Stoke City v Sunderland match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s Premier League fixture at the Britannia Stadium

Stoke, managed by Mark Hughes, take on Sunderland (GETTY IMAGES)

A few narrow defeats and too many draws for Stoke City this season has left them just above the relegation zone on goal difference so Mark Hughes will be hoping they can buck the trend and beat one of the few sides below them in the table.

With a war of words raging in recent weeks between two ex-Sunderland managers, new manager Gus Poyet will be hoping that his Sunderland side can pick up where they left off before the international break, when they beat Manchester City at home, and leap-frog Stoke in the table.

KICK-OFF Saturday, 3.00pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS

Sunderland 1 (O’Shea) Stoke 1 (Walters), Premier League, May 2013

Stoke 0 Sunderland 0, Premier League, October 2012

Stoke 0 Sunderland 1 (McClean), Premier League, February 2012

STATS

If he starts, Jonathan Walters will make his 101st consecutive start in the league; the longest current run in the Premier League.

Phil Bardsley has scored in Sunderland’s last two games in all competitions.

Stoke have failed to win in eight of their last 10 matches.

In their last four homes games Stoke have only scored one goal.

Stoke have failed to score in the last two meetings between the sides at the Britannia.

Sunderland are unbeaten in their four games against Stoke.

ODDS

Stoke to win: 2.1

Sunderland to win: 4.1

Draw: 3.4

TV Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm