'Baffling!': Sunderland fans question why this 'big game player' has been left out against Portsmouth

The Black Cats make just one change from the side that beat Rochdale as Josh Scowen replaces Oliver Younger - while on the bench he returns of Lynden Gooch and Tom Flanagan provide a boost.

And fans had plenty to say about the selection on social media – with the omission of Chris Maguire a big talking point...

@LukeHuggan said: “Straight into them no messing about”

@Dan1879_SAFC added: “HAAWAAAAY! Big performance needed tonight. Could be a night that has a massive influence on the promotion spots!”

@joey_burton_ commented: “Games like this are screaming out for a Chris Maguire type character IMO. Baffling how he's not been included again, especially after his recent performances”

@CHorner_ posted: “Makes sense. Strong side. As long as McGeady and Jones are in the mood I'm confident we can win comfortably."

@Thesafcanalyst tweeted: “See Maguire starts over O’Brien for me, O’Brien is industrious and does “all the dirty work” however sometimes goes missing, which we cannot afford today, Maguire is a big game player that relishes games like this, not to mention his deliver from set pieces”

@DavidHindmarsh added: “I’m reasonably happy with this, just always confuses me why a player is fit for the bench but not to play. Flanagan should be starting and O’Nien should be right back and Power in midfield”

@jmzed_ said: “Think I’d have taken Maguire over O’Brien but prove me wrong. Come in the red and white wizards”

@lewis_h__ posted: “What does Maguire have to do to get in over O’Brien?”

@Philip_RJ89 tweeted: “Surely Maguire deserved to start ahead of O’Brien. This is the kind of scenario he thrives in. Big performances needed tonight, particularly from Sanderson & McGeady”

@joelewins commented: “Clearly doesn’t trust Maguire to start so we have to suffer O’Brien again...McFadzean will be targeted this evening as everyone knows how poor he is and it will be a stern test for this makeshift back 4 hopefully Wright Flanagan and Mcglaughlin fit next week”

Here’s how Sunderland will line-up: Burge; Power, Sanderson, O’Nien, McFadzean; Jones, Winchester, Scowen, McGeady; O’Brien, Wyke

And on the bench: Matthews, Flanagan, Diamond, Neil, Maguire, Gooch, Vokins

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