On Sky
SUNDERLAND will look to put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone as they head to struggling Aston Villa for Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
Villa, in 17th, are clear of the one remaining relegation spot by just two points with Wigan Athletic a place below with a game in hand.
Sunderland on the other hand, are 15th after the weekend’s action, but another three points would put Paolo Di Canio’s side a significant step closer to safety.
Vital Quotes:
Source: safc.com
“First of all we have to look after ourselves. We need to win and carry on to the best finish possible.
“I hope we are going to win on Monday. Afterwards I wish Villa all the best to win their last three games.
“It’s going to be strange, as it was when I played my first game against them [earlier in the season].
“I am playing against friends with whom I trained and worked so hard for four years.
“It will be emotional to play there, but I am ready for that and very excited.”
Aston Villa Team News:
Left-back Joe Bennett is manager Paul Lambert’s chief concern with the former Middlesbrough man set to undergo a late fitness taste.
Midfielder Gary Gardner – brother of Sunderland’s Craig – is out for the season with knee ligament damage.
Chris Herd (ankle), Marc Albrighton (ankle) and Richard Dunne (groin) are all doubts for the clash.
Predicted line-up: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar (c), Clark, Baker; Agbonlahor, Westwood, Delph, N’Zogbia; Benteke & Weimann.
Player to watch: Christian Benteke:
Who else?
Built like a brick outhouse, the 22 year-old Belgian international has proven one of the finds of the Premier League this season.
Signed from Belgian side Genk for £7m last summer, the powerful striker has rewarded Lambert for putting his faith in him by bagging 19 goals in all competitions for the struggling Villans.
Fifteen of those goals have come in the league for the highly-rated 6’3′ DR Congo-born striker, who will surely attract the interest of bigger clubs over the summer, especially if the worst were to happen and Villa were relegated.
Pace, power and a good finisher, Benteke has the potential to go a long way.
Sunderland Team News:
Phil Bardsley (ankle) and Titus Bramble (calf) are both doubts with Bramble expected to undergo a late fitness test.
Craig Gardner is back from suspension meaning he could return at right-back, whilst Wes Brown, Steven Fletcher and Lee Cattermole are all still out.
Predicted line-up: Mignolet; Colback, O’Shea (c), Cuellar, Rose; Johnson, Larsson, N’Diaye, McClean; Sessegnon; Graham.
Player to watch: Stephane Sessegnon:
Deployed behind the traditional line-leader once more, the Benin international has flourished under Di Canio and scored the Black Cats’ winner against Everton.
Having failed to make the same impression on the right-hand side of midfield during the final weeks of the O’Neill reign, Sessegnon holds the key to Sunderland’s survival chances once more.
Match Facts & Stats
2 – Number of wins Sunderland have picked up against Aston Villa in their last 10 fixtures.
6 – Number of years since Sunderland lost a game at Villa Park.
1 – The number of shots on target Sunderland had in their home clash against the Villans under Martin O’Neill earlier this term.
5 – The number of clean sheets Aston Villa have kept this season.
87 – Appearances made by Carlos Cuellar during his four-year stay with the Midlands club.
Ref Watch:
Referee: Mr L Probert
Assistants: Mr J Collin & Mr J Brooks
Fourth Official: Mr M Atkinson
Match Prediction:
A 2-0 win for Sunderland. Villa are a very average side reliant on the goals of Benteke and to a lesser extent, Andi Weimann.
If the Black Cats display the confidence they’ve built up from back-to-back wins under Di Canio, a third doesn’t seem improbable.
Next Fixtures:
Stoke City at home on Monday May 9 – live on Sky.
