Martin O’Neill’s men would be gunning to return to winning ways following their Capital One Cup defeat against Middlesbrough on October 31, when they take on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-c29347 Lambert’s side in the English top flight this weekend.
In the tenth round of the English top tier football, Sunderland will lock horns against Aston Villa at Stadium of Light on Saturday, November 3.
Sunderland
The Black Cats are heading into the game on the back of a disappointing 0-1 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough in the mid-week action of Capital One Cup on Wednesday at home.
The Tyne and Wear outfit have been struggling to perform brightly in the highest echelons of English football since the start of the ongoing 2012/13 campaign. Occupying the 14th spot on the league table, they have an overall record of 8 played, 1 won, 6 drawn and 1 lost.
Martin O’Neill, Sunderland boss, has urged his troops to put behind their abysmal performances and start looking for victories, while stressing that his front-line needs to find the back of the net more often.
“We know we have to do more to score goals. We have to look dangerous and when we get the ball in and around the penalty area, we can't either pass the buck or lose it in really good positions. We have got to do better”, the 60-year-old tactician was quoted as saying to the media.
Aston Villa
The Villa secured a hard fought 2-3 victory over Swindon Town in their mid-week Capital One Cup tie at County Ground on October 31, and would be brimming with confidence ahead of their upcoming clash against the Black Cats.
The Villans have thus far staged abysmal performances in the league, failing to secure even a point on five occasions, which has dropped them to the 17th spot on the table. They have an overall record of 9 played, 1 won, 3 drawn and 5 lost.
Paul Lambert, Aston Villa head coach, has expressed confidence ahead of his side’s upcoming league encounter, and has insisted that they have a good chance of bagging all three points should they replicate their mid-week’s performance at Stadium of Light.
“That is what you are hoping for, but I’ve not been too disappointed with the way the lads have played. Their efforts have been fantastic. They might not win every game, but I can’t ask for any more. The Premier League is an unforgiving league but I know they will be fine”, the former Norwich City boss said while talking to journalists.
Head-to-Head statistics
The Villa have failed to register a single win in their last five meetings against Sunderland. The Black Cats managed to emerge victorious in two games, while the remaining three encounters ended in stalemates.
Players to watch
Steven Fletcher – Sunderland
The 25-year-old attacker is the leading goalscorer for the Black Cats this term. Netting five goals in seven league games, the Scottish ace would be gunning to add more to his tally on Saturday.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Christian-Benteke-c9056 – Aston Villa
The Belgian ace netted a brace in his side’s last game to help them claim a 2-3 win over Swindon Town in the Cup match. He will certainly play an integral role should the Villans manage to register their first away win of the 2012/13 campaign.
Prediction
Both sides would be gunning to secure maximum points in this encounter, and it will certainly prove to be an enthralling battle. However, both sides' recent form suggest that they will have to share a point each in this encounter.
Predicted score-line: Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa.
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