Sunderland - Aston Villa
Ricky Sbragia is only a matter of weeks into his ship-steadying exercise at the Stadium of Light, and the waters have become choppier since he managed to navigate the ailing side out of the bottom three.
After initial success, with two wins coming in the Scot's first three matches at the helm, results have tailed off; Sunderland are winless in their last three league meetings.
Encouragement will have been taken of late however with the burgeoning form of striking duo, Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse. The formidable pair have struck eight goals between them since Sbragia took charge and potentially present one of the most fearsome strike-lines in the top flight.
With stability and sharpness at one end of the field, Sunderland are still lacking in other areas though. No side have used more players during the course of this league campaign so far, in contrast with Aston Villa; Martin O'Neill's side have fielded the least. Therefore, one key problem facing Sbragia is the self same conundrum that faced his predecessor, Roy Keane - too many pegs, not enough holes.
In truth, aside from Steed Malbranque and the front-two, no Black Cat would be confident of describing themselves as a guaranteed starter with seemingly two candidates for each position on the field. Sbragia is in charge of a side six points better off that this stage of last year's campaign, but the relegation whirlpool is capturing more potential victims by the week.
Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa seem to have added another string to their bow during the nine-game unbeaten run that they are currently on. No longer are the Villans missing out in tight-encounters and shedding points in potentially decisive games, like their last league defeat to Middlesbrough over two months ago.
Since Arsenal's share of the spoils at Villa Park on Boxing Day, the Ulsterman's outfit have been involved in two close encounters - and won them both. Hull City and West Bromwich Albion may feel aggrieved to have not taken rewards against the clarets but it is a testament to the will and determination instilled in the Birmingham-based outfit that they didn't.
A solitary goal victory over Hull and a win by the odd goal in three against WBA have helped Villa keep Arsenal out of the Champions League placings and their consistency surely must be keeping Arsene Wenger awake at night at this stage of the season.
What the side are also proving is that, despite the lack of John Carew, they are capable of plundering goals when necessary and keeping it parsimonious at the back.
Sunderland
Craig Gordon's blighted season continues; the Scotland international custodian has still not recovered from ankle damage. George McCartney also misses out with a foot injury. Phil Bardsley is in line to start after shaking off a virus but Steed Malbranque serves a ban. Liam Miller has joined Queens Park Rangers.
Possible Line Up: Fulop - Bardsley, Chimbonda, Nosworthy, Ferdinand - Tainio, Whitehead, Richardson, Reid - Cisse, Jones
Aston Villa
Possible Line Up: Friedel - Reo Coker, L Young, Davies, Laursen - Petrov, Barry, Sidwell - Young, Milner, Agbonlahor
After initial success, with two wins coming in the Scot's first three matches at the helm, results have tailed off; Sunderland are winless in their last three league meetings.
Encouragement will have been taken of late however with the burgeoning form of striking duo, Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse. The formidable pair have struck eight goals between them since Sbragia took charge and potentially present one of the most fearsome strike-lines in the top flight.
With stability and sharpness at one end of the field, Sunderland are still lacking in other areas though. No side have used more players during the course of this league campaign so far, in contrast with Aston Villa; Martin O'Neill's side have fielded the least. Therefore, one key problem facing Sbragia is the self same conundrum that faced his predecessor, Roy Keane - too many pegs, not enough holes.
In truth, aside from Steed Malbranque and the front-two, no Black Cat would be confident of describing themselves as a guaranteed starter with seemingly two candidates for each position on the field. Sbragia is in charge of a side six points better off that this stage of last year's campaign, but the relegation whirlpool is capturing more potential victims by the week.
Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa seem to have added another string to their bow during the nine-game unbeaten run that they are currently on. No longer are the Villans missing out in tight-encounters and shedding points in potentially decisive games, like their last league defeat to Middlesbrough over two months ago.
Since Arsenal's share of the spoils at Villa Park on Boxing Day, the Ulsterman's outfit have been involved in two close encounters - and won them both. Hull City and West Bromwich Albion may feel aggrieved to have not taken rewards against the clarets but it is a testament to the will and determination instilled in the Birmingham-based outfit that they didn't.
A solitary goal victory over Hull and a win by the odd goal in three against WBA have helped Villa keep Arsenal out of the Champions League placings and their consistency surely must be keeping Arsene Wenger awake at night at this stage of the season.
What the side are also proving is that, despite the lack of John Carew, they are capable of plundering goals when necessary and keeping it parsimonious at the back.
Sunderland
Craig Gordon's blighted season continues; the Scotland international custodian has still not recovered from ankle damage. George McCartney also misses out with a foot injury. Phil Bardsley is in line to start after shaking off a virus but Steed Malbranque serves a ban. Liam Miller has joined Queens Park Rangers.
Possible Line Up: Fulop - Bardsley, Chimbonda, Nosworthy, Ferdinand - Tainio, Whitehead, Richardson, Reid - Cisse, Jones
Aston Villa
Possible Line Up: Friedel - Reo Coker, L Young, Davies, Laursen - Petrov, Barry, Sidwell - Young, Milner, Agbonlahor
it will be a very tight match. Over 2.5 and Sunderland 1x is my bet here
posted by Midnight Sun @ 20:22,
0 Comments: