Sunderland make the trip to Hull City on Saturday afternoon looking for the victory which would keep the club in contention for the Championship playoff spots.
At a time when the Black Cats sit in 11th position in the standings, Hull are in 21st place despite making a solid start under recently-appointed boss Liam Rosenior.
Match preview
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In their first season back in the Championship, many associated with Sunderland will be satisfied with sitting in the top half of the table at this stage of the season.
However, the North-East outfit have prevailed in just four of their last 13 outings, highlighting that they could have been far better off in the second tier.
On the back of three wins from four, Sunderland went in front against West Bromwich Albion last time out, only to concede twice in the final 20 minutes to suffer a momentum-denting defeat.
Sitting six points clear of the relegation zone, the Black Cats will not have any immediate concerns regarding a relegation battle, instead wanting to close the four-point gap to the playoffs.
Nevertheless, Hull, a team who sit 10 positions adrift of Sunderland in the table, can move to within two points of the visitors with success at the weekend.
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For that to come to fruition, Hull will have to shake off one of the worst home records in the second tier, the Tigers having lost their last four matches at the MKM Stadium.
Although four home wins were registered earlier in the season, Hull have recently fared significantly better away from Humberside, something which Rosenior knows that he must address.
On a positive note, Hull appear to be growing in confidence in defence, a clean sheet having been recorded in a goalless draw at Watford last weekend.
With only one of the bottom six losing last weekend, it was a result which kept Hull above the safety line, but they remain vulnerable due to possessing the worst goal difference in the second tier.
Team News
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Having served his three-match suspension, Oscar Estupinan is in line to return to the Hull attack.
Dimitrios Pelkas misses out, however, with the playmaker having suffered a knee injury during the goalless draw versus Watford, while Greg Docherty will be assessed after suffering a dead leg.
Ozan Tufan appears likely to return to the starting lineup with Rosenior likely to make just the two alterations.
Despite edging nearer to a return, this fixture is likely to come too soon for the likes of Dan Ballard and Ross Stewart.
Jack Clarke should feature on the left flank, taking the spot of Elliot Embleton, while Patrick Roberts will also be hoping for a recall.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Ingram; Christie, Jones, McLoughlin, Greaves; Woods, Seri; Slater, Tufan, Longman; Estupinan
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Gooch, O'Nien, Batth, Alese; Evans, Neil; Diallo, Pritchard, Clarke; Simms
We say: Hull City 1-2 Sunderland
Despite just five points separating the two teams in this division, their home and away records are chalk and cheese. Taking that into consideration, we expect Sunderland to have the edge in this contest, battling their way to a win by the odd goal in three.
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Top tip
Darren Plant
