Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is not happy with the run of fixtures
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is not happy with the run of fixtures that his side have had to endure during the Christmas and New Year period and those yet to come.
Allardyce, who describes the workload as ‘diabolical,’ on Saturday has to take his side to Arsenal for an FA Cup tie just after the hectic period and then a few days later on Wednesday, he must have his players fit and ready again for the crunch trip to Swansea City in the league.
Big Sam says that he will have to consider making major changes to the side to make sure he has the players that he needs for the trip to the Liberty Stadium.
Speaking to most of the English press he said: ‘If the Premier League decides to put a stupid fixture midweek when they don’t bloody need to, then I haven’t got much choice’.
Sunderland managed a win against Aston Villa on Saturday, boosting their chances of escaping the drop at the end of the season, but they do remain in the relegation places.
And what makes the fixture even more important is that Swansea and the Black Cats are only separated by two places and two points. The game is being played on a Wednesday at Swansea’s request, which also means that Allardyce must hastily arrange his squad for a Saturday lunchtime fixture against Spurs.
Allardyce fumed: ‘It’s diabolical, we’re flogging the lads.
‘There are more and more injuries every year but it’s completely ignored by the Premier League. It’s unbelievable.
‘If you want us to respect the FA Cup, don’t put Premier League fixtures in the midweek just after new year.
‘Don’t give me stick when I change the side at Arsenal. Give the Premier League stick, not the managers’.
