Premier League: West Brom v Sunderland preview
A look ahead to this weekend’s Premier League fixture at the Hawthorns
This weekend’s match could see the return of Peter Odemwingie to first team action, following his antics on transfer deadline day, after appearing to mend his bridges at West Brom but Romelu Lukaku should start upfront for the Baggies.
West Brom got their season back on track with a surprise win against Liverpool at Anfield, including a goal off the bench from Lukaku, in their last match which ended a run of six games with victory.
January signing Danny Graham may make his debut from the start for Sunderland after coming off the bench in their defeats to Reading and Arsenal as goals have been at a premium for the Wearside club this season with Steven Fletcher heavily relied upon as the main source of goals.
Danny Rose is missing with a hamstring injury having impressed at left back for Sunderland this season and his place in the side will be covered by Jack Colback.
In the fixture earlier in the season, Sunderland staged a late comeback after being 0-2 down at half time but were caught on the counter attack by West Brom as Marc-Antoine Fortune got his only goal in the Premier League so far in stoppage time.
Kick-Off:Saturday 15:00
Past three meetings…
November 2012: Premier League - Sunderland 2 (Gardner, Sessegnon) – 4 West Brom (Gera, Long, Lukaku, Fortune)
February 2012: Premier League – West Brom 4 (Odemwingie x2, Morrison, Andrews) – 0 Sunderland
October 2011: Premier League – Sunderland 2 (Bendtner, El Mohamady) – 2 West Brom (Morrison, Long)
Stats…
West Brom’s Jonas Olsson has made the most defensive clearances (70) in the Premier League.
Sunderland have hit the woodwork (2) in the Premier League which is the joint least with QPR.
Sunderland have failed to score from open play in over 300 minutes of football. Craig Gardner’s penalty against Reading is the only goal they have scored in that period.
The last time West Brom kept consecutive clean sheets was in April 2012, and it came after a win against Liverpool at Anfield.
Odds…
West Brom to win - 2.06
Sunderland to win - 4.2
Draw - 3.55
TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.20pm
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