Sunderland v West Brom Premier League Preview: Can The Baggies Pick Up 3 Points Against The Black Cats In This Crunch Relegation Clash?

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Sunderland play, Tony Mowbray’s West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The Black Cats go into this clash without a manager and in the relegation zone, having only won two and lost six of their last eight games in the Premier League. Caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia, will be hoping that Sunderland can pick themselves up after losing 1-0 to Manchester United last week in the dying seconds at Old Trafford. However, Sunderland will be targeting all three points to get them back on track against a West Brom side who, are also struggling.

West Brom go into this game with Sunderland, having only managed to take two points from their last nine matches, which has left the Baggies rooted to the bottom of the Premiership. The Baggies biggest problem this season has been scoring goals, with West Brom only managing to score three on their travels away from the Hawthorns in the eight Premier League games they have played, while conceding thirteen. Mowbray needs a win badly from this bottom of the table clash and will hope to take advantage of the unrest surrounding the North East club at the moment.

Sunderland will be without Darren Ward (back) and David Connolly (groin) for the visit of West Brom, but will be boosted by the return of captain Dean Whitehead, who is expected to recover from a dead leg in time for this all-important game with the Baggies.

Mowbray has been dealt a hammer blow this week, with the knee injury to Ishmael Miller, who will be out for seven months. Mowbray has preferred Miller as his lone-striker for most of the season to date, with Roman Bednar likely to take his place. Other than that the only other absentee, will be long-term injury Neil Clement, who is still ruled out with his own knee problems.

Sunderland: (from) Gordon, Bardsley, McCartney, Tainio, Nosworthy, Edwards, Malbranque, Cisse, Richardson, Diouf, Whitehead, Miller, Murphy, Collins, Jones, Leadbitter, Yorke, Reid, Chimbonda, Healy, M’Voto, Ferdinand, Hartley, Fulop, Dowson, Meyler, Henderson, Prica, Colgan

West Bromwich Albion: (from) Carson, Hoefkens, Robinson, Cech, Barnett, Koren, Greening, Bednar, Brunt, Beattie, Kim, MacDonald, Dorrans, Pele, Kiely, Teixeira, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Morrison, Valero, Donk, Worral

Sunderland v Portsmouth Premiership Preview: Keane & Adams Resume Old Rivalries From The Dugout

Sunderland Play Tony Adams’, Portsmouth in the Premier League, at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Roy Keane will be hoping the Black Cats can bounce straight back from last weekends 5-0 drubbing to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which emphasised the gulf in class between Sunderland and the top sides. However, Sunderland boss Keane is slowly building a squad in the North East, which is more than capable of competing in the Premiership and will relish the chance to pit his wits against former adversary on the pitch Adams. A win is vital for the Black Cats as they sit just one point above the bottom three.

New Pompey boss Adams never settled for anything less than 100% as a player for Arsenal and will not have liked being beaten 2-1 at Fratton Park by Wigan Athletic last weekend in his first match in charge. Adams will be looking forward to locking horns again with Keane as they face each other as managers for the first time. Pompey have not won in their last four games in the Premiership and Adams knows the importance of a win if the South coast club are to keep pace at the sharp end of the league.

Sunderland will be without David Connolly (groin) and Darren Ward (back), with record signing goalkeeper Craig Gordon likely to recover from a sprained ankle in time to face Pompey. Striker Kenwyne Jones could start in attack with Djibril Cisse, with Nyron Nosworthy and Anton Ferdinand likely to be Keane’s chosen central- defender pairing. Michael Chopra rejoined Cardiff City on loan this week.

Adams is unable to call on striker David Nugent, who is a week away from fitness with a groin problem, while fringe player Glenn Little could be fit in time for the visit to the Stadium of Light if he can shake off a hamstring injury.

Sunderland: (from) Gordon, Nosworthy, Ferdinand, McCartney, Malbranque, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Bardsley, Cisse, Richardson, Diouf, Miller, Murphy, Collins, Jones, Yorke, Reid, Chimbonda, Healy, M’Voto, Hartley, Fulop, Waghorn, Dowson, Meyler, Prica, Colgan

Portsmouth: (from) James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Belhadj, Kranjcar, Utaka, Diarra, Defoe, Crouch, Kaboul, Lauren, Hreidarsson, Diop, Thomas, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Ashdown, Hughes, Duffy, Sahar, Kanu, Davis, A Traore, D Traore, Wilson, Little