Saturday 21 February 2015 14:59, UK
Resurgent West Brom travel to the Stadium of Light to face a Sunderland side going through a turbulent time on Wearside.
Just days after being dumped out of the FA Cup by League One Bradford City, manager Gus Poyet wrote an open letter pleading with fans to support both he and his squad.
The letter came in response calls for Poyet to be sacked in the wake of the cup exit, but the Uruguayan has called for unity ahead of the Baggies' visit.
Despite this, Jermain Defoe's arrival from the Toronto FC in January will give the Black Cats' survival hopes a boost, and victory would see them leapfrog the Baggies in the league.
Albion head to the North East in confident mood having lost just one game since Tony Pulis took charge at the turn of the year.
Key to that run of has been the rejuvenation of striker Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye, who both starred as the Baggies booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a resounding 4-0 victory of West Ham at the weekend.
Team news
Defoe could return to the Sunderland squad for Saturday's vital game with West Brom.
The 32-year-old striker missed the 2-0 FA Cup fifth round defeat at Bradford with a calf injury but could be available for the game at the Stadium of Light. Lee Cattermole, who has been sidelined since the end of December with a combination of groin and knee problems, could also return to the squad.
Anthony Reveillere (hamstring) and midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini (ankle) battling to be fit.
West Brom defender Jonas Olsson, who has not played since September and underwent Achilles surgery before Christmas, is pushing for a return having played twice for the U21s and was an unused substitute in the FA Cup last week.
Youssouf Mulumbu, who suffered a hamstring injury at the Africa Cup of Nations, could also return leaving striker Victor Anichebe (groin) as the only definite absentee.
Opta facts
The Baggies have collected more wins against Sunderland than any other opponent in Premier League history (eight times).
Defoe has scored in three of his last five Premier League appearances against West Brom.
Sunderland have netted just six goals in their last nine Premier League home games.
The Black Cats have won just two of their last 14 Premier League matches at the Stadium of Light (W2 D6 L6).
West Brom have lost just one of their last six Premier League matches (W2 D3 L1).
The Baggies have scored a league high 54 per cent of their goals from set pieces.
Merson's prediction
This is another game where both sides will be desperate to avoid defeat. Neither side will want to lose this one. Sunderland will be disappointed with their defeat to QPR but they did create plenty of chances – they just could not put the ball in the back of the net. However, Pulis will have his side well prepared and very tough to beat so once again I’m going for a share of the spoils.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1
Betting
Sunderland are the favourites, with Sky Bet going 6/4 on a home win, 15/8 for a West Brom triumph and 11/5 for the draw. Sunderland have scored exactly two in three of the last five meetings between the sides and it’s 3/1 for that trend to continue, while it’s 7/1 for the Black Cats to win via a two-goal margin. However, Sky Bet’s correct score odds suggest the most likely final score is 1-1 at 9/2. In-form Defoe is the clear favourite to score first at 9/2.
