please log in to view this image West Brom's Stephane Sessegnon could make his debut against his former club after receiving a work permit. Forwards Shane Long and Matej Vydra are doubts with respective knee and hamstring problems. Sunderland captain John O'Shea is back from suspension, while fit-again midfielder Lee Cattermole could feature for the first time this season. Emanuele Giaccherini has recovered from a hamstring problem but Wes Brown is ruled out by a calf injury. MATCH PREVIEW After just a month of the new season it would seem churlish to attach too much significance to a meeting of the Premier League's bottom two. LAWRO'S PREDICTION "I am getting vilified by Sunderland fans because I said before the season that I thought they would be relegated and I didn't think the manager would still be there at Christmas. Pdc effect says : **** off Mark "In all honesty, though, I cannot see how anything has changed. Paolo Di Canio's antics on the touchline do not help and the problem for Sunderland is that everything seems to be all about him." However, history has shown that recovering from a bad start can be problematic in the world's most unforgiving division. This time last season, for example, both Reading and QPR already languished in the bottom three; the die cast, they barely moved for the remainder of the campaign. This weekend's loser may feel decidedly insecure and a look at the challenges that lie ahead will only add to that concern. For West Brom, who only celebrated their first league goal of the season last weekend, trips to Old Trafford, the Britannia Stadium and Anfield are lined up, with a visit from Arsenal sandwiched in between. Sunderland host Liverpool and Manchester United before a 350-mile trip to Swansea precedes their derby with Newcastle. It all points to Saturday's events taking on greater importance than they might otherwise have done. Both clubs are winless in their last eight games stretching back to April. The Baggies have actually only won one of their last 13 and none in front of their own fans since 9 March. Paolo Di Canio's two victories early in his reign are the only wins Sunderland have recorded since January! Statistics aside though, the potential debut of Stephane Sessegnon adds a final delightful twist to this fascinating tale. A work permit delay means that his long-awaited bow will now come against the manager who deemed him surplus to requirements - surely his name will be the first on Steve Clarke's team sheet? MATCH FACTS Head-to-head West Brom are chasing a fourth successive win against Sunderland, and have won six of their previous seven Premier League games against the Black Cats (W6, D1). Sunderland have only won one top-flight game at the Hawthorns in 31 years - a 1-0 victory in January 2006 when Anthony Le Tallec got the only goal. West Bromwich Albion With two points from four games, the Baggies have made their worst start to a top-flight season since 1985. West Brom are winless in eight league games (D3, L5). They claimed 33 of 49 points in the first half of the 2012-13 campaign, but since then have taken just 18 points from 23 games (including this season). Nicolas Anelka has scored seven goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Sunderland. Sunderland The Black Cats won two of their first three games under Paolo Di Canio, but since then have claimed three points from eight league matches (D3, L5). They have failed to keep a clean sheet in those eight games, conceding a total of 17 goals. Their win at Newcastle in April is their only victory in their last nine away league games (W1, D1, L7). Steven Fletcher has scored three goals in four Premier League games against West Brom. link : http://www.stadium-live.com/Channel10.html
I really hope we can get a few good results so we can stick two fingers up at some of these no nowt pundits..
We need to start winning games sooner rather than later although to suggest anything other than a win will be deemed somewhat treasonous. For the record, I think we will win today and the mere presence of Lee Cattermole will be the key factor ion a change of fortunes in the coming weeks. His winning mentality, determination to succeed and his bite and strength in the middle will be massive for us. I reckon Gardner will start with Ki in the middle with Jozy and Fletch up top, with a recalled Giacherinni on the opposite wing to Johnson. This is not a game for the faint hearted and we have to go for it form the start. They are as shaky as us right now and an early goal either way could settle proceedings. We have the players to cause them problems and with Catts on the bench and maybe having 20 mins at the end, we will be victorious imo. 1-3 (no rhyme or reason for that just feel we could click today)
Early goals we score never seem to settle us, for some reason. We usually seem more nervous defending a lead than chasing the game. Strange. Still, we owe these bastards - six out of the last seven. **** me!
WEST BROM TEAM NEWS - SESSEGNON AND ANELKA START Team to play Sunderland: Myhill, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Amalfitano, Mulumbu, Morrison, Sinclair, Sessegnon, Anelka. SUBS: Camp (gk), Rosenberg, Lugano, Popov, Yacob, Berahino, Anichebe.
SUNDERLAND TEAM NEWS Team to play West Brom:Westwood, Celustka, Colback, Diakite, O’Shea ©, Ki, Gardner, Johnson, Giaccherini, Fletcher, Borini. SUBS: Mannone, Altidore, Ba, Cuellar, Dong-won, Cattermole, Mavrias.
It'll do me. I understand Borini is a specialist in luring defenders out of position. With Ki's forward passing and a bit of space for fletch. Wingers cutting in and overlapping full backs. Plenty of ways to hurt them.
