In an thrilling Friday evening showdown, Sunderland and Hull Metropolis will face off with the intention of regaining their positions within the Championship playoff spots.
At the moment separated by only one level, these two groups will battle it out on the Stadium of Gentle.
Match Preview:
Beneath the management of Michael Beale, Sunderland has skilled a combined bag of outcomes. With victories in opposition to Hull, Rotherham United, and Preston North Finish, the Black Cats have remained in competition for a top-six end.
Nonetheless, house defeats to Coventry Metropolis and Newcastle United uncovered their vulnerabilities, and final weekend, they misplaced 2-1 to Ipswich City after conceding a lead.
Regardless of sitting in seventh place, there’s now a five-point hole between Sunderland and fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion.
However, Hull Metropolis, managed by Liam Rosenior, have hit a tough patch lately.
After a powerful begin within the playoffs, the Tigers have suffered 4 defeats of their final 5 matches, slipping all the way down to ninth place within the standings.
Moreover, they’ve confronted seven losses of their final 11 fixtures throughout all competitions. Their most up-to-date disappointment got here within the FA Cup third spherical replay in opposition to Birmingham Metropolis, the place they conceded a late 2-1 defeat after initially main the sport.
Workforce Information:
Sunderland supervisor Michael Beale is prone to make tactical changes after experimenting with a 4-4-2 formation within the earlier match.
Nazarii Rusyn could return to the assault, changing Abdoullah Ba as the one anticipated change.
Nonetheless, Patrick Roberts and Bradley Dack are nonetheless recovering from accidents and received’t be accessible for not less than two extra weeks.
Hull Metropolis boss Liam Rosenior is anticipated to revert again to an analogous lineup used of their latest league sport in opposition to Norwich.
Two alterations are seemingly, with Jason Lokilo that includes on the left flank and Billy Sharp main the assault, as Liam Delap is sidelined till spring because of a knee harm.
Doable Lineups:
Sunderland: (4-2-3-1)
Patterson;
Hume, O’Nien, Ballard, Alese;
Ekwah, Neil;
Pritchard, Bellingham, Clarke,
Rusyn
Hull Metropolis: (4-2-3-1)
Allsop;
Coyle, Jones, Greaves, Jacob;
Morton, Slater;
Tufan, Carvalho, Lokilo;
Sharp
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Hull Metropolis
Of their earlier encounter, Sunderland emerged victorious, which can undoubtedly inspire Hull Metropolis to hunt revenge.
Nonetheless, we predict a hard-fought 1-1 draw, because the Tigers intention to bounce again from their latest setbacks. Each groups will contemplate a degree as a priceless end result of their quest for playoff qualification.