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Dare we dream of back to back wins? We probably shouldn't. Nor should we dare to dream we'll suddenly display some kind of stylistic tour de force. Barring some kind of sick defensive fetish - watching Sunderland is as dull as it comes. Dreary as it may be, it wasn't exactly exhilarating stuff we were watching before Sam Allardyce took the helm. But would you believe it we're actually becoming difficult to beat. So what he hell. Come on Sunderland, see if you can grind out another mind numbing, boring but effective performance and steal us another win.
Match Appointments
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistants: D Cann & M Wilkes
Fourth Official: K A Woolmer
Team News
Sunderland
Jermain Defoe and Lee Cattermole could be fit after picking up injuries during last weeks win. Fabio Borini has trained all week and should be available for selection.
Billy Jones is suspended which should see DeAndre Yedlin step in.
Xherdan Shaqiri is fit to play though Philipp Wollscheid is a major doubt
Last 10 League meetings
25th Apr 2015
Stoke City 1-1 Sunderland
4th Oct 2014
Sunderland 3-1 Stoke City
29th Jan 2014
Sunderland 1-0 Stoke City
23rd Nov 2013
Stoke City 2-0 Sunderland
6th May 2013
Sunderland 1-1 Stoke City
27th Oct 2012
Stoke City 0-0 Sunderland
4th Feb 2012
Stoke City 0-1 Sunderland
18th Sep 2011
Sunderland 4-0 Stoke City
5th Feb 2011
Stoke City 3-2 Sunderland
6th Nov 2010
Sunderland 2-0 Stoke City
Form
Sunderland
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Sat 7th Nov
Sunderland 0-1 Southampton
Sun 1st Nov
Everton 6-2 Sunderland
Sun 25th Oct
Sunderland 3-0 Newcastle
Sat 17th Oct
West Brom 1-0 Sunderland
Sat 3rd Oct
Sunderland 2-2 West Ham
Sat 26th Sep
Man Utd 3-0 Sunderland
Stoke City
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Sat 21st Nov
Southampton 0-1 Stoke
Sat 7th Nov
Stoke 1-0 Chelsea
Sat 31st Oct
Newcastle 0-0 Stoke
Sat 24th Oct
Stoke 0-2 Watford
Mon 19th Oct
Swansea 0-1 Stoke
Sat 3rd Oct
Aston Villa 0-1 Stoke
Last Corresponding fixture
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OPTA Facts 'n' Stats
Head-to-head
- Stoke have never won at Sunderland in the Premier League (D2, L5) but they did triumph at the Stadium of Light in the League Cup last season.
- Sunderland are looking for a third consecutive home win over the Potters.
- The two sides first met on this day 124 years ago - 28 November 1891, when Sunderland won 3-1 at Stoke.
Sunderland
- Sunderland's victory at Crystal Palace on Monday was only their second win in 16 league games (D5, L9).
- Jermain Defoe has scored seven goals in his nine starts for Sunderland in all competitions this season.
- Sam Allardyce has registered 150 Premier League wins as manager, the fifth-highest haul of victories.
Stoke City
- Stoke have kept clean sheets in their last four away matches, winning three of them.
- There have been just 23 goals scored in Premier League games involving Stoke City this season, fewer than any other side.
- The Potters have scored with just 10% of their shots this season according to Opta, the lowest conversion rate in the division. Their last four wins have been by 1-0.
- Four of Bojan's last five Premier League goals have come away from home.