Sunderland Take On Aston Villa

Aston Villa come to the Stadium of Light for one of the most important games of the season for both clubs.

Both Villa and Sunderland are too close to the relegation zone for comfort and what makes it worse for Sunderland is that Villa seem to have found a bit of good form.

After 12 league games without a win, they beat West Brom and just to show that it was no fluke, that beat them again when they won the FA Cup in the quarter final a couple of days later. There was great scenes of celebration before somebody pointed out to them that there was still a couple of games to go.

Anyway, the nitty-gritty of Saturday’s game is that whoever loses are in trouble and the winners will be able to relax for a short period.

Earlier in the season it was 0-0 at Villa Park.

Vital Quotes:

Gus: “They lost a couple but they have come back to win two and for sure the confidence in the camp is different, but on Saturday at 3pm it is 11 against 11 and we need to perform and we have to be better than them.

“We need to deal with situations, adapt to the players we have available and win.

“I don`t think there are any excuses – we have been a little bit unlucky lately with certain positions on the pitch but I think it is the same for every team and we are no different.” (official site)

Timothy: ‘I think it’ll be a photo finish and I hope we’re not in it.

‘We’re probably just coming around the corner but it’s probably the longest run-in in racing history.

‘All we’re looking at is the next fence and that’s Sunderland. After that we hope we can stay in the running, there might be a few who fall along the way and we’re hoping that’s not us.’

Sunderland Team News:

Former England winger Adam Johnson has been suspended by the club and remains unavailable.

Jack Rodwell scored on his return against Hull, Rodwell back in the side will ease the pressure of having no Lee Cattermole who is out for two games for getting his tenth booking of the season.

Jordi Gomez will be the likely replacement while Connor Wickham is also looking for a start.

Player to watch: Jack Rodwell

Scored in his first game back against Hull, will be looking for more of the same against fellow strugglers Aston Villa.

Aston Villa Team News:

Villa could go with he same side that beat those annoying lot that go ‘boing, boing’ all over the place although they look like having key players Christian Benteke and Ron Vlaar looking to start.

Brad Guzan will be back between the sticks after Shay Given kept goal in the Cup.

Aly Cissokho, Kieran Richardson, Philippe Senderos and Nathan Baker are all injured and Alan Hutton is banned. So is Jack Grealish who upset the ref against the Baggies by practising his audition for the Olympic diving team.

Player to watch: Christian Benteke

Always a danger and will need close attention if he passes late tests.

Match Facts & Stats

Saturday..

Crystal Palace v QPR (12.45pm)
Arsenal v West Ham United
Leicester City v Hull City
West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City
Burnley v Manchester City (5.30pm)

Sunday..

Chelsea v Southampton (1.30pm)
Everton v Newcastle United (4pm)
Manchester United v Tottenham (4pm)

Ref Watch:

Neil Swarbrick.

Swarbrick was last in charge of a game involving the Black Cats in December when the lads drew 0-0 with Liverpool at Anfield. Four yellow cards were shown that afternoon, one going to Lucas of Liverpool and Santiago Vergini, Liam Bridcutt and Will Buckley picked up one each for Sunderland.

Swarbrick was also in charge of a Sunderland game previous to that one this season, he took charge of the 3-1 win over Stoke City in October, in that game seven were booked.

So far this season Swarbrick has taken charge of 27 games in various competitions, in that time he has shown 112 yellow cards and three red.

Swarbrick’s assistants on Saturday will be Scott Ledger and Michael Salisbury. The fourth official will be Robert Madley.