Sunderland host Brentford in a mid-table Premier League encounter at the Stadium of Light.
Currently locked on three points apiece, victory would see either Sunderland or Brentford stay in the top ten.
Team News
Niall Huggins is set to miss out for Sunderland after he suffered a groin injury in the Black Cats’ Carabao Cup exit against Huddersfield in midweek.
Dan Ballard (groin), Aji Alese, Luke O’Nien (both shoulder), Leo Hjelde (Achilles), Romaine Mundle (hamstring) and Dennis Cirkin (wrist) are still sidelined.
Brentford will again be without Yoane Wissa for the trip to Sunderland as he continues to push for a move to the Black Cats’ rivals – Newcastle.
Paris Maghoma (hamstring) and Yunus Konak (ankle) could return but Gustavo Nunes (hamstring) and Vitaly Janelt (heel) are ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Sunderland host Brentford at the Stadium of Light on Saturday 30 August at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Sunderland’s first Premier League meeting against Brentford.
- Brentford have avoided defeat in four of eight previous league visits to Sunderland (W3, D1, L4).
- Sunderland have never lost three consecutive meetings against Brentford in all competitions.
- Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland have lost three of their last five home games by 1-0 results (W1, D1, L3).
- Brentford have lost just one of their last five away top-flight games (W2, D2, L1).
Prediction
Having suffered two frustrating defeats against Burnley and Huddersfield in league and cup respectively, Sunderland now need to knuckle down because this is the sort of home game that they need to be winning if want to stay up but be less wasteful than they were in those two matches.
Brentford meanwhile have definitely rebounded from their disastrous opening-weekend loss at Nottingham Forest with two clinical displays and clean sheets, whilst the resilient Carabao Cup win at Bournemouth is a marker of how much their defence has improved already.
Nevertheless I do expect the home crowd to make the stadium a tough place for Brentford to try and play their game but if the Bees continue their upward form, I can see them ultimately nicking this but a draw feels likely on instinct.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Brentford
Result: Sunderland 2-1 Brentford