English Premier
2013-05-06 - Sunderland vs Stoke City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Monday 6 May 2013 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Sunderland
Paolo Di Canio would have been embarrassed by Sunderland's capitulation at the hands of Aston Villa last Monday night, but he has promised that they will bounce back in this game in front of the TV cameras. Sunderland have certainly responded to the appointment of the controversial Italian, but the 6-1 loss at Villa Park certainly shows how much work there is to be done at the Stadium of Light this Summer.
At the moment, Sunderland will first want to make sure of their place in the Premier League by getting to the 40 point mark which is likely going to be enough. At the start of the weekend, the Black Cats are 15th in the Premier League table with 37 points earned which is 5 clear of Wigan Athletic who have the chance to close that gap on Saturday. They have a 5-6-6 record at home this season in the League, scoring 18 goals and conceding 17 in those games.
Back to back wins at Newcastle United and at home against Everton looked to have pushed Sunderland clear of any relegation concerns, but that loss at Villa has dragged them back into the dogfight. Sunderland had failed to win any of their previous 5 home games in the Premier League before Di Canio guided them to a 1-0 win over Everton in their last game here.
Stephan Sessegnon is out for the rest of the season having failed to have his red card from last weekend overturned. Connor Wickham may pass a late fitness test, but the likes of Lee Cattermole and Steven Fletcher are out for the rest of the season.
Stoke City
It looked like Stoke City were slipping down into the relegation places in recent weeks, but they have recovered form at just the right time and look like they will be safe for another season. That doesn't mean that Tony Pulis will still be in charge next season with suggestions that Stoke will take another direction in the managerial stakes after Pulis was subjected to a lot of dissent from the stands in the last couple of months.
The side are up to 12th in the Premier League at the start of the weekend and they have reached the magical 40 point mark which leaves them 8 clear of Wigan Athletic in the final relegation place. Stoke have particularly struggled on their travels, as they have in each of their Premier League seasons, and they are 2-6-9 in those games while scoring 11 and conceding 21.
Stoke City have won back to back games at Queens Park Rangers and at home against Norwich City to move clear of the bottom three places. Prior to those wins, Stoke had actually failed to win any of 7 Premier League games and had lost 6 of those to slip dangerously close to the bottom three. Before the win at Loftus Road, Stoke had failed to win in 8 away games in the Premier League and had lost 6 in a row on their travels.
Andy Wilkinson, Marc Wilson and Glenn Whelan are all doubtful for the trip to the North East.
Head to Head
Stoke City and Sunderland played out a goalless draw at the Brittania Stadium earlier this season.
Sunderland are actually unbeaten in their last 10 home games against Stoke and they have won 3 of the last 4 against them including a 4-0 thumping last season.
Prediction
There might just be a breath taken by Stoke City after they won back to back games and I do think Sunderland will have a response from their poor loss at Aston Villa last Monday.
Sunderland have done enough to earn three points in recent home games against Stoke and while this might not be pretty, I think they may just grab the three points that virtually ensures they are a Premier League side again in August.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Sunderland 1-0 Stoke City
