With their Premier League status hanging by a thread, nothing but a victory will do for Sunderland when they play host to Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon.
While there is plenty left to play for as far as the hosting Black Cats are concerned, visiting Chelsea will be keen for the season to finish so that they can begin a new era under the stewardship of Antonio Conte.
Sunderland
© Getty Images
Over the last few years, Sunderland have flirted dangerously with relegation, only to ultimately save themselves - sometimes when it seemed that all hope had been lost.
With that in mind, the fact that they find themselves in the relegation zone with three matches left to play should not lead to anybody writing them off. After all, they have a game in hand on rivals Newcastle United and were they to take nine points from the games that remain, they will begin 2016-17 as a Premier League club once again.
Winning, though, has proved problematic for Sam Allardyce's charges this term. Just seven victories have been picked up since the season got underway last August - only relegated Aston Villa have recorded fewer.
The other major problem for the Wearsiders has been a hefty number of draws, six of which have come in their last nine outings. In terms of points, they would have been better off winning three of those matches and losing the other three.
Goals have also been in short supply, particularly at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland have found the net on just 17 occasions in front of their own supporters, while just once in their last seven outings have they managed to score more than one goal in a game.
It begs the question - where would they be without Jermain Defoe? The experienced frontman has found the net 14 times in the Premier League this season, which is his second highest return in a single campaign.
Recent form: DDLWDD
Chelsea
© Getty Images
Had Chelsea shown the same guts, determination and fight throughout the whole season as they did against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night, they almost certainly would have made a better fist of their title defence.
Armed with the knowledge that Tottenham's failure to win the match would end their chances of winning a first league title since 1961, the hosting Blues battled back at Stamford Bridge to claim a 2-2 draw.
Such spirit has been in short supply, which is why Chelsea are set to produce the poorest defence of a title in Premier League history.
The current holders of that unwanted record are Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers, both of whom finished seventh 12 months after lifting the trophy. As it stands, the West Londoners are ninth with three matches left to play. Southampton, who currently sit seventh, are nine points better off than Chelsea.
Nevertheless, they do at least make the long trip to the North-East with some positive away form to fall back on.
Of their last nine matches on the road, Guus Hiddink's side have tasted defeat only once, winning six times during that run. On top of that, they have conceded only four goals throughout that sequence.
Recent form: DWLLWD
Team News
© Getty Images
Eden Hazard was surprisingly dropped to the bench against Spurs, but he produced the goods after coming on as a substitute by scoring the equalising goal.
It should mean that the Belgian is restored to the starting lineup, potentially at the expense of Nemanja Matic.
If that is the case, Cesc Fabregas would drop into deeper midfield role alongside John Obi Mikel.
Hazard's countryman Thibaut Courtois is also in line to feature between the posts, having sat out the previous two games because of suspension.
As for Sunderland, Allardyce may well decide to stick with the same players that started the 1-1 draw with Stoke City last time out.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Mannone; Yedlin, Kone, Kaboul, Van Aanholt; Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M'Vila,; Borini, Khazri; Defoe
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Fabregas; Willian, Hazard, Pedro; Costa
Head To Head
Put simply, Sunderland have a rather miserable record where this fixture is concerned.
Of the last 22 meetings between these two sides in the Premier League, the team in red and white stripes has prospered on only two occasions.
Their last home triumph over Chelsea occurred in October 2000 when a penalty from Kevin Phillips was enough to seal a 1-0 victory.
When the sides met earlier in the season, Chelsea started life without the sacked Jose Mourinho by recording a 3-1 win.
We say: Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea
There is every chance that Monday night will have taken plenty out of the Chelsea tank, so another victory may be asking too much. Even so, Sunderland have struggled to put wins and goals on the board and Saturday may well be another one of those occasions, especially because the visitors have been solid on the road of late.
No Data Analysis info
