BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE Venue: Stadium of Light Date: Wednesday, 3 December LINEUP, BOOKINGS (0) & SUBSTITUTIONS (0) SUNDRELAND 01 Pantilimon 27 Vergini 16 OShea 22 Coates 15 Réveillere 06 Cattermole 10 Wickham 08 Rodwell 07 Larsson 30 Buckley 09 Fletcher SUBSTITUTES 04 Bridcutt 05 Brown 12 Cabral 14 Jordi Gómez 17 Altidore 20 Álvarez 25 Manonne MANCHESTER CITY 01 Hart 05 Zabaleta 26 Demichelis 38 Boyata 22 Clichy 25 Fernandinho 42 Y Touré 15 Jesús Navas 35 Jovetic 08 Nasri 16 Agüero SUBSITUTES 03 Sagna 06 Fernando 07 Milner 13 Caballero 18 Lampard 69 Esmoris Tasende 78 Pozo Ref: Craig Pawson MATCH STATS Possession 50% 50% 0mins Sunderland Manchester City Shots 00 On target 00 Corners 00 Fouls 00 TEAM NEWS Sunderland remain stretched defensively with both Billy Jones and Patrick van Aanholt still on the sidelines. On-loan defender Sebastian Coates could make his first league start for the Black Cats. City captain Vincent Kompany is out with a hamstring injury with fellow defender Eliaquim Mangala is serving a one-match ban. This could see Bacary Sagna shifting to centre-back or alternatively Dedryck Boyata could be handed a rare start. MATCH PREVIEW Having frustrated Chelsea at the weekend, Sunderland could now put a downer on Manchester Citys renewed vitality - and with recent Premier League history between the clubs favouring the Black Cats, its not a fixture that should daunt them. Indeed, Gus Poyets Sunderland appear to relish these games against the big boys in blue, having beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in April off the back of a draw at City that threatened to end their title challenge. Lawros prediction The way Sergio Aguero is playing up front at the moment, he could probably play centre-back instead of Kompany and still be Manchester Citys best player. Predictions:Lawro v Steph Houghton That 2-2 draw at the Etihad seemed to suit neither team but actually sparked both into life, with Poyets men winning their next four games to stay up, and Manuel Pellegrinis side claiming victory in their remaining five to finish on top. This time life is on the up before the game, and Im expecting the Stadium of Light to generate a terrific atmosphere as Sunderland look to beat City at home for the fifth successive season. Wearsiders have only had one win to celebrate in their last nine home games so its understandable if the volume and crowds have been down of late, but the place was certainly rocking towards full time on Saturday. In pure numbers terms, meanwhile, reports of Citys struggles have been over-stated, with the champions actually two points better off than at this same stage last season - and with seven more gained away from home. Their accomplished win at Southampton on Sunday showed that those last five electric Aguero minutes against Bayern Munich could have changed the destiny of Citys season hugely - at home and in Europe. After a slow start last year, they went unbeaten for 20 games from November to February. It could happen again - and just to add to feelings of sky blue deja-vu, Vincent Kompanys absence might see Bacary Sagna play in the centre of defence. He hasnt played there too often, but he has in Arsenal wins away to Sunderland in both the last two seasons. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Sunderland have lost just one of their last six Premier League games against Manchester City (W3, D2, L1). The point they earned in the most recent meeting in mid-April came on the back of five straight defeats and sparked a run of form that led to an improbable survival. City have failed to win on their last five Premier League visits to the Stadium of Light, losing the last four in a row. Their last win there was in in August 2008 when goals from Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips (two) gave City a 3-0 win. Sunderland have won those last four home games against City 1-0. Only one exact fixture in Premier League history has ever finished with the same scoreline in five consecutive matches (Tottenham 2-1 Man City, 2004-05 - 2008-09). City beat Sunderland in the League Cup final last March to give manager Manuel Pellegrini his first trophy at the club. Sunderland Sunderland have drawn their last three matches, winning just one of their last six. The Black Cats have gone three home league games without a win (D2, L1), scoring just once in those matches. Lee Cattermole has been booked in six of his last 10 Premier League appearances for Sunderland. Sunderland have been involved in more 0-0 draws than any other Premier League side this season (four), two of which have come in their last two games. Manchester City Manchester City have lost just one of their last 10 league matches (W6, D3). Theyre on their best run of form this season, having won their last three in all competitions. Citys only away league defeat this season came at West Ham in October. Frank Lampard is looking for his 175th league goal, which would move him level with Thierry Henry in fourth place in the list of all-time Premier League goal-scorers. Yaya Toure is aiming to score in three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time. James Milner has scored five times against Sunderland, more than he has managed against any other Premier League opponent.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 18:53:32 +0000