Seeking to remain in touch with the top three in the Championship, Sunderland welcome an out-of-sorts Watford side to the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night.
While the Black Cats currently sit fourth in the second-tier standings, the visitors find themselves languishing in 20th place and just one point above the relegation zone.
Match preview
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A week on from suffering a slender 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff City, Sunderland returned to winning ways when they secured a 3-0 away victory over basement club Sheffield Wednesday last Friday.
The Black Cats raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening eight minutes courtesy of strikes from Dan Ballard and Jack Clarke, before the latter netted his second of the night – as well as his seventh goal in nine league games this season – from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark, and the visitors eventually cruised to a comfortable win at Hillsborough.
Tony Mowbray's side have now won four of their last five Championship games, scoring 14 goals in the process, but they still sit four points adrift of third-placed Preston North End as well as eight points behind leaders Leicester City.
Sunderland will be keen to address their inconsistent home form as they have claimed maximum points in just three of their last 13 league games at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats scored in 17 consecutive home games prior to the aforementioned defeat to Cardiff, though, and they have fared well in front of their own supporters in recent meetings with Wednesday's opponents Watford, winning five, drawing two and losing just one of their last eight home league encounters with the Hornets.
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Following a disappointing run of just two wins from nine Championship games, many would have assumed that the writing would on the wall for head coach Valerien Ismael considering the club's recent history with hiring and firing managers.
However, the Hornets surprisingly announced on Tuesday that Ismael has signed a new and improved contract, with sporting director Cristiano Giaretta stating that the 'work and the progress we can see gives us great confidence'.
The news comes just three days after Watford's 3-2 home defeat to fellow strugglers Middlesbrough, their second successive league defeat after losing 3-0 at Leeds United a week earlier.
Ismael is tasked with rectifying Watford's dismal away form as they have failed to win each of their last 14 matches on the road in all competitions dating back to January, drawing a blank in front of goal on eight of these occasions.
The prospect of returning to winning ways on Wednesday could prove challenging for Watford, though, as they have won only one of their last 12 visits to Sunderland – a 1-0 Premier League victory in April 2017.
Team News
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Sunderland's Bradley Dack, Dennis Cirkin, Pierre Ekwah, Corry Evans, Aji Alese and Jay Matete are all ruled out until after the international break due to injury, and another "key" unnamed player is also sidelined according to Mowbray.
Mowbray is not expected to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, with Luke O'Nien set to continue in central defence alongside Ballard, while Jobe Bellingham links arms with Dan Neil and Alex Pritchard in midfield.
Chelsea loanee Mason Burstow is yet to score for the Black Cats but he is expected to continue in attack, with support provided on the flanks by Clarke and Patrick Roberts.
As for Watford, their only injury concern is with attacker Ken Sema who remains sidelined with a muscle problem.
Ismael could recall striker Rhys Healey, which would likely see Mileta Rajovic drop down to the substitutes' bench, while Edo Kayembe, Matheus Martins, Ismael Kone and Tom Ince will also be pushing to start after beginning as substitutes last weekend.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Ballard, Huggins; Bellingham, Neil, Pritchard; Roberts, Burstow, Clarke
Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Porteous, Sierralta, Hoedt; Ngakia, Louza, Dele-Bashiru, Kayembe, Lewis; Bayo, Healey
We say: Sunderland 2-1 Watford
A closely-fought contest could be on the cards this weekend considering Watford's woeful away form and Sunderland's poor form on home soil, but the Black Cats will be regarded as favourites on Wednesday and they should have enough quality in the final third to outscore the Hornets.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
