Aston Villa will aim to build on their recent derby successes over West Bromwich Albion when they visit the Stadium of Light for a league encounter with fellow strugglers Sunderland on Saturday.
The Villans recorded two victories at home in four days against the Baggies, which pulled Tim Sherwood’s charges out of the relegation zone while also securing a trip to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals.
A win at Sunderland would see Villa move above the Black Cats in the table, which is exactly what Sherwood wants after the former Spurs boss revealed that his Villans are planning to make it “squeaky-bum time” for Sunderland after Saturday’s relegation six-pointer.
Aston Villa will feel this is the best time to take on Gus Poyet’s side because Sunderland are winless in their last five games and there is little to suggest an imminent change in form as the Black Cats are dealing with a lot of problems.
Two key players are missing for Sunderland. Lee Cattermole begins a two-match suspension after being booked 10 times this season and joint-top goalscorer Adam Johnson is suspended from the club pending investigations into underage sex allegations.
Their manager is also in trouble and has to prove that he is not at breaking point. Poyet was banished to the stands in the 1-1 draw at Hull City for kicking over a tray of drinks bottle on the touchline before wandering over to Steve Bruce to say something that provoked Hull City’s boss.
Poyet also employed questionable tactics in that draw when he fielded four central midfielders at the KC Stadium while dropping the pacy Patrick van Aanholt, who is currently Sunderland’s best available crosser.
Sunderland team news
- Emanuele Giaccherini is definitely out with an ankle problem while Will Buckley may also miss out with a knee problem.
- Cattermole is banned.
- Johnson is suspended by the club.
Aston Villa team news
- Both Alan Hutton and Jack Grealish are suspended.
- Aly Cissokho (groin) is a doubt while Ron Vlaar, Philippe Senderos and Kieran Richardson may all miss out with calf problems.
- Chris Herd (knee), Libor Kozak (broken leg) and Nathan Baker (knee) are all sidelined.
Sunderland vs Aston Villa prediction
Poyet could restore Van Aanholt at left-back, while Connor Wickham is also likely to return to the side given that Johnson is suspended. Should Sunderland start in their usual 4-1-4-1 formation then Liam Bridcutt may be the holding midfielder while Jermain Defoe will lead the attack.
The versatile Leandro Bacuna may be asked to start at right-back for Aston Villa while the right-footed Matthew Lowton continues as a makeshift left-back. Christian Benteke will probably return to the starting line-up as Gabriel Agbonlahor’s strike partner, while Ashley Westwood and Fabian Delph may be the central midfielders in a 4-4-2 formation for the visitors.
The Villans may feel they have the momentum on their side and will probably start strongly with balls played early to Benteke and Agbonlahor. The Black Cats may be enduring a rough patch but they are usually a difficult side to break down and their last six league games have all been low scoring affairs, so that trend could continue in this encounter.
