Sunderland Vs Blackburn

Blackburn come to Sunderland still chasing a Champions League dream and will be confident of the maximum points. Important players return for Sunderland however, and this is one of the few last chances to give the Sunderland crowd a home win.

Vital Quotes:

Caretaker boss Kevin Ball,

‘We’ve got eight games left and we need to have a right go – when the players cross that white line it’s down to them.

‘There have been games where they have given their all and it is frustrating when they have come away with nothing.

‘But they’ve got to be positive and show commitment, desire, endeavour or whatever way you want to dress it up.’

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes,

‘It has been a difficult year for everybody involved with Sunderland. It is a potential banana-skin because everybody believes that at some point Sunderland will get a home win.

‘On paper it would seem a real opportunity for three away points but we have to be wary of them.’

Sunderland Team News:

Julio Arca, Liam Lawrence, Jon Stead and Stephen Elliot all return to the Sunderland squad after missing last week’s game away at Bolton. Arca and Elliot will go straight into the side while the other two may have to settle for a place on the bench, once again alongside club captain Gary Breen

Sunderland (from): Davis, Nosworthy, McCartney, Caldwell, D Collins, Delap, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Miller, Smith, Kyle, Elliott, Alnwick, Breen, Stead, Arca, Lawrence, Le Tallec, Woods, Bassila.

Player to watch: Jon Stead

Should he be selected, he will be playing against his former side, and for this reason only is he my one to watch this week. You never know, he might actually get some luck coming his way for once.

Blackburn Team News:

Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage serves a one-match ban after the first red card of his career against Middlesbrough.

He will be replaced by Turkish international midfielder Tugay, after recovering from a calf strain. Andy Todd also returns after shaking off a dead leg, with youth-team player Tony Kane also making the squad.


Blackburn (from): Friedel, Enckelman, Pedersen, Neill, Tugay, Nelsen, Reid, Gray, Todd, Khizanishvili, Bentley, Kuqi, Emerton, Dickov, Bellamy, Mokoena, Matteo, Sinama Pongolle, Peter, Kane.

Player to watch: Craig Bellamy

For the simple reason that he used to play for Newcastle means that he is bound to score anyway, but bearing in mind his recent formidable form, he is without doubt the away side’s biggest threat and will cause Sunderland’s defence problems all day.

Match Facts & Stats

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Sunderland 56 wins, Blackburn 38, Draws 23
Prem: Sunderland 2 wins, Blackburn 2, Draws 3


HEAD TO HEAD at Sunderland
League: Sunderland 40 wins, Blackburn 11, Draws 7
Prem: Sunderland 1 wins, Blackburn 0, Draws 2

Ref Watch:

Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Match Prediction:

We’d all love to see Stead finally break his duck against his former club to give the long-suffering home fans a win. But we know the way it works by now, Bellamy will net at least a couple, and Blackburn will walk away with the points. 0-2.

Match Odds:

Check the Top Tips section later in the day where all the match odds and this week’s accumulator will be available.