Printable version By Alistair Mann BBC Match of the Day commentator Barclays Premier LeagueVenue: Stadium of Light Date: Sunday, 18 September Kick-off: 1500 BST Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day 2; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles Live text and statsContent will update automatically Sunday, 18 September 2011 Premier League Home Team Score Away Team Time Sunderland v Stoke 15:00 SUNDERLANDSTOKEPossession Sunderland 50% Stoke 50% Attempts on target Sunderland 0 Stoke 0 Attempts off target Sunderland 0 Stoke 0 Corners Sunderland 0 Stoke 0 Fouls Sunderland 0 Stoke 0 TEAM NEWSSunderland's Phil Bardsley begins a four-match ban after the FA found him guilty of violent conduct. John O'Shea missed the defeat to Chelsea with a calf injury but is hoping to be fit for this weekend. Matthew Etherington (back), Rory Delap (groin) and Marc Wilson (hamstring) missed the Dynamo Kiev match and face fitness tests. Jonathan Woodgate is confident he will be fit to return to the squad after a minor knock. MATCH PREVIEWAmerican author Lemony Snicket wrote the children's books A Series of Unfortunate Events - it's fair to say that Steve Bruce (an author of fictional novels himself) may feel that he and Sunderland were Snicket's inspiration. Continue reading the main story Just three wins from 18 games, only 12 points accumulated, it's fair to say that Sunderland need a pick-me-up The recent Asamoah Gyan fiasco, that saw him engineer an unexpected loan move away, is just the latest unforeseen problem that the affable Bruce has had to contend with. At the end of January, Darren Bent suddenly upped and went to Aston Villa, just a few days after another then-Sunderland striker, Manchester United loanee Danny Wellbeck, pulled up with an injury that would rule him out for two months. The statistics since January, when the Black Cats sat sixth, highlight how badly things have gone. Just three wins from the subsequent 18 games, only 12 points accumulated, it's fair to say that Sunderland need a pick-me-up - and quickly. Unlike Snicket's creativity, all these are facts not fiction. Historically, the visit of Stoke has often provided them with the tonic they've needed. The Potters haven't so much as scored a goal on their three Premier League visits to the Stadium of Light. Stoke's 3,000-mile round trip to Kiev on European duty, three days before the game, must also be factored into the equation - as must their awful away record, albeit they did gather their first away win of 2011 last time out at West Brom. MATCH FACTSHead-to-head Stoke have not won in their last nine league visits to Sunderland since a 1-0 victory in the second tier in April 1994 when Mark Walters scored the only goal. Sunderland's only win in their last four Premier League matches against Stoke was 2-0 at home last season when Asamoah Gyan scored both goals. Ryan Shawcross was sent off for Stoke. None of the six Premier League meetings between Sunderland and Stoke has ended as an away win, with five wins for the home side and a draw. Sunderland Sunderland have failed to win in their opening four Premier League matches of the season for the first time since 2005-06. That season they went five matches without a win and were eventually relegated. The Black Cats have won just three of their last 18 Premier League matches. Sunderland have not kept a clean sheet at the Stadium of Light for 10 games. Stoke Stoke City have accrued as many points (eight) as they have managed shots on target this season. The Potters are unbeaten in their opening four Premier League matches. The last time they were unbeaten at this stage of the season came 35 years ago in the 1976-77 season. If they avoid defeat against Manchester City, it will be only the second time they have not lost in their opening five top-flight matches and the first since 1905-06. If Peter Crouch scores, he will have netted for his sixth different Premier League club, equalling the record held by Les Ferdinand, Craig Bellamy, Andrew Cole, Nick Barmby and Marcus Bent.
Got everything crossed just in case, trying to find a thread, but all sites so far drawing a blank, still got a few to go, four nil you say, sounds class to me.
Reasonable record against Stoke at home in the premier.....lets hope it stays that way,and our season kicks into gear today.
The only thing which would worry me is that Stoke are stronger than they've ever been before over the course of statistics like these. I don't know what the hell I want to happen really. This a tricky one. I see Stoke and Sunderland as direct competition for us in the league, so I don't really want either team to win, not even Stoke. One thing I know for sure though as that I'll be watching this game.
Get ya Red n White top on Chappz, you know you want to really. Enjoyed your match yesterday. Cabaye was class.
I'll watch your match but don't push it mate And it was a pretty good match for a draw wasn't it. I don't usually find myself so glued to a bit of a lacking draw, but the football was great from both sides, ours moreso I reckon. Cabaye was stunning. Only a keeper as good as Given could have kept out that screamer of a volley.
