Week 19 – Saturday – Sport Grill

Sunderland look to reignite their promotion ambitions against Stoke in a Sky Bet Championship clash. 

Victory will put Sunderland third if Leeds lose elsewhere, whilst Stoke can go 13th if Swansea lose their game.

Team News

Dennis Cirkin is available for Sunderland after wrist surgery kept him out of their last three matches.

Chris Mepham however is suspended following his red card in a 1-0 loss at Sheffield United.

Ian Poveda, Salis Abdul Samed (both muscle), Ahmed Abdullahi (groin), Romaine Mundle (hamstring), Alan Browne (leg), Jenson Seelt, and Niall Huggins (both knee) remain sidelined.

Stoke will hand a late fitness test to Enda Stevens after the Irish international missed their defeat to Burnley with a leg injury.

Sam Gallagher (hamstring) and Bosun Lawal (back) remain absent.

When is Kick-Off?

Sunderland host Stoke at Stadium of Light on Saturday 7 December at 12:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports + in the UK.

Stat Attack

• Sunderland have won two of their last six meetings against Stoke (W2, L4).
• Stoke have won two of their last five visits to Sunderland (W2, L3).
• Both teams have scored in four of their last five meetings.
• Sunderland are yet to lose at home this season (W5, D3).
• Stoke have won just one of their last six away games (W1, D2, L3).

Prediction

With some ground now lost following their narrow defeat at Sheffield Utd where they were pretty wasteful, Sunderland know that they have the quality to bounce back but they now need a winning run if want to stay in the automatic promotion mix.

Stoke also have a habit of grinding out results but their away form is a concern with just one win in their last six and weren’t clinical enough at home to Burnley, yet they should have enough grit to give Sunderland a tough fight.

I however do feel that Sunderland will just have too much for the Potters if can find their winning edge again.

Prediction; Sunderland 1-0 Stoke