Two sides in contrasting form meet at the Stadium of Light this weekend as Sunderland host Southampton in the Premier League.
The visitors are beginning to show the form that secured them a Europa League spot last year, while Sunderland are faced with the prospect of another relegation battle.
Sunderland
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Sam Allardyce's side come into this match off the back of a heavy 6-2 defeat to Everton last time out, despite having been level with the Toffees early in the second half at Goodison Park.
The Black Cats had been boosted by their first win of the season the match before, cruising to a 3-0 win over Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby, but last week's defeat keeps the club in the relegation zone, two points from safety.
The team have lost five of their last seven matches in the Premier League, picking up just four points over the same stretch, with just one win from their last nine in all competitions.
Sunderland will be happy to be back on home soil this week though, having been beaten just twice in their five fixtures at the Stadium of Light so far, compared with five defeats in six games away from home.
The team's loss to Everton leaves them with the worst defence in the top flight, having conceded 25 goals in their 11 outings so far, while keeping just one clean sheet. Scoring goals has not been as much of an issue though, as the side have found the back of the net 11 times, which is more than Liverpool and Crystal Palace, who sit in the top half of the table.
Allardyce, who is still getting to know his new team after taking over from Dick Advocaat last month, has admitted that he is worried about defence, while claiming that a lack of understanding was to blame for last week's collapse against Everton.
Recent form: LLDLWL
Recent form (all competitions): LLDLWL
Southampton
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Southampton will head to the Stadium of Light in strong form, having secured three wins from an unbeaten five-match run in the Premier League, which has left the team seventh in the table.
Ronald Koeman's side beat South Coast rivals Bournemouth last weekend, with Steven Davis and Graziano Pelle on the scoresheet for the Saints, just a couple of days after the team booked their place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a win over Aston Villa.
Discipline has been a bit of a problem in the last couple of matches though, with Southampton finishing their last two Premier League matches with 10 men, after Victor Wanyama received two yellow cards in the win over Bournemouth.
The Saints have been solid if unspectacular away from home this season, having drawn four of their five fixtures away from St Mary's. Southampton are still unbeaten away, but their only win came over struggling champions Chelsea.
Southampton have shown strong form in front of goal so far this season, scoring 18 goals in their first 11 matches. The team have scored in all but three of their fixtures in the top flight, including 13 in their last six.
Defending continues to be mixed, with the side still hampered by the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Fraser Forster, but the Saints did secure their first clean sheet in six matches last time out.
Recent form: LWWDDW
Recent form (all competitions): WWDDWW
Team News
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The visitors will be without midfielder Victor Wanyama as he serves a suspension for picking up two yellow cards last time out, while Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long have missed time recently with foot and ankle injuries respectively, leaving their availability unclear.
Jose Fonte is also a doubt after being taken off as a precaution with a knock last time out, while Florin Gardos and Fraser Forster remain long-term absentees.
Meanwhile, midfielder Lee Cattermole has been ruled out of the match for the home side after picking up a groin injury in the defeat to Everton last time out.
However, Fabio Borini, Ola Toivonen, Younes Kaboul and John O'Shea, who all missed the last match with minor injuries, will all be available for Allardyce.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Pantilimon, Coates, O'Shea, Caboul, Yedlin, Rodwell, M'Vila, Van Aanholt, Johnson, Defoe, Fletcher
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Stekelenburg, Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Clasie, Davis, Mane, Tadic, Pelle
Head To Head
When the sides met at the Stadium of Light last season, Sunderland clinched a 2-1 win after James Ward-Prowse was sent off for the visitors, resulting in Jordi Gomez scoring twice from the penalty spot.
Southampton have won just one of their last 10 meetings with Sunderland, but that victory also came last season, with the Saints claiming a memorable 8-0 win at St Mary's last October, but they have not won at the Stadium of Light since 2002.
This weekend's visitors just edge the head-to-head record, with 17 wins from their 40 previous meetings with Sunderland, while the Black Cats have 13 wins and 10 matches have been drawn, including four of the last 10.
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Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Sunderland 0-2 Southampton
Southampton have gone from strength to strength over recent weeks, while Sunderland are still trying to get any sort of consistency to their performances. The visitors are still unbeaten away from home, and given Sunderland's lack of wins and defensive struggles this season, it is difficult to see anything other than a Southampton win this weekend.
Sian Cowper
