Sunderland are hosting Brentford for their EFL Championship fixture at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. The visitors sit 10th in the points table and at one point and were having a go at the playoff spot themselves. But an inconsistent run of form has seen them slide down the order 6 points behind the top 6.
After losing 2 league matches back-to-back against Norwich City and Derby County, Brentford managed to get a point against Preston North End last weekend. They are eager to bounce back to winning ways but will it be against a supercharged opponent like Sunderland?
Granted they are in the relegation scraps and it has been only been a week since their awe-inspiring comeback against Bristol City sent waves across the Championship.
City’s Aden Flint got the opener after just five minutes and Famara Diedhiou scored a brace to heap piles of misery onto the Black Cats. But Chris Coleman is not a man to stand down so easily. As Sunderland captain, John O’Shea said, “We’re 3-0 down, the manager is saying to us ‘look, there’s ways of losing a game, but this isn’t it. You need to stand up for yourselves better.”
Those words reverberated across the club ranks and the second half turned out to be a completely different story. City’s Josh Brownhill put the ball in the back of his own net before Aiden McGeady found the net for the second. Marlon Pack then deflected a shot which led to a third and decisive goal for Coleman’s side.
These are the bouts of motivation a club needs to push dig themselves out of the bottom three. Going through a second consecutive relegation is not ideal for any club and Sunderland still have time to make a favourable case for survival.
Chris Coleman is expected to field his men in the 3-5-2 formation in order to get the win.
Defence
Lee Camp should get the nod ahead of the inconsistent Jason Steele.
The 33-year-old is expected to be shielded by the defensive back-three of Tyias Browning, John O’Shea and Jake Clarke-Salter.
Midfield
Aiden McGeady’s impressive last week performance might earn him the start on the right flank. Kazenga LuaLua is the predicted starter on the left.
The midfield trio should feature Lee Cattermole, Oviemuno Ejaria and Ethan Robson.
Attack
Joel Asoro and Ashley Fletcher might resume their duties in the striker roles.
