The final media mash-up of 2016 sees Richard Mennear, Nick Barnes and James Hunter preview Saturday’s trip to Turf Moor as Sunderland face Burnley.
The trio share their thoughts on the game providing insight, analysis and opinion as the Black Cats aim enter the New Year on a massive high.
Richard Mennear (@RichMennearJP) – Sunderland Echo
You only have to take one look at the Premier League table to see how important the New Year's Eve clash with Burnley is. Burnley are four places and six points better off than David Moyes' side ahead of the game at Turf Moor. It makes it a game Sunderland certainly can't afford to lose heading into the new year. Sean Dyche's side are strong on home turf but Sunderland's away performances have been solid this season and they put up a strong fight against Manchester United on Boxing Day. The return of Adnan Januzaj, fresh after missing the game against his parent club, will be a big boost as Sunderland look to end 2016 in style. Three points - with results elsewhere going in their favour - would see Sunderland climb out of the bottom three. There can be no bigger motivation than that. I think it will be a tight game, fiercely contested but Sunderland to sneak a narrow win. Happy New Year!
Nick Barnes (@Tweed_Barnesy) – BBC Radio Newcastle
There was much to be heartened by from Sunderland’s performance at Old Trafford. Redact the errors which proved so costly and one can muse over Fabio Borini’s fabulous consolation goal but more than that, he appeared to be regaining some of his early season energy which will be much needed in the next few weeks. His contributions could be key, none more so than in front of goal. If it is the case that Jordan Pickford is to miss the next few matches then he has an able replacement in Vito Mannone who is no stranger to Sunderland’s perennial relegation scrap and the game at Burnley will be just that. A scrap. Not for the faint hearted. Turf Moor reflects the landscape that overshadows it. Uncompromisingly bleak on a cold winter’s day and Sunderland will have to knuckle down and grind this result out. In recent years it’s never been a high scoring game, if in fact there haven’t been any goals at all, so expect the same this weekend. It should be right up Victor Anichebe’s street though. Watching defenders and midfielders bounce off the ‘beast’ is a pastime in itself and he’ll relish the challenge provided in this Lancashire hill town.
James Hunter (@JHunterChron) – The Chronicle
Sunderland can finish 2016 on a high note with a win at Burnley, which just might be enough for send them into the New Year outside the bottom three – which would be some achievement considering where they were at the beginning of November! But winning at Turf Moor would be no mean feat in itself. Burnley have collected 19 of their 20 points on home soil, and only Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool, and Arsenal, have better records on their own patch. Sunderland's Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United will not have dented their confidence, but they must pick up at least a point against the Clarets to keep their momentum going ahead of another tough game against Liverpool on Wearside just 48 hours later.
The views expressed within this article are the views of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Sunderland AFC.