Premier League: Sunderland vs Stoke match preview

A look ahead to Saturday’s Premier League fixture at the Stadium of Light

(Getty)

Sunderland will be hoping to reverse their recent Capital One Cup defeat to Stoke and secure a victory that will help them to claw their way out of a relegation scrap.

The Black Cats currently sit 17th, just one point away from the relegation zone, and are one of three sides yet to win in the league this season. Their performances against the league’s more heralded sides have been solid – they took credible points against Manchester United and Tottenham. However, failing to beat Burnley and losing at QPR are results that aid their rivals as much as they damage Gus Poyet’s side, and it is these tight games that the Sunderland manager will want to start winning.

Stoke have carried over the form that led to them securing an unexpected top-10 position last season and have lost just one of their last six in all competitions, including a dramatic 1-0 victory away at Manchester City. Mark Hughes’s side have fond recent memories of the Stadium of Light after Marc Muniesa’s brace secured their League Cup clash, and with his side unbeaten away from home this season, he will have high hopes of taking all three points.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3.00pm

Peter Crouch scores on Monday night (Getty Images)

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Sunderland 1 (Altidore) Stoke 2 (Muniesa), Capital One Cup, September 2014

Sunderland 1 (Johnson) Stoke 0, Premier League, January 2014

Stoke 2 (Adam, Nzonzi) Sunderland 0, Premier League, November 2013

STATS…

Stoke have conceded just six goals in eight games in all competitions this season.

However, Mark Hughes’s side have scored just five goals in their six league games this season – Mame Biram Diouf and Peter Crouch are joint top scorers, each with two.

Despite traditionally being the benchmark for Premier League survival, Sunderland have finished with less than 40 points in each of the last two seasons. Last year, 38 points was enough for them to finish 14.

Jozy Altidore, who scored Sunderland’s goal against Stoke in their recent Capital One Cup tie, has scored just once in his last 35 Premier League appearances.

ODDS…

Sunderland to win: 2.45

Stoke to win: 2.8

Draw: 3.3

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm.