Sunderland vs Stoke City. Premier League.
Stadium of LightAttendance42,722.
Saturday 14 January 2017 15:01, UK
Sunderland could move out of the Premier League's relegation zone for the first time since September with victory over Stoke on Saturday afternoon.
The Black Cats have been in the bottom three since their 3-0 defeat to Everton on September 10 but have moved within a point of 17th-placed Crystal Palace after picking up seven points since the start of December.
Sunderland are also unbeaten in their last three games at the Stadium of Light in all competitions, and manager David Moyes believes this month could be vital in their fight against relegation.
"January can be a month which defines a season and a couple of wins for us can make it look a lot healthier," he told his pre-match press conference
“We’ve played a lot better at home and we look as if we’re capable of getting results – we didn’t get them at the start of the season, I think it just came around too quickly – but we’ve settled down and we’re beginning to give the supporters something to shout about."
Stoke had a rocky festive period - winning just one game in December - and will be looking to bounce back after a 2-0 defeat to Sky Bet Championship side Wolves in the FA Cup last weekend.
Team news
Sunderland will continue to be without Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar, who were both injured in the New Year's Eve clash with Burnley.
However, Billy Jones could be back in contention for the visit of the Potters while Jordan Pickford could also make an earlier than expected return in the next few weeks.
Jonathan Walters is set for an extended spell on the sidelines for Stoke after a knee injury he picked up will require minor surgery.
Bojan will also miss out on Saturday with a hip issue while Ramadan Sobhi, Wilfried Bony and Mame Biram Diouf are away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Those absences mean teenager Julien Ngoy will be involved again while Marc Muniesa and Phil Bardsley are in contention after a week's training.
Opta stats
Sunderland haven’t lost twice to Stoke in the same season since 1993/94, when both sides were in the second tier.
Joe Allen scored twice for the Potters in October against Sunderland, his only Premier League double to date in his career.
The Black Cats are unbeaten in their last 14 home league games against Stoke (W9 D5).
Only once in their last 20 league visits to Wearside have Stoke managed to score more than one goal in a match (two in March 2007).
Peter Crouch is two goals away from netting his 100th in the Premier League and would become the 26th player to reach triple figures for Premier League goals.
Jermain Defoe has scored 20 Premier League goals in January. Only Alan Shearer (23) and Frank Lampard (21) have more in PL history during this month.
Sunderland have faced more shots on target than any other Premier League team this season (130).
Paul Merson's prediction
It’s a must-win match for Sunderland and they need to play it like a cup final. A draw is no value for them, they need all three points.
How will Stoke respond? They had a shocker in the FA Cup as they played a strong team and still lost at home.
Sunderland have to keep Jermain Defoe this month. Unless someone comes in with £60m - which they are not going to - then you can’t sell him. If you do then you might as well give everybody their season tickets back because you are basically saying ‘we are relegated’.
He has to stay, if he doesn’t then they are writing it off.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Sunderland are 19/10 outsiders with Sky Bet with Stoke 7/5 while the draw is priced at 23/20. The Black Cats’ winless festive run has seen them cut to 1/2 for relegation, while Stoke are 15/8 for a top-half finish. Jermain Defoe’s importance to the hosts is exemplified by the fact he heads the first goalscorer betting at 9/2 despite his side being outsiders, while Peter Crouch is considered the visitors’ main threat at 11/2.
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