STREAM HERE >>> Hull City vs Sunderland free stream online Championship League Full HD
In their first season back in the Championship, many associated with Sunderland will be satisfied with sitting in the top half of the table at this stage of the season.
However, the North-East outfit have prevailed in just four of their last 13 outings, highlighting that they could have been far better off in the second tier.
On the back of three wins from four, Sunderland went in front against West Bromwich Albion last time out, only to concede twice in the final 20 minutes to suffer a momentum-denting defeat.
Sitting six points clear of the relegation zone, the Black Cats will not have any immediate concerns regarding a relegation battle, instead wanting to close the four-point gap to the playoffs.
Nevertheless, Hull, a team who sit 10 positions adrift of Sunderland in the table, can move to within two points of the visitors with success at the weekend
Having served his three-match suspension, Oscar Estupinan is in line to return to the Hull attack.
Dimitrios Pelkas misses out, however, with the playmaker having suffered a knee injury during the goalless draw versus Watford, while Greg Docherty will be assessed after suffering a dead leg.
Ozan Tufan appears likely to return to the starting lineup with Rosenior likely to make just the two alterations.
Despite edging nearer to a return, this fixture is likely to come too soon for the likes of Dan Ballard and Ross Stewart.
Jack Clarke should feature on the left flank, taking the spot of Elliot Embleton, while Patrick Roberts will also be hoping for a recall.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Ingram; Christie, Jones, McLoughlin, Greaves; Woods, Seri; Slater, Tufan, Longman; Estupinan
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Gooch, O’Nien, Batth, Alese; Evans, Neil; Diallo, Pritchard, Clarke; Simms
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
STREAM LINKS >>> Stream 1 Stream 2 Stream 3
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life