Preview: Sunderland vs. Stoke City

Sunderland will be hoping for a more successful Monday night in the Premier League when they welcome Stoke City to Wearside in two days' time.

Paolo Di Canio's honeymoon period in charge of Sunderland came to a humiliating end when Aston Villa thrashed the Black Cats 6-1 earlier this week.

Both Sunderland and Stoke have taken seven points from the last 18, but it is Stoke who head to the Stadium of Light in better form.

Tony Pulis's men have won their last two games to edge clear of the relegation zone, while Sunderland come into the match on the back of Monday's mauling at relegation rivals Aston Villa.

Stephane Sessegnon was sent off at Villa Park and the Black Cats' appeal against the playmaker's dismissal was this week unsuccessful, so he is unavailable for the rest of the season. James McClean is likely to start in his place.

Pulis, meanwhile, has problems at left-back, with Marc Wilson and Andy Wilkinson both struggling to be fit in time. If neither is available, then Geoff Cameron could come in.

In the reverse fixture in October it finished goalless at the Britannia Stadium.

Recent form

Sunderland: LWWLLD

Stoke: WWLLLD

Possible starting lineups

Sunderland: Mignolet; Bardsley, O'Shea, Cuellar, Rose; N'Diaye, Larsson, Gardner; McClean, Johnson; Graham

Stoke: Begovic; Shotton, Shawcross, Huth, Cameron; Whelan, Nzonzi, Adam; Walters, Crouch, Jerome

Sports Mole says: 0-0