SUNDERLAND take on Martin Jol`s Fulham at the Stadium of Light this Saturday with neither side in desperately menacing form and both looking to build some kind of momentum.
Martin O`Neill`s Black Cats are four games without victory, whilst the Whites have only put together back-to-back victories once this season – that sequence coming way back in mid-September.
Whilst the Cottagers home form has been impressive – picking up 21 of their 32 points at Craven Cottage – their away form has held them back somewhat, with only two wins recorded and 15 goals scored, the joint-third lowest tally in the Barclays Premier League.
A win against Stoke City last Saturday was Fulham`s second in four games, and after a winless run of five matches, Jol`s side do appear to be getting back towards the form which had them among the Europa League contenders earlier in the season.
The combined loss of Clint Demspey and Moussa Dembele was a blow, but in their places others have stepped up for the Hammersmith side, who are certainly enjoying the best of Dimitar Berbatov.
Berbatov, 32, got Fulham`s winner against the Potters with a sweet volley on the stroke of half-time a week ago, taking his tally for the season to nine league goals from 21 starts.
Deemed something of a luxury player at Old Trafford during his four-year stint at Manchester United, the Bulgarian striker still helped himself to 49 top-flight goals in 82 appearances, albeit he was never truly entrusted by Sir Alex Ferguson.
With an air of arrogance and more than a dash of lazyness about him, the 6`2 forward is not everybody`s cup of tea. The numbers however, speak for themselves: 86 Premier League goals from 166 starts mean that the lackadaisical frontman has a 0.51 strike rate – marginally better than one in two.
Alongside the not insignificant skill of Berbatov, is the equally precocious talent of Costa Rican international, Bryan Ruiz.
The 27 year-old attacker set the Cottagers back some £10.6m last term, and although he struggled to make an impact initially, the talent was evident.
A slight man in spite of his 6`1 frame, the former FC Twente winger-cum-forward has made 32 Premier League starts during his 18 months in England, scoring five times, including one sublimely-deft lofted effort against Everton last term.
For Jol, the key is unlocking the kind of technical aptitude that the Central American playmaker so clearly has in abundance, on a more regular basis.
Fulham could be without former Sunderland utility man Kieran Richardson, who is a doubt for Saturday with a calf injury.
Midfielder Karim Frei (groin) and Mahamadou Diarra (knee) are both likely to miss out too.
Black Cats` boss O`Neill will have to ponder making changes to his backline with Kader Mangane coming through 90 minutes for the U21s on Monday night.
Titus Bramble`s head appears to be the one on the chopping block, whilst Lee Cattermole should return.
Danny Rose is still sidelined with a hamstring injury meaning Jack Colback will start at left-back in a 4-4-2 once more.
Predicted line-ups:
Sunderland: Mignolet; Gardner, O`Shea, Mangane, Colback; Sessegnon, Cattermole (c), N`Diaye, Johnson; Graham & Fletcher.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise; Dejagah, Sidwell, Karagounis, Duff; Ruiz & Berbatov.
Referee: Mr M Halsey.
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