Top-seven chasing Sunderland host relegation-battling Nottingham Forest in a huge Premier League clash.
Victory will lift Sunderland as high as seventh in the table, whilst Forest can move eight points clear of the relegation zone in 16th.
Team News
Sunderland have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 4-3 loss at Aston Villa.
Simon Moore (hand), Nilson Angulo (unspecified), Jocelin Ta Bi (ankle), Romaine Mundle (hamstring) and Bertrand Traore (knee) will again be sidelined.
Forest manager, Vitor Pereira expects Dan Ndoye to be available after he missed their 4-1 win at home to Burnley with a knock.
Murillo (muscle), Callum Hudson-Odoi (quad), Willy Boly, Nicolo Savona and John Victor (all knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Sunderland host Forest at Stadium of Light on Friday 24 April at 20:00pm BST, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League channels in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Sunderland are yet to suffer a Premier League defeat against Forest (W2, D1).
- Forest drew 1-1 in their only previous Premier League visit to Sunderland in March 1997.
- Sunderland are looking to do a first Premier League double against Forest.
- Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have lost just two of their last six matches (W3, D1, L2).
- Forest have claimed nine points in their last five league matches (W2, D3).
Prediction
Given how close the race for European qualification is, Sunderland know that they can’t afford any more slip-ups after a late marking error cost them a valiant point at Villa in which they did well to recover from 3-1 down late in the second half to equalise before Tammy Abraham’s tame unmarked winner.
Forest meanwhile know that victory here would put them on the cusp of safety and with a huge Europa League Quarter-Final against Villa on the horizon, this is a chance to build on their clinical second-half comeback against Burnley and put league survival closer with four league games left.
I however do think that Sunderland will have the edge at home if can cut out their sloppy defensive play but Forest will push them all the way.
Prediction: Sunderland 2-1 Forest
Result: Sunderland 0-5 Forest
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