos (Hogg), Rudoni, Wiles (Burgzorg), Thomas, Koroma (Ward). Substitutes not used: Radulovic Samoukovic, Diarra, Maxwell, Jones
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Hjelde (Pembele), Neil (Burstow), Ba (Roberts), Bellingham, Ekwah, Clarke, Rusyn (Mundle). Substitutes not used: Bishop, Seelt, Rigg, Aouchiche, Silva Semedo
Attendance: 19,550
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Jeremy Monga of Leicester City runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Lynden Gooch of Huddersfield Town during the Carabao Cup first round match between Huddersfield Town and Leicester City at John Smith’s Stadium on August 13, 2025 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Jeremy Monga of Leicester City runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Lynden Gooch of Huddersfield Town during the Carabao Cup first round match between Huddersfield Town and Leicester City at John Smith’s Stadium on August 13, 2025 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) Getty Images
Played for both…
Lynden Gooch
Hailing from Sacramento, California, Gooch joined the Sunderland academy in 2007, aged 10. He made his debut in August 2015 against Exeter City in the second round of the EFL Cup - a match that ended 6-3 on Wearside.
Gooch made 247 appearances for the Black Cats and found his goalscoring mojo for the Lads in League One. After leaving Sunderland, he said: “I will be back on the terraces one day supporting the red and white wizards with you all.”
Now, Goochy has the chance to step onto Sunderland soil once more.
Prediction… Sunderland 3-1 Huddersfield
While Le Bris will ring the changes, there should be far too much quality for the Tykes to deal with in the North East.
Sunderland should play with freedom, and if the attacking players click, then there will be goals, but Huddersfield will give it their all.
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