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’ big game against Burnley at the Stadium of Light.
Richard Mennear (@RichMennearJP) – Sunderland Echo
Sunderland, fresh from another two-week break in action, welcome Burnley to the Stadium of Light on Saturday. And it is all set up for another huge afternoon of Premier League action. Make no bones about it, Sunderland need a win. The Black Cats started the first half so well against Manchester City, catching Pep Guardiola's side cold with their high-intensity, high-pressing game. City went on to win 2-0, their superior quality shining through in the end. Burnley don't have the same level of quality and Sunderland must fancy their chances of securing a victory on home soil. They owe Burnley one too after the league defeat at Turf Moor and FA Cup exit to the Clarets. After this game there is another two-week break due to the international fixtures, Sunderland need to find some momentum to carry into that period ahead of a very busy April - which will make or break the season. Sunderland need to take the game to the Clarets and hope that they rediscover their goal scoring touch in front of their loyal, home support.
Nick Barnes (@Tweed_Barnesy) – BBC Radio Newcastle
This is one of Sunderland’s remaining matches of the season that is, to use the old cliché, a must win. With eleven games left it is these at home that will be crucial to Sunderland’s bid to avoid the drop and as we are all too aware Burnley are yet to win away this season. Sunderland must capitalise on that. Yes, Burnley have been reportedly unlucky to lose their recent away matches at Swansea and Liverpool but lose them they did. Sunderland have started matches well at the Stadium of Light this season but they have failed to press home the advantage a good start has given them. To my mind it is vital they do so against Burnley and score first. If they fall behind to Sean Dyche’s team there is no doubt Burnley will dig in, defend, and make life extremely difficult for Sunderland and the longer the game goes on the more at risk Sunderland become of conceding a goal on the counter-attack. We MAY see a return for Jan Kirchhoff and while he will be ring rusty if he’s anywhere near the pace his passing ability could be a key factor in finding a way to open up Burnley’s dogged defence. Now is the time Sunderland have to sharpen their attack and there is no better time to start than against Burnley.
James Hunter (@JHunterChron) – The Chronicle
The run-in starts here for Sunderland, with Burnley's visit on Saturday the start of a series of fixtures that will go a long way towards determining the Black Cats' fate. Sunderland have lost twice against Burnley already this season, once in the league and once in the FA cup, but both of those defeats came at the Clarets' Turf Moor stronghold. The sides fought out a draw in the cup on Wearside in January, and Sunderland must take advantage of the fact that Burnley are the worst travellers in the Premier League – Sean Dyche's side have not won a league game on the road, and have picked up only two points from 14 away games. The Black Cats will have taken a modicum of comfort from their last outing against Manchester City, when they gave one of the top flight's high-fliers a real scare before eventually slipping to defeat. But Sunderland are still six points adrift of safety and home games such as this one will have to be converted into wins if they are to close that gap and give themselves a genuine chance of survival.
The views expressed within this article are the views of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Sunderland AFC.
