On Sky
SUNDERLAND cross the Tyne this Sunday as they visit Newcastle United in new head coach Paolo Di Canio`s second match as Black Cats` boss.
The Italian took his side to Stamford Bridge last weekend, with the Lads slipping to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, despite an improved showing in the capital.
Now Di Canio returns to the north east for a Premier League match for the first time, heading to St. James` Park for a huge Tyne-Wear derby.
Sat in 13th and just five points above the relegation zone with six to play, Alan Pardew`s side might well be safe from relegation already by virtue of the sheer number of teams attempting to stave off relegation still at this late stage.
The Black Cats are out of the bottom three by just a place and goal difference after Wigan Athletic`s draw at Queens Park Rangers last weekend.
Much has been made of Newcastle`s ‘French Revolution` during the recent January Transfer Window, but it`s certainly worth pointing out that the Magpies appear to have spent far more shrewdly than Martin O’Neill did during his brief spell on Wearside.
PDC Previews Derby:
“Sometimes managers say this game delivers only three points, but we have to be honest.
“Of course, this game counts for three points but is even more important in terms of dignity, honour and respect.
“This game counts for a thousand. We have to feel a responsibility. We want to make our fans proud.’
Source: safc.com
Newcastle United Team News:
Pardew has a number of injury concerns to contend with ahead of Sunday’s game and will be without Ryan Taylor (knee), Harris Vukic (knee) and Fabricio Coloccini (back).
Yapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Steven Taylor, Cheik Tiote and Mathieu Debuchy are all doubtful.
Predicted line-up: Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara; Anita, Tiote; Gouffran, Cabaye (c), Gutierrez; Cisse.
Player to watch: Papiss Demba Cisse:
Free of international team-mate Demba Ba’s considerable shadow, Papiss Cisse appears to be returning to his lethal best in recent weeks.
With Ba departing for Chelsea during the January Transfer Window, the 27 year-old Senegalese has stepped up to the plate once more, bagging three in his last three.
An overall strike rate of 21 Barclays Premier League goals from just 42 starts since moving to Tynside in January 2012 is testimony once again to Graeme Carr’s eye for a player.
Poached from Bundesliga outfit Freiburg, Cisse is a clinical finisher and also boasts a one-in-two international strike rate, with 22 senior caps and 11 goals for Senegal.
Sunderland Team News:
Boasting the second-busiest treatment table in the Premier League to their nearest and dearest, Sunderland are without Steven Fletcher (ankle), Wes Brown (knee), David Vaughan (groin) and Lee Cattermole (knee).
Carlos Cuellar, Connor Wickham and Danny Graham are all doubts.
Craig Gardner is suspended.
Predicted line-up: Mignolet; Bardsley, O’Shea (c), Kilgallon, Rose; N’Diaye, Larsson; Johnson, Sessegnon, McClean; Wickham.
Player to watch: Connor Wickham:
With Danny Graham short of fitness and form, the responsibility of scoring the goals to keep the Black Cats in the Premier League drops down further, falling at the feet of Connor Wickham.
The 20 year-old has just one Premier League goal in seven starts for the Lads, but was preferred to Graham last weekend by Di Canio.
Match Facts & Stats:
5 – With Gardner (6) and Fletcher (11) both unavailable, Stephane Sessegnon goes into the derby as Sunderland’s high-scorer this term with five.
7 – Sunderland have not triumphed over the Magpies in seven attempts – their last win in 2008/09.
’99 – The year that Sunderland were last victorious at St. James’ Park.
5 – The last five Tyne-Wear derbies have yielded as many red cards. Dismissed were: Cheik Tiote, Stephane Sessegnon, Lee Cattermole, Phil Bardsley & Titus Bramble.
Ref Watch:
Referee: Mr H Webb
Assistants: Mr D Cann & Ms. S Massey
Fourth official: Mr A Taylor
Match Prediction:
Too tight to call. Newcastle have a stronger squad and are in better form, but, shorn of a number of players it could be tight when you take the PDC factor into equation.
A low-scoring game with a narrow win for either.
Next Fixtures:
A visit from bogey side Everton next Saturday in Di Canio’s first home match
