Sunderland will be looking at this game as a must win game in order to keep their top eight surge going into 2011.
Sunderland have lost four games on the road so far but remain unbeaten this season at home. Steve Bruce knows the next two games are vital in order to keep us going and maybe bring new players in next month.
Holloway has done amazingly well for Blackpool this season with a great total of 22 points already. They may pay the cost for not having under soil heating and this may give them the edge for this game.
Hopefully with four players returning for Sunderland they can find the killer touch to take us nicely into the Blackburn game on January 1st.
Vital Quotes: Steve Bruce
‘Now the defining part of the season is upon us. We have got back-to-back home games against Blackpool and Blackburn – can we go and win them both? If we can, then we have got an exciting Spring to look forward to.’
Sunderland Team News:
Sunderland will make a lot of changes as Cattermole returns from suspension and Welbeck is now eligible to play after missing out against Man Utd.
Kieron Richardson will be back after recovering from a bug over Christmas but the big news will be the arrival of Titus Bramble.
Bramble, who has been superb so far this season, is back from a knee operation at just the right time. Hopefully he will bring more strength and arial ability to our back four against this tricky team.
Player to watch: Cattermole
He has been a big miss through suspensions this season but when he plays we are a totally different team.
Cattermole will be excited to be back in the starting eleven and looking to keep his teams unbeaten run going.
Blackpool Team News:
The big news for Sunderland is that Blackpool’s talisman Charlie Adams will miss the game through suspension.
At least the snow has brought us some good news after all!
Player to watch: DJ Campbell
Loves to score against us and brought many moments of pain to our hearts with Cup and league goals.
He has done tremendous this season for Blackpool and will be their main threat up front. Let’s hope Titus is fully fit and can keep another clean sheet for the lads.
Match Facts & Stats
This is the first meeting of these clubs since March 1988. That match ended in a 2-2 draw at Sunderland in the old Third Division.
They have won their last eight Premier League matches against promoted teams at the Stadium of Light.
They are unbeaten in their last three Premier League away matches, keeping two clean sheets.
Ref Watch:
The one and only Andre Marriner!
Please let this info be wrong as he should be sacked for past decisions!
Match Prediction:
Sunderland 3 – 0 Blackpool
I believe we will be good enough to upset the surprise package this season with Bent, Gyan and Welbeck all hungry for goals.
Next Fixtures: Blackburn (H)
Blackburn at home is the New Years day clash and another we must be looking at for three points
