Wednesday 14th December 19:45, Sunderland host Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. Last time out Sunderland lost 3-0 to Swansea City and Chelsea won 1-0 away to West Bromwich Albion. Last season Sunderland won this fixture 3-2 thanks to goals from Khazri, Borini & Defoe to setup another great escape. Didier N’Dong is suspended so David Moyes needs to reshuffle the midfield as he looks for a reaction to the disappointing defeat at Swansea. Moyes: "A couple of players will miss the game so numbers are tight, but we've had that in recent weeks and picked up results." "People will try and find a way of beating Chelsea's system, but it's not just the system - they have real quality players." “ If we can get an atmosphere like last season against Chelsea it will give us every chance, and it would be terrific.” Antonio Conte will be confident of extending Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League with his rampant Chelsea team looking for their 5th away win and their 10th Premier League win a row. Conte: “We know Sunderland are bottom, but if you look at the last five games they are fifth in the form table, for this reason we have to take great attention, to be focused and concentrated throughout.” "This is the first of five games in 22 days, I think we are ready to face that challenge, We are working very hard to face this Christmas period. “Now it is important to start this period in the right way." Match Appointments: Referee: Neil Swarbrick Assistants: J Collin, M Wilkes Fourth official: M Atkinson Form: Sunderland: L-W-W-L-W-L Chelsea: W-W-W-W-W-W Head to Head (at Sunderland) Won 29 Lost 20 Draw 10 The Black Cats are looking for another win to make it 4 wins out of the last six. Sunderland have won their last two Premier League home matches. They have not won three in a row at the Stadium of Light since February 2012. Chelsea have won their last 9 Premier League games. Team Selection: Sunderland Sunderland need to make changes with Didier N’Dong suspended after accumulating 5 yellow cards, Jan Kirchhoff is expected to replace him. The good news is that Fabio Borini is back in the squad and could feature against Chelsea. Jack Rodwell remains sidelined for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. Lee Cattermole, Lynden Gooch, Paddy McNair & Duncan Watmore are all unavailable due to long term injuries. Chelsea Chelsea have a fully fit squad with club captain John Terry facing a late fitness test due to a muscle injury. Key Men Chelsea Eden Hazard please log in to view this image Hazard has been unrecognizable from the player who pulled on the shirt last season. Hazard has scored 8 goals and has 1 assist in 15 games. Sunderland Jordan Pickford Jordan will need to be on top form to keep the likes of Hazard, Costa and Fabregas at bay. Expected Line ups: Sunderland (4-3-3): Pickford, Van Aanholt, Djilobodji, Kone, Jones, Pienaar, Denayer, Kirchhoff, Borini, Defoe, Anichebe. Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso, Willian, Costa, Hazard. Betting Sunderland 8/1 Chelsea 1/3 Draw 4/1 My two pence... This is a very tough game, with Chelsea looking every bit like the champions elect. However, we are Sunderland and we tend to cause a few upsets along the way, especially when playing against Chelsea. 4 reasons to Believe: 1999 Sunderland 4 Chelsea 1 2010 Chelsea 0 Sunderland 3 2014 Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 2016 Sunderland 3 Chelsea 2 I’m going for a 2-2 draw. #OneBradleyLowery For all those going to the game, make sure you get there early to see the club mascot Bradley Lowery score his goal in the warm up and don’t forget on the 5th minute, “There’s only 1 Bradley Lowery” Ha’way the lads.
I put a draw, but am moving towards a win. Moyes should do his team talk and then have that picture on the way out 'DO IT FOR BRADLEY' lads
As we are Sunderland and Chelsea are on a 9 successive win run - an unlikely win to us...... but .... a heavy defeat would not be a suprise
I think it's nailed on a Chelsea win, they are flying at the moment. Stranger things have happened than us getting a result.....but not many lol
This evening sees "Champions elect" (IMO) Chelsea travel to the Stadium of Light against. Sunderland will be hoping for a coupon busting result against Chelsea, who are gunning for their 10th league win on the bounce. Sunderland will still be smarting from their humbling 3-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Swansea. David Moyes will be looking for a reaction. Chelsea, on the other hand, fought out a victroy against West Bromwich Albion with Diego Costa grabbing the late winner. Team News Sunderland Sunderland are currently without a few key players - most notably Duncan Watmore, who has provided much needed energy on the flanks. Fabio Borini is in full training and made the bench on Saturday - may well hope for a start this evening. Dider N'Dong picked up his 5th yellow card of the season at the weekend and will miss the game through suspension. Chelsea John Terry is still out for the visitors and Oscar is expected to be fit to return after recovering from illness. Eden Hazard, according to a large number of press reports today, has picked up a "knock" and will miss the game this evening. Key Players I'm going for Victor Anichebe - not because of goals or anything like that, but if we want to have any chance of getting something tonight, we need to ensure that, when the ball is cleared, we have a player able to keep hold of it up there. It seems to stick to him and he's no slouch either. Chelsea Diego Costa - he's class - he's an absolute arse of a bloke but he is a phenomenal footballer - would've gone with Hazard but he's now injured!! Previous meetings There have been at least 4 goals in the last 3 meetings between these 2 sides. Sunderland winning the last game 3-2 in one of the best atmospheres I've ever heard at any ground anywhere and losing the previous 2 games 3-1. The last 6 times these sides have met have given 1 draw, 2 Chelsea wins and 3 Sunderland wins (I kid you not!) All in all, I'd take a draw - that'd be me happy! It's a "bonus" game - if we get something then it's unexpected and if we don't, then let's hope the side have a decent performance
I think we are looking at something along the lines of 0-3, 1-4. Chelsea are bang on form and look strong all over the pitch.
Wish I could argue with you (as I'm an argumentative twat!!) Need to take a leaf from Pulis' book sometimes! Small mercies that Hazard is out - not like they don't have any other quality to replace him - can't understand how Fabregas escaped a ban but hopefully Djil or Kone can wind Costa up so he gets himself sent off!
See Marcos likes us: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...arcos-alonso-time-sunderland-special-12318188 Absolute respect for him
Costa has massively improved his discipline this season, which is showing on the pitch in almost every game. I didn't know Hazard was out, they'll probably just play Willian in there instead. 3 at the back for Chelsea, two wing backs, Moses and Alonso, Kante and Matic in CM, forward three of Willian, Costa and Pedro.
Sorry @RTB I guess this had dropped off the first page and I thought you hadn't done one - mybad - I'll merge them with yours as the main one
2 threads - 2 different opinions on key men! Cool!!! @Safc83 http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier League/Sunderland has loads of stories about Hazard - it's all over the place now: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ntonio-conte-chelsea-sunderland-a7473586.html Sunderland vs Chelsea: Eden Hazard ruled out with injury after being left at home for Premier League clash Chelsea will be without their flying winger at the Stadium of Light as they target their tenth Premier League win in a row please log in to view this image Hazard hobbled off during Chelsea's victory over West Brom Getty Eden Hazard has been left out of Chelsea’s squad to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this evening after picking up a knock last weekend. The tricky winger, who has been in dazzling form for the Blues this season, was omitted from Antonio Conte’s squad in a last minute call after being deemed unfit to play following a slight injury picked up during Chelsea’s 1-0 win over West Brom on Sunday. The severity of Hazard’s injury remains unknown, however, Conte is not prepared to risk one of his star players during such a hectic period of fixtures. please log in to view this image READ MORE Hazard, on the other hand, could return to the squad for Chelsea fixture against Crystal Palace on Saturday but only time will tell how long he will be sidelined.
@Gordon Armstrong so you're aware mate - when you merge a thread you needn't delete the old one - it disappears itself on the next day and both threads point to the same place
Yes, somebody has, and I dealt with it . . . . and, because of the official secrets act that I had to sign, I can't provide any details p.s. it's Christmas, and not a time for trouble/ill feeling/abuse, so **** off
