Premier League: Sunderland v Reading match preview

A look ahead to tonight's Premier League fixture at the Stadium of Light

Josh Bell
Tuesday 11 December 2012 17:00 GMT
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Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill
Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill

Tonight's fixture marks the first anniversary of Martin O'Neill's first match in charge of Sunderland, where the Black Cats are looking to end a dismal run of form of just two victories in their last 23 league games.

Intriguingly Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea consigned them to 18th and the relegation zone, exactly where Sunderland were prior to O'Neill's arrival.

Brian McDermott is approaching his third anniversary in charge of Reading and is still searching for his first away win in the Premier League.

Although Reading, who have lost their last four, have picked up just two points from eight away outings this season they will look to take advantage of the host's poor home record in 2012/13; just a solitary victory against Wigan in September.

KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 7.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Reading 2 (Ingimarsson, Hunt) Sunderland 1 (Chopra), Premier League, December 2007

Sunderland 2 (Jones, Wallace) Reading 1 (Kitson), Premier League, September 2007

Sunderland 1 (Arca) Reading 2 (Kitson 2), Championship, April 2005

STATS…

The Royals have dropped a total of 17 points from winning positions this season, the most in the Premier League.

Nevertheless they will be buoyed by the fact that Sunderland have only gained one point from losing positions - the joint worst record in the top flight.

Sunderland's last three league victories have all come against 10 men.

ODDS…

Sunderland to win: 2.06

Reading to win: 1.69

Draw: 3.55

CLASSIC MATCH

Kenywyne Jones scored his first goal for Sunderland in their last victory over Reading in September 2007, on the day the Stadium of Light paid its respects to one of its favourite sons.

In an emotionally-charged afternoon on Wearside, the Black Cats celebrated the life of the 1973 FA Cup-winning scorer Ian Porterfield, who had passed away earlier in the week.

Porterfield had also played for the Royals on loan and managed the club between 1989 and 1991.

TV: Highlights on Sky Sports 1 at 11pm

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