Fresh from becoming European finalists following last Friday’s victory over Norwich City, Sunderland under-23s are preparing to head south again, this time to face Chelsea.
Fixture: Chelsea U23 v Sunderland U23
Location: Stamford Bridge
Date and kick-off: Friday 7 April, kick-off 7.05pm
Competition: Premier League 2
CHELSEA ANALYSED
How the Blues shape up. . .
Chelsea present a completely different game to the one Sunderland experienced on Friday evening. As attentions turn back to the domestic run-in, the Black Cats will be hopeful of finishing their campaign strongly despite still searching for their first league win in 2017. As for the Blues, though, they are without a league win in their last four matches, losing three and drawing the other. With nine goals conceded in those four matches, Chelsea are leaking goals so Sunderland will need to make sure they are at their clinical best.
Talking tactics. . .
On Sunderland under-23s’ last trip to face Chelsea, then manager Andy Welsh’s side made light work of dismantling a strong Blues team, winning 3-1. It was a benchmark result which highlighted just how far the young Black Cats had come – and still is regarded as a significant result. While Antonio Conte’s first-team line-up with a 3-4-3, Adrian Viveash’s side usually operate in a 4-2-3-1 formation. With Chelsea likely to be strong in their forward areas, wide play will once again be key to Sunderland’s chances of success at Stamford Bridge. A high press, similar to how they set-up at Norwich, will also give them the best chance of nullifying Chelsea’s threat going forward.