Sunderland Vs West Brom
Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread
Making predictions this Premier League season has been tantamount to putting a pin into the race card on Grand National day - occasionally you do come up with a 100-1 winner!
Such odds could certainly be applied to Sunderland's chances of staying up following their home loss to Everton on 12 April.
The defeat seemed to sum up the fortunes - or perhaps more accurately misfortunes - of the seemingly inappropriately named Black Cats as a Wes Brown own goal 15 minutes from time left them seven points adrift of safety with only six games to play.
That result, coupled with victories on the same day for both Fulham and Cardiff, appeared to signal the inevitability of Championship football - a look at their subsequent fixtures merely appeared to confirm their doom.
Yet, less than a month later and courtesy of a spectacular run of 10 points in four games, they now require just a draw to ensure they complete the miracle even manager Gus Poyet stated they required.
If they should secure their top division status against West Brom there would be a sense of kismet about it as it was a humbling defeat at the Hawthorns back in September which ended Paolo Di Canio's tempestuous managerial reign.
The 3-0 capitulation that day left Sunderland bottom of the table and featured some unforgettable scenes as the beleaguered boss marched over to his disgruntled supporters to "discuss" their plight - he was sacked soon after.
That victory was the Baggies' first of the campaign, that they've only won six more accurately explains why they've spent so much of the season flirting with the drop themselves.
An inability to win, or perhaps more accurately a propensity to draw, has blighted them throughout.
They will visit the Stadium of Light in the knowledge that they are safe - barring a mathematical miracle - and with the hosts close to joining them. Perhaps a draw would be the most predictable result? But then again, in this campaign, anything's possible.
Match Appointments
REFEREE: Lee Mason
ASST. REF. 1: S Bennett
ASST. REF. 2: A Holmes
4TH OFFICIAL: N Swarbrick.
Sunderland Team News
Sunderland have no fresh injury concerns with Gus Poyet likely to name an unchanged side to face West Brom.
Long-term absentees Ki Sung-Yeung, Steven Fletcher and Carlos Cuellar remain sidelined.
WBA Team News
Baggies right-back Billy Jones is set to return, having been rested for the defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.
Fellow defender Gareth McAuley returned to training last week and could also be fit to play.
Head to Head
EPL Form
This Seasons Reverse Fixture
Last Season's Corresponding Fixture
What the 'Experts' Say
Lawrenson
Couldn't be arsed, yet again
Merson
Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd - Sunderland have taken seven points from their last three away games. Unbelievable. If Arsenal had done that they could have won the league!
You look at Sunderland's team, though, and you think 'what were you doing down near the bottom anyway?' Back at the start of March, in the Capital One Cup Final against Man City, they should have won. It was only two extraordinary strikes from Toure and Samir Nasri. Bar that, Sunderland didn't look like losing that game.
They then lost some silly games, their confidence got shot and they slipped down the table. But now the confidence is sky high again and the manager has done brilliant.
I thought West Brom did well at Arsenal, though, and were very comfortable. I'm going for Sunderland to win in front of a packed house but I still think West Brom will be well alright, too, in terms of staying up.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
Stats n Facts
Head-to-head
West Brom
Betting
Links
http://www.safc.com/fans/visiting-fans
Streaming
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=257290&part=sports
Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread
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Making predictions this Premier League season has been tantamount to putting a pin into the race card on Grand National day - occasionally you do come up with a 100-1 winner!
Such odds could certainly be applied to Sunderland's chances of staying up following their home loss to Everton on 12 April.
The defeat seemed to sum up the fortunes - or perhaps more accurately misfortunes - of the seemingly inappropriately named Black Cats as a Wes Brown own goal 15 minutes from time left them seven points adrift of safety with only six games to play.
That result, coupled with victories on the same day for both Fulham and Cardiff, appeared to signal the inevitability of Championship football - a look at their subsequent fixtures merely appeared to confirm their doom.
Yet, less than a month later and courtesy of a spectacular run of 10 points in four games, they now require just a draw to ensure they complete the miracle even manager Gus Poyet stated they required.
If they should secure their top division status against West Brom there would be a sense of kismet about it as it was a humbling defeat at the Hawthorns back in September which ended Paolo Di Canio's tempestuous managerial reign.
The 3-0 capitulation that day left Sunderland bottom of the table and featured some unforgettable scenes as the beleaguered boss marched over to his disgruntled supporters to "discuss" their plight - he was sacked soon after.
That victory was the Baggies' first of the campaign, that they've only won six more accurately explains why they've spent so much of the season flirting with the drop themselves.
An inability to win, or perhaps more accurately a propensity to draw, has blighted them throughout.
They will visit the Stadium of Light in the knowledge that they are safe - barring a mathematical miracle - and with the hosts close to joining them. Perhaps a draw would be the most predictable result? But then again, in this campaign, anything's possible.
Match Appointments
REFEREE: Lee Mason
ASST. REF. 1: S Bennett
ASST. REF. 2: A Holmes
4TH OFFICIAL: N Swarbrick.
Sunderland Team News
Sunderland have no fresh injury concerns with Gus Poyet likely to name an unchanged side to face West Brom.
Long-term absentees Ki Sung-Yeung, Steven Fletcher and Carlos Cuellar remain sidelined.
WBA Team News
Baggies right-back Billy Jones is set to return, having been rested for the defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.
Fellow defender Gareth McAuley returned to training last week and could also be fit to play.
Head to Head
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EPL Form
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This Seasons Reverse Fixture
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Last Season's Corresponding Fixture
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What the 'Experts' Say
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Lawrenson
Couldn't be arsed, yet again
Merson
Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd - Sunderland have taken seven points from their last three away games. Unbelievable. If Arsenal had done that they could have won the league!
You look at Sunderland's team, though, and you think 'what were you doing down near the bottom anyway?' Back at the start of March, in the Capital One Cup Final against Man City, they should have won. It was only two extraordinary strikes from Toure and Samir Nasri. Bar that, Sunderland didn't look like losing that game.
They then lost some silly games, their confidence got shot and they slipped down the table. But now the confidence is sky high again and the manager has done brilliant.
I thought West Brom did well at Arsenal, though, and were very comfortable. I'm going for Sunderland to win in front of a packed house but I still think West Brom will be well alright, too, in terms of staying up.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
Stats n Facts
Head-to-head
- Sunderland won their first Premier League game against West Brom - 4-0 at the Stadium of Light in December 2008 - but are winless in the eight league meetings since (L7, D1).
- West Brom's 3-0 win in the reverse fixture earlier this season was Paolo Di Canio's final game in charge of Sunderland. He was sacked two days later.
- Victory for Sunderland would secure their Premier League survival. A draw would leave Norwich needing a mathematical miracle to overhaul them on the final day.
- Sunderland could seal a fourth-successive Premier League victory for the first time since December 2000.
- They have taken more points from their last three league games (nine) than in the previous 11 (eight).
- Sunderland's 4-0 victory in their last home match was a first win in five league games at the Stadium of Light (L3, D1).
- The Black Cats have the worst record in the Premier League against bottom-half opposition, earning just 11 points from 16 matches.
- Connor Wickham has scored five and assisted one in his last four Premier League games.
West Brom
- West Brom need a point from their last two games to guarantee their Premier League safety. Two defeats would still likely be enough to beat the drop with Norwich's goal difference currently 19 goals worse than the Baggies.
- The Baggies have drawn the most Premier League games this season (15), but their last away league draw was back in December.
- West Brom have yet to have a player sent off this season; Sunderland lead the Premier League with seven.
- Stephane Sessegnon scored on his West Brom debut in the reverse fixture in September - he's only managed three goals in 25 appearances since.
Betting
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Links
http://www.safc.com/fans/visiting-fans
Streaming
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=257290&part=sports
How the hell do you spell it? Ah Bogey. 
