Media mash-up continues as a batch of local reporters preview Sunderland’s latest fixture providing insight, analysis and opinion.
Next up, Nick Barnes, James Hunter and Richard Mennear preview the Lads’ trip to Swansea City.
Nick Barnes (@Tweed_Barnesy) – BBC Radio Newcastle
Sunderland proved in the past few weeks they can steer their way past potentially tricky fixtures, namely Hull City and Leicester. Now they travel to hapless Swansea who despite their rousing 5-4 win at the Liberty Stadium over Crystal Palace are looking like a team in disarray and Sunderland need to be as professional and clinical as they were against Hull and Leicester. Losing Duncan Watmore was a big blow for David Moyes though. His energy and harassment on the right will be missed as his replacement, likely to be Whabi Khazri or Adnan Januzaj, are different players. Hopefully the technical ability of either Khazri or Januzaj can compensate for Watmore’s more robust approach. As ever over the past few weeks the key at Swansea will be making sure Victor Anichebe is involved. When he’s playing with the form he’s showing at the moment one has to argue Sunderland are a fair match for any team outside the top 4. A win in Wales would lend the Christmas schedule a distinctly warm glow.
Richard Mennear (@RichMennearJP) – Sunderland Echo
In-form Sunderland head to Swansea City buoyed by a brilliant 2-1 win over Leicester City. The champions were poor and no match for a Sunderland side brimming with confidence in the opening 30 minutes. The club's third victory in four Premier League sets them up perfectly for the trip down to south Wales to face a Swansea side struggling at the foot of the table. The problem facing David Moyes and Sunderland is they can't be sure what Swansea team will turn up. From putting five past Crystal Palace in that thrilling comeback to win 5-4 to then getting thumped 5-0 at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Bob Bradley's Swansea are capable of banging them in but also shipping them at the back too. Sunderland have been much-improved at the back in recent weeks and with the goal threat posed by Jermain Defoe and Victor Anichebe they are a match for most teams. A trip to Swansea should hold no fear for Sunderland. First things first, don't get beat but if they could manage a fourth win from five then Christmas really will have come early.
James Hunter (@JHunterChron) – The Chronicle
Sunderland's run of three wins from four games has brought them to within a point of escaping the bottom three. And with a trip to free-falling basement side Swansea City this weekend, the chance is there for the Black Cats to make it four wins out of five and keep on climbing. But for all Sunderland's recent resurgence, they cannot afford to take any game for granted – Swansea showed against Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago that they are not yet ready to throw in the towel. That said, on current form, Sunderland will be favourites and I think they can take advantage of a defence that has leaked 16 goals in five games, and keep their momentum going.
The views expressed within this article are the views of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Sunderland AFC.
