Big Match Preview: NCFC vs SAFC

It's huge. It's vital. It's a six pointer. It's whatever cliche you want to throw at it. The lunchtime kick off see's Sunderland travel to Carrow Road, where a defeat will give them a mountain to climb if they're to perform another Houdini act. A win however, coupled with their game in hand, will be a huge boost as The Black Cats look to pounce upon the Canaries and climb out of the relegation zone.

Kick Off Saturday April 2016, 12:45pm

Venue Carrow Road

Last Season Norwich 2-0 Sunderland

Odds Home 6/1 Away 20/9 Draw 12/5

Match Appointments

Referee Andre Marriner

Assistants S Ledger & S Child

Fourth Official N Swarbrick

Team News

Sunderland

Sunderland came though last weekend's clash with Leicester city unscathed.

Duncan Watmore is in contention to make the squad but is unlikely to start.

Norwich City

Nowich are without Alex Tettey. He will miss the remainder of the campaign.

Timm Klose, who injured his knee against Crystal Palace last time out is doubt.

Form

Sunderland

DDDDDL

10 Apr 2016 - Sunderland 0-2 Leicester City

02 Apr 2016 - Sunderland 0-0 West Bromwich Albion

20 Mar 2016 - Newcastle United 1-1 Sunderland

05 Mar 2016 - Southampton 1-1 Sunderland

01 Mar 2016 - Sunderland 2-2 Crystal Palace

27 Feb 2016 -West Ham United 1-0 Sunderland

Norwich City

LLDWWL

09 Apr 2016 - Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich City

02 Apr 2016 - Norwich City 3-2 Newcastle United

19 Mar 2016 - West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Norwich City

12 Mar 2016 - Norwich City 0-0 Manchester City

05 Mar 2016 - Swansea City 1-0 Norwich City

01 Mar 2016 - Norwich City 1-2 Chelsea

Fan Focus

This week we welcome Daniel Brigham from The Little Yellow Bird Project who had this to say:

We'll go for the win. I'd say I was surprised to hear Allardyce say he's more concerned about not losing at Norwich rather than winning, but it's Allardyce so it should be expected really. I can't imagine that's gone down all that well with the Sunderland fans ahead of a must-win game.

We won't be gung-ho, but this is a massive opportunity to put a big gap between us and yourselves, and we're generally positive at home.

You can read more of our interview with Daniel here

Manager Craic

Sam Allardyce:

I just want to remind our fans how much we appreciated their support last Sunday against Leicester City. I thought they stuck with us fantastically as we tried to get a result against the team who look like they’re going to win the league.

It was a big ask which we couldn't quite manage but their support was fantastic again and hopefully we can repay them by going down to Norwich, where I know all the tickets are sold, and get that all-important win we've been looking for.

If we can do that we can all come home very happy and look forward to the next game.

Physically we are all okay, so I just hope we’re the same mentally.

Alex Neil:

Sunderland is the ideal match for us because we have a chance to get ourselves further away from the relegation zone.

If you already have the points on the board that is the important thing but of course after our defeat Sunderland carries a bit of extra weight now.

We could have put a bit of distance between us. What happened on Sunday dictates a lot. We know it is still four and we can extend it to seven.

Classic Match

Head To Head

15 Aug 2015 - Sunderland 1-3 Norwich City

22 Mar 2014 - Norwich City 2-0 Sunderland

21 Dec 2013 - Sunderland 0-0 Norwich City

17 Mar 2013 - Sunderland 1-1 Norwich City

02 Dec 2012 - Norwich City 2-1 Sunderland

01 Feb 2012 - Sunderland 3-0 Norwich City

Stats & Facts

• There has been a red card in three of the last four Barclays Premier League meetings between the Black Cats and the Canaries.
• Norwich City have won only five of their last 19 Premier League matches at Carrow Road (W5 D5 L9).
• Sam Allardyce's side are now winless in six Premier League matches but they have picked up four points in these games (W0 D4 L2).
• Norwich City's last 13 Premier League goals have been scored by 10 different players, with none of these being own goals.
• Jermain Defoe has scored 12 Premier League goals this season, netting nine in 13 Premier League away appearances this season for the Black Cats.
• Norwich City have lost none of their last five Barclays Premier League meetings with Sunderland (W3 D2 L0).
• The match will be Sam Allardyce's 462nd in the Premier League; taking him to outright fourth in the list of most PL games managed behind Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp and one ahead of David Moyes.

Prediction:

We have to win. We just have to. Whilst a defeat doesn't bare thinking about, a draw wouldn't do us many favours either. A win for the lads would put our fate right back into our own hands and could well see the battle for seventeenth place because a two team one, if Newcastle lose at home to Swansea City.

I don't want to tempt fate too much but given how solid Younes Kaboul and Lamine Kone have looked, I think a clean sheet is a real possibility at Carrow Road. Dieumerci Mbokani has looked impressive for The Canaries recently but I'd still say that we have the better of the forward options at the moment and if our defenders are on song, along with Jan Kirchhoff, we should be able to frustrate the Norwich forwards.

Fabio Borini keeps going closer and closer at the minute and Jermain Defoe has a penchant to get us goals on the road, so I'm going to go for a 2-0 Sunderland win. Borini in the first half, Defoe sealing it in the second.

Ha'way The Lads!