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Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has somewhat surprisingly gone with the exact same starting lineup and formation which lost 2-1 away at West Bromwich Albion last weekend.
The 4-4-2 formation had it's moments but will need to start gelling quicker if it's something we plan on using in the long-term as points are precious at the moment.
Kader Mangane is forced to wait for a debut and Carlos Cuellar forced to delay his comeback as O'Neill persists with Titus Bramble at the heart of defence.
The subs bench however is woeful with only six named yet again. Only two players who aren't defenders and arguably only one of those is attack minded. Reports suggest the other player was to be Matt Kilgallon before he took ill. That wouldn't have made it any better.
Sunderland (4-4-2): Simon Mignolet; Craig Gardner, John O'Shea, Titus Bramble, Jack Colback; Stephane Sessegnon, Alfred N'Diaye, Seb Larsson, Adam Johnson; Danny Graham, Steven Fletcher
Substitutes: Keiren Westwood, Kader Mangane, David Vaughan, Carlos Cuellar, Phil Bardsley, James McClean
Meanwhile Fulham gaffer Martin Jol has also named the same team as last weekend as he sticks with the same eleven who won 1-0 against Stoke City.
Dimitar Berbatov will be the main danger, while former Sunderland man Kieran Richardson makes the bench for the visitors today.
Fulham (4-4-1-1): Mark Schwarzer; Sascha Reither, Brede Hangeland, Philippe Senderos, John Arne Riise; Ashkan Dejagh, Giorgios Karagounis, Steve Sidwell, Damien Duff; Bryan Ruiz; Dimitar Berbatov
Substitutes: Neil Etheridge, Mladen Petric, Aaron Hughes, Emmanuel Frimpong, Urby Emmanuelson, Kieran Richardson, Hugo Rodallega
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