Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion
Saturday 1 October
Stadium of Light
3pm
West Bromwich Albion
Goalkeepers: Ben Foster is likely to be selected when West Bromwich Albion travel to the Stadium of Light having been selected for all six of the Baggies’ top-flight outings this season. The stopper has kept two sheets and conceded six goals during those appearances with Tony Pulis’ side neatly poised in 10th place. Now 33, Foster started his career with Stoke City before moving to Manchester United following loan spells at Bristol City and Wrexham among others. He made 12 first-team appearances at Old Trafford before enjoying two productive loans with Watford, with a one-year spell at Birmingham City preceding his move to the Hawthorns. He gained eight England caps between 2007 and 2014.
Defence: Craig Dawson, Gareth McAuley and former Black Cat Johnny Evans have all made six Premier League appearances since the start of the campaign. Dawson, 26, also featured in the EFL Cup and is a defensive mainstay with Evans needing no introduction to the red and white army. McAuley has also been ever-present and he’s also chipped in with two goals scoring against Everton and Northampton. Brendan Galloway – on loan from the Toffees – and Jonas Olsson have also featured.
Midfield: Like Sunderland, the Baggies boast a number of former Manchester United players and skipper Darren Fletcher will play a key role in the centre of midfield. The Scotland international has featured in all six of the club’s Premier League games, as has Claudio Yacob, and his organisational skills allowing the likes of Matt Philips and Nacer Chadli the freedom to create. Phillips, 25, signed from Queens Park Rangers in July and has made seven appearances in all competitions, with record signing Chadli already starting to repay the faith shown in him with two goals in three top-flight games. James McClean has been a regular starter with James Morrison and Craig Gardner regularly coming off the bench.
Attack: Salomon Rondon is likely to line up against the Black Cats having started five Premier League games this season. He’s found the net on three occasions, including two goals in his last two games, and he will pose a physical and fast threat. Saido Berahino is also likely to play a part and he scored the only goal between the sides last season in a 1-0 win for the Baggies at the Hawthorns. Wales’ Euro 2016 hero Hal Robson Kanu could feature from the bench.
Manager: Tony Pulis took charge of his 1,000th game last weekend and his West Bromwich Albion side will be typically hard to beat. The Baggies boss has been in charge at the Hawthorns since January 2015 guiding the club to 13th and 14th in the Premier League. Following a modest playing career, Pulis managed Bournemouth, Gillingham, Bristol City and Portsmouth before rising to acclaim with Stoke City where he earned promotion to the Premier League. Following the Potters’ rise to the top tier he presided over an impressive reign which saw the club reach an FA Cup final and play European football. Pulis briefly managed Crystal Palace.
Team news
Sunderland
The Black Cats will be without Vito Mannone, Seb Larsson and Fabio Borini.
Adnan Januzaj will also be unavailable after being ruled out for a minimum of six weeks.
West Bromwich Albion
The Baggies have no injury concerns as it stands with Saido Berahino and Brendan Galloway expected to be available following a virus.
Last time out
Sunderland 3-2 Crystal Palace
Christian Benteke stunned Sunderland at the Stadium of Light as the Belgian’s 94th-minute winner saw Crystal Palace come from 2-0 down to seal three points on Wearside.
The Black Cats weathered an early storm as Benteke and Yohan Cabaye impressed, but as the opening 45 minute wore on the visitors became frustrated and they eventually fell behind.
Steve Mandanda and Damian Delaney were at fault, playing a woeful one-two with each other which allowed Defoe to stroll into the box and caress the ball into the corner.
It should have been the catalyst for Sunderland who doubled their advantage on the hour mark – Defoe bringing his Premier League tally to 147 – but bitter frustration followed as the Black Cats blew a two-goal lead.
Joe Ledley started the comeback with the Welshman’s deflected effort leaving Jordan Pickford with no chance, and with 14 minutes remaining James McArthur decisively headed home to set up a grandstand finale.
But it was Benteke who stepped up and with seconds remaining he struck a seismic blow to capture three points for Palace.
Stoke City 1-1 West Bromwich Albion (BBC)
Salomon Rondon's injury-time equaliser earned West Brom a point at Stoke to deny the Potters their first league win of the season.
Stoke took the lead through Joe Allen when he poked home after West Brom's Jonny Evans nodded the ball down.
But Rondon headed a corner beyond keeper Lee Grant to thwart Stoke, who still move off the foot of the table.
In Tony Pulis' 1,000th game as a manager, his West Brom side created few chances before Rondon rescued them.
Form (All competitions)
Sunderland: LLDLWL
West Bromwich Albion: WLLDLWD
