MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 17:36:47| >> :120:18447:18447:
[monks data]
Sunderland
Premier League
Nov 7, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Southampton logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Tadic (69' pen.)

Preview: Sunderland vs. Southampton

Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between Sunderland and Southampton at the Stadium of Light.

Two sides in contrasting form meet at the Stadium of Light this weekend as Sunderland host Southampton in the Premier League.

The visitors are beginning to show the form that secured them a Europa League spot last year, while Sunderland are faced with the prospect of another relegation battle.


Sunderland

Steven Fletcher of Sunderland (26) celebrates with Jermain Defoe as he scores their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Goodison Park on November 1, 2015 in Liverpool, England.© Getty Images

Sam Allardyce's side come into this match off the back of a heavy 6-2 defeat to Everton last time out, despite having been level with the Toffees early in the second half at Goodison Park.

The Black Cats had been boosted by their first win of the season the match before, cruising to a 3-0 win over Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby, but last week's defeat keeps the club in the relegation zone, two points from safety.

The team have lost five of their last seven matches in the Premier League, picking up just four points over the same stretch, with just one win from their last nine in all competitions.

Sunderland will be happy to be back on home soil this week though, having been beaten just twice in their five fixtures at the Stadium of Light so far, compared with five defeats in six games away from home.

The team's loss to Everton leaves them with the worst defence in the top flight, having conceded 25 goals in their 11 outings so far, while keeping just one clean sheet. Scoring goals has not been as much of an issue though, as the side have found the back of the net 11 times, which is more than Liverpool and Crystal Palace, who sit in the top half of the table.

Allardyce, who is still getting to know his new team after taking over from Dick Advocaat last month, has admitted that he is worried about defence, while claiming that a lack of understanding was to blame for last week's collapse against Everton.

Recent form: LLDLWL
Recent form (all competitions): LLDLWL


Southampton

Steven Davis of Southampton (8) celebrates with Cedric Soares of Southampton as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and A.F.C. Bournemouth at St Mary's Stadium on November 1, 2015 in Southampton, England© Getty Images

Southampton will head to the Stadium of Light in strong form, having secured three wins from an unbeaten five-match run in the Premier League, which has left the team seventh in the table.

Ronald Koeman's side beat South Coast rivals Bournemouth last weekend, with Steven Davis and Graziano Pelle on the scoresheet for the Saints, just a couple of days after the team booked their place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a win over Aston Villa.

Discipline has been a bit of a problem in the last couple of matches though, with Southampton finishing their last two Premier League matches with 10 men, after Victor Wanyama received two yellow cards in the win over Bournemouth.

The Saints have been solid if unspectacular away from home this season, having drawn four of their five fixtures away from St Mary's. Southampton are still unbeaten away, but their only win came over struggling champions Chelsea.

Southampton have shown strong form in front of goal so far this season, scoring 18 goals in their first 11 matches. The team have scored in all but three of their fixtures in the top flight, including 13 in their last six.

Defending continues to be mixed, with the side still hampered by the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Fraser Forster, but the Saints did secure their first clean sheet in six matches last time out.

Recent form: LWWDDW
Recent form (all competitions): WWDDWW


Team News

Victor Wanyama of Southampton (3R) is shown a red card by referee Craig Pawson and is sent off during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and A.F.C. Bournemouth at St Mary's Stadium on November 1, 2015© Getty Images

The visitors will be without midfielder Victor Wanyama as he serves a suspension for picking up two yellow cards last time out, while Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long have missed time recently with foot and ankle injuries respectively, leaving their availability unclear.

Jose Fonte is also a doubt after being taken off as a precaution with a knock last time out, while Florin Gardos and Fraser Forster remain long-term absentees.

Meanwhile, midfielder Lee Cattermole has been ruled out of the match for the home side after picking up a groin injury in the defeat to Everton last time out.

However, Fabio Borini, Ola Toivonen, Younes Kaboul and John O'Shea, who all missed the last match with minor injuries, will all be available for Allardyce.

Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Pantilimon, Coates, O'Shea, Caboul, Yedlin, Rodwell, M'Vila, Van Aanholt, Johnson, Defoe, Fletcher

Southampton possible starting lineup:
Stekelenburg, Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Clasie, Davis, Mane, Tadic, Pelle


Head To Head

When the sides met at the Stadium of Light last season, Sunderland clinched a 2-1 win after James Ward-Prowse was sent off for the visitors, resulting in Jordi Gomez scoring twice from the penalty spot.

Southampton have won just one of their last 10 meetings with Sunderland, but that victory also came last season, with the Saints claiming a memorable 8-0 win at St Mary's last October, but they have not won at the Stadium of Light since 2002.

This weekend's visitors just edge the head-to-head record, with 17 wins from their 40 previous meetings with Sunderland, while the Black Cats have 13 wins and 10 matches have been drawn, including four of the last 10.


Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:



Sports Mole Logo

We say: Sunderland 0-2 Southampton

Southampton have gone from strength to strength over recent weeks, while Sunderland are still trying to get any sort of consistency to their performances. The visitors are still unbeaten away from home, and given Sunderland's lack of wins and defensive struggles this season, it is difficult to see anything other than a Southampton win this weekend.



ID:256010: cacheID:256010:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:13019:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Lee Cattermole of Sunderland in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Norwich City at Stadium of Light on August 15, 2015 in Sunderland, England.
Read Next:
Cattermole out of Southampton clash
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!