SUNDERLAND head to Loftus Road this Saturday to take on Harry Redknapp’s Queens Park Rangers in the battle of two out-of-form sides scrapping to avoid the drop.
The Hoops bolstered their chances of survival last Saturday with a 2-1 win at Southampton to move within four points of safety.
Sunderland on the other hand, have not won in five Premier League matches and will be looking to put some distance between themselves at the drop zone.
It will be a vastly different R’s side that host Martin O’Neill’s side to the one which drew 0-0 at the Stadium of Light in November.
Redknapp brought in six new faces in January at an estimated cost of £21.5m, and their impact will be central to the Hoops fight to avoid the drop back into the Championship.
Martin O’Neill pre-QPR:
Source: safc.com
“QPR is a difficult issue. They will be fighting for everything having won last week.
“Their side has been changed around somewhat since Harry Redknapp came in and it will be a monumental battle.
“It`s a difficult game for us. I believe we shouldn`t have been beaten in any of our games played recently, including the one against Arsenal.’
Queens Park Rangers Team News:
Strikers Andy Johnson (knee) and Bobby Zamora (hip) should both miss out, with only Zamora retaining any chance of featuring.
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar (thigh) was replaced by Rob Green at Southampton and may not recover in time.
Defender Tal Ben-Haim, fomerly of this parish, is also out.
Predicted line-up
Green; Bosingwa, Samba, Hill (c), Traore; Remy, Park, M`Bia, Granero, Hoilett; Bothroyd.
Player to watch: Loic Remy:
The livewire French international has hit the ground running at Loftus Road after turning down the approach of Newcastle United.
Signed in a £8m swoop from French giants Marseille, the 24 year-old has bagged two in his first three starts for the west Londoners.
Blessed with raw pace, the Lyon-born forward turned out for his home-town club before spells with Nice (loan), Lens and Marseille.
In a career spanning just seven years and 133 league starts, the 6’1 forward has 59 league goals to his name.
Sunderland Team News:
Defender Wes Brown (knee) is likely to miss the rest of the season, though Danny Rose (hamstring) couldb e fit enough for the bench.
Lee Cattermole (knee) is also out whilst Matt Kilgallon (illness) is doubtful once more.
Predicted line-up:
Mignolet; Gardner, O`Shea (c), Bramble, Colback; Sessegnon, Larsson, N`Diaye, Johnson; Graham & Fletcher.
Player to watch: Stephane Sessegnon:
The Benin international is finding something of a return to form and bagged the equaliser against Fulham last Saturday.
Now deployed on the right-hand side of a flat 4-4-2, the former Paris St Germain attacker stills drifts all over the place in his search for the ball.
If Sessegnon plays well, the Black Cats have an excellent chance of victory.
Match Facts & Stats:
– Sunderland have lost just once in their last 12 meetings with the Hoops.
– Sunderland have been victorious in just four of their last 14 games at Loftus Road.
– Indeed, the Black Cats had never won a fixture at the home of the Shepherds Bush club until 1997.
– Since then, the Lads have won their subsequent three fixtures at the Loft.
Ref Watch:
Referee: Mr M Jones
Assistants: Mr R West & Mr S Ledger
Fourth Official: Mr M Dean
Match Prediction:
Recent history points to a Sunderland victory but Redknapp’s side will be bouncing after a massive win on the south coast last weekend.
A tight, tight, 2-1 win for the Lads.
Next Fixture:
Norwich City at the Stadium of Light on Sunday March 17, live on Sky Sports.
