AFTER last Monday’s 6-1 hammering at Aston Villa, Sunderland are back in Premier League action this Monday as they take on Stoke City at the Stadium of Light.
The date will not be welcome news to those of a superstitious nature – the Black Cats have failed to win any of their last 17 fixtures on a Monday; an incredible run which stretches back to 2002.
Better news perhaps, is that it’s 11th-placed Stoke City that stand between Sunderland and three points, a side who have the joint-second-worst away record in the league and have scored just 11 away goals this term – less than Reading or QPR.
Sunderland’s position was worsened once more over the weekend with Wigan Athletic winning 3-2 at West Bromwich Albion to move to just two points behind Paolo Di Canio’s men.
The Latics will also have the benefit of a game in-hand once Sunderland have played on Monday evening, meaning a win against the Potters is imperative if the Lads are not to be pulled into the relegation zone.
Even Stoke in 11th are far from safe. With 40 points the Staffordshire outfit are only five points above the drop zone themselves, adding another dimension to an increasingly-interesting relegation battle.
Back-to-back wins have helped pull the Potters away from the bottom three, but those two victories were preceded by a run of one win from 14 in the league, a stretch of form which put increased pressure on Tony Pulis.
The Newport-born 55 year-old has come under increased pressure this term with Stoke seemingly slipping back into their old, more direct ways, after previously trying to evolve their famed playing style.
Ball-hungry players such as former Liverpool, Blackpool and Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam have been recruited, but it’s still the muck-and-nettles approach of the likes of Jonathan Walters that has kept Stoke’s heads above water.
Walters, 29, has to go down as one of Pulis’ best signings for the club.
Signed in a £2.75m deal from Ipswich Town in August 2010, the Birkenhead-born Republic of Ireland international has made his name as a tireless front-runner with no qualms about doing the dirty work.
With 20 goals in precisely 100 Premier League starts for the Potters, the former Ipswich, Chester, Wrexham, Scunthorpe, Hull Barnsley, Crewe, Bolton and Blackburn man has been a reliable source of goals too.
Capable of playing on either side of midfield or through the middle, the workaholic 6’0′ attacker has also helped himself to an impressive nine F.A Cup goals in just 14 starts for Stoke.
Another man who has proved a vital cog in the side this term has been Bosnian goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic.
Formerly of Ipswich Town as well, the 25 year-old gloveman is believed to be attracting interest from some of the top-flight’s biggest clubs after another exemplary season between the sticks.
Signed from cash-strapped Portsmouth after excelling during his six-game loan stint at Portman Road, the 6’5′ stopper is just two appearances shy of 100 career Premier League starts.
With former Birmingham City youngster Jack Butland signed during the January Transfer Window and billed as the next ‘bring young thing’ of English goalkeeping, Pulis appears to have shrewdly built for a future without the 20-cap Bosnian international.
Utility man Marc Wilson will miss out for the Potters whilst Glenn Whelan and Andy Wilkinson both face late fitness tests.
Sunderland are of course without Wes Brown, Steven Fletcher and Lee Cattermole.
Stephane Sessegnon joins that trio due to suspension, meaning Di Canio must choose between altering his system or putting a square peg in a round hole to continue with 4-4-1-1.
Titus Bramble and Connor Wickham are both still doubts.
Predicted line-ups:
Sunderland: Mignolet; Bardsley, O’Shea (c), Cuellar, Rose; Johnson, Larsson, N’Diaye, Gardner, McClean; Graham.
Stoke City: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross (c), Huth, Shotton; Walters, N’Zonzi, Whelan, Adam; Crouch & Jerome.
Referee: Mr L Mason.
Share this article
Related Articles
