Premier League Preview: Sunderland - Fulham
What: Barclays Premier League
Who: Sunderland (15th – 23 points) V Fulham (10th – 26 points)
When: Tuesday 27th January 2009 – 19:45 (local time)
Where: Stadium Of Light, Sunderland.
Ricky Sbragia did an impressive job as Sunderland’s caretaker manager following the resignation of Roy Keane, although things have taken a slight downturn since he penned an 18-month deal to become the Black Cats’ permanent manager.
Fans have not turned against Sbragia, besides, he has only had five games in full charge, but the Scot will be determined to pick up a victory over Fulham, having only won one of five games in all competitions, and picking up just one Premier League point from a possible nine since securing the job.
Things have been pretty quiet on the transfer front, at least in terms of players who could be inwards bound. Sbragia has confirmed he has made enquiries over four defenders, one mentioned regularly being Hearts captain Christophe Berra.
Pascal Chimbonda has returned to Tottenham Hotspur, but the main focus between now and the end of the transfer window will be ensuring that striker Kenwyne Jones does not follow the Frenchman to White Hart Lane.
Jones has held talks with the Sunderland hierarchy and is said to be happy to stay at the Stadium of Light, but as yet, Spurs have not turned their attentions elsewhere.
The struggles since Sbragia’s permanent appointment mean that the Black Cats are only two points clear of the bottom three, although alternatively they are the same margin away from eleventh spot, such is the closeness of the league’s bottom half.
Results will have to come soon if Sunderland want to avoid a relegation scrap, and there is no better place to start than against Fulham on Tuesday night.
A Great First Half
Fulham have had a great first half of the season and will now be looking to kick on to ensure their hard work is not put to waste.
Reviewing their progress so far, the Cottagers sit in the top half in the Premier League table, and are into the last-16 of the FA Cup - a stable campaign for a side who left it so late to avoid relegation to the Championship last year.
They sold key midfielder Jimmy Bullard to Hull City last week, which raised questions from some quarters, although on paper, £5 million for a player the wrong side of 30, who has had long-term injury problems in the past, does not look like bad business. It remains to be seen who manager Roy Hodgson has in mind to replace him.
Traditionally, Fulham are very strong at home, and hardly ever win on their travels. The club have upheld that reputation this year, having lost only one out of ten matches at home, and failing to win in their ten fixtures away from Craven Cottage.
This year, though, they have made themselves harder to beat on the road, securing five draws, mostly goalless, including against the likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa. But the fact just three goals have been scored in those ten matches will surely concern Hodgson.
Fulham currently sit with two games in hand on their rivals, and will be hopeful of a strong second half to their campaign – and will have their sights set on improving their away form, starting with this fixture on Tuesday.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sunderland – Kenwyne Jones
A large number of column inches have been designated to Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Kenwyne Jones, a player Sunderland are determined to keep. The Trinidad & Tobago international striker has the opportunity to add to his valuation in this game, and could well take the opportunity to prove exactly what all the fuss is about.
Fulham – Mark Schwarzer
Fulham don’t tend to score many goals away from home, so if they are to return to west London with anything from their trip to Sunderland, ever-present goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will have to be on top of his game. The Cottagers have conceded an average of less than a goal a game this season, and will be keen to keep that record going.
FORM GUIDE
Sunderland
Jan 24 Sunderland 0-0 Blackburn Rovers (FA Cup)
Jan 17 Sunderland 1-2 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Jan 10 Middlesbrough 1-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Jan 03 Sunderland 2-1 Bolton Wanderers (FA Cup)
Dec 28 Everton 3-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Fulham
Jan 24 Kettering 2-4 Fulham (FA Cup)
Jan 18 West Ham 3-1 Fulham (Premier League)
Jan 03 Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Fulham (FA Cup)
Dec 28 Fulham 2-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
Dec 26 Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Fulham (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Sunderland
First-choice strike duo Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse are expected to return to the starting line-up for Sunderland after an FA Cup rest against Blackburn Rovers. Kieran Richardson is a doubt with an ankle problem, although Teemu Tainio returns from suspension for the game.
Previous XI (0-0 Home V Sunderland): Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, Bardsley, Edwards, Leadbitter, Malbranque, Reid, Healy, Chopra.
Fulham
Bobby Zamora is expected to return to the Fulham starting XI for the trip north after receiving a rest against Kettering in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Andranik Teymourian is getting closer to a return following a knee injury, but this game is likely to come slightly too soon for him.
Previous XI (4-2 Away V Kettering): Schwarzer, Stoor, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Andreasen, Etuhu, Gera, Johnson, Dempsey.
PREDICTION
Sunderland will be determined to pick up a Premier League victory to get themselves back up the table after a slow couple of weeks, and will certainly see this game as a winnable fixture.
Fulham have had a super season so far, although they continue to struggle away from home and will set-up to be hard to beat at the Stadium of Light.
I don’t expect to see too many goals here, one could be enough, and I think Ricky Sbragia’s men will be the team to get the three points.
Sunderland 1-0 Fulham