THE Paolo Di Canio reign begins at Stamford Bridge this Sunday as Sunderland face Chelsea in the capital.
Having replaced Martin O’Neill in the Black Cats’ hot-seat last Sunday, Di Canio has the simple remit of keeping the Lads in the Premier League ahead of next season.
Just two places and a point above the drop zone, Di Canio’s opposite number, Rafael Benitez, finds himself in a fight to secure a Champions League spot for the Blues, before departing this summer.
Currently in 4th – a Champions League qualifier place – the south-west London outfit are just two points ahead of City rivals Arsenal with eight games to play.
Paolo Di Canio on his SAFC debut:
“[We are] away from home against Chelsea, where obviously I have good memories and scored when I was a footballer.
“But I`m not a footballer now, I`m a manager and now I hope my players will score there and give us some points.
“It`s fantastic. The players will be motivated on their own; they live to play on the big stage.’
Source: safc.com
Chelsea Team News:
Chelsea have just three injury concerns ahead of this one, with two of those longer-term absentees.
Ashley Cole (hamstring) is a doubt, whilst Oriol Romeu and Gary Cahill (both knee) are definitely unavailable.
Predicted line-up: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Bertrand; Mikel, Lampard; Moses, Oscar, Marin; Torres.
Player to watch: Oscar:
Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior (Oscar), has hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge, following his undisclosed transfer from Internacional.
The 21 year-old attacking midfielder is believed to have cost the Blues between £20m & £25m, but has shown throughout his maiden campaign in English football that he’s worth every penny.
A lithe, nimble playmaker, best suited to a spot behind the main forward, the 15-cap Brazilian international startd out at Sao Paulo, before moving to Internacional in 2010 after a pay dispute with his previous employers.
A announcing himself to English football with two – including one stunner – against Juventus in the Champions League on his first start, Oscar has established himself as a regular.
Sunderland Team News:
With Steven Fletcher (ankle) or Lee Cattermole (knee), Paolo Di Canio’s job is automatically made harder.
Midfielder David Vaughan faces a late fitness test, whilst Carlos Cuellar (ankle) and Wes Brown (knee) are doubts.
Predicted line-up: Mignolet; Bardsley, O’Shea, Bramble, Rose; Johnson, N’Diaye, Colback, McClean; Sessegnon & Graham.
Player to watch: Danny Graham:
Yet to score since his £5m arrival from Swansea City, all eyes are on Graham to score the goals to keep the Black Cats in the division.
With no Steven Fletcher and only Connor Wickham for backup, Graham is the most senior striker at the club & thus the burden of responsibility falls on his shoulders at this late stage.
Match Facts & Stats:
3 – Sunderland have beaten Chelsea just three times since the turn of the century.
7 – Since the 1907/08 season, Chelsea have lost against the Black Cats at Stamford Bridge on just seven occasions.
12 – The number of goals Chelsea have conceded at home this season – the second-least in the Premier League.
6 – Sunderland’s 17 away goals make them the sixth-lowest scorers in the Premier League away from home.
Ref Watch:
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Assistant Referees: S Long & L Betts
Fourth Official: L Mason.
Match Prediction:
An extremely hard result to call; Sunderland will be given a lift by their new manager, but that doesn’t change the fact that there is a lack of quality in the squad.
Chelsea have more than enough to win the game and it will probably all boil down to what time the first goal goes in.
Next Fixture:
A trip to Tyneside for the big one against the Mags next weekend.
