Team News: Phil Bardsley only on Sunderland bench for Cardiff City showdown

Gus Poyet has persisted with Santiago Vergini, rather than recall Phil Bardsley, for Sunderland's huge bottom-of-the-table clash with Cardiff City this afternoon.

Only John O'Shea has made more starts for the Black Cats than Bardsley this season, but the right-back has missed the last two games through suspension.

Vergini has deputised in the draw at Manchester City and shock victory at Chelsea, and so Poyet has chosen to stick with the same starting XI that has salvaged their survival hopes.

Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes one alteration from the team that began the 1-1 draw with Stoke City last weekend, which comes in midfield as Don Cowie replaces Kim Bo-Kyung.

He and Jordan Mutch will be tasked with providing lone striker Frazier Campbell, formerly of Sunderland, with support as the Premier League's bottom two sides fight for crucial points in the relegation battle.

Sunderland: Mannone; Vergini, Brown, O'Shea, Alonso; Cattermole, Colback, Larsson, Johnson; Borini, Wickham Subs: Ustari, Bardsley, Gardner, Altidore, Giaccherini, Bridcutt, Scocco

Cardiff: Marshall; Theophile-Catherine, Caulker, Cala, Fabio; Cowie, Medel, Whittingham, Daehli, Mutch; Campbell Subs: Lewis, Turner, Jones, Eikrem, Zaha, Bellamy, John

You can follow the game at the Stadium of Light with Sports Mole's live text commentary.