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Stuart Jamieson

Slow, stodgy, predictable - Sunderland fans' verdict on tonight's starting XI

Sunderland fans bemoaned the lack of a starting chance for some of the club's younger prospects at Fleetwood tonight.

Manager Phil Parkinson handed a start to Danny Graham in place of the injured Lynden Gooch in the only change from the 1-1 draw at Doncaster.

But many Black Cats' fans would prefer to have seen youngsters such as Jack Diamond, Elliot Embleton or Dan Neil given the chance at Highbury.

Gooch and Jordan Willis are ruled out with injury, along with long-term absentees Morgan Feeney and Arbenit Xhemajli, although Feeney is making good progress.

Here are a selection of your comments on social media.

James Taylor: Oh no, Wyke starts again. Well we know what the pattern of play will be.

Philip West: Wyke & Graham starting. This is about as bad as it gets. Slow, stodgy, predictable. I cannot get my head around what Phil Parkinson is thinking here. Graham is a waste of space, and shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team.

Patrick McCann: How many years have we been crying out for a bit of pace up front, so predictable and boring from Parkinson

Steven Cook: I'm sure he's just doing this to be obstinate now! He'll do anything but play the young lads - Embleton had to start tonight. "I know what to do to be at the top of this league" - he hasn't got a clue!

David Place: Zero imagination from Parkinson tonight. Embleton and Diamond should be starting. Hopefully it’s his last team selection.

Ian Slee: Lightning pace up front with Wyke and Graham . . .

You can follow all tonight's events as they happen in our live blog here.

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