Sunderland face a swift return to action on Wednesday evening with a trip to Hillsborough next on the agenda (KO 7.45pm).
The Black Cats have made an unbeaten start to the season, but Sheffield Wednesday, who registered a top-four finish last season, will provide the sternest test yet for Simon Grayson’s men.
TWO DOWN, ONE TO GO
Sunderland will be aiming to complete an away-day hat-trick when they travel to Hillsborough on Wednesday evening, with a third successive away win in the Black Cats’ sights. An opening-day draw against Derby County saw Grayson’s side denied, but there was no stopping them at Gigg Lane or Carrow Road as Bury and Norwich City were overpowered and outscored. But it’s Sunday’s win that provided the greatest source of optimism, with Aiden McGeady, Lewis Grabban and James Vaughan lighting up the Sky Bet Championship stage. Grabban struck twice and McGeady supplied his second after netting a wonder goal of his own, but Vaughan also took plaudits following another standout display. The challenge now? Keep the winning run going…
TALE OF THE TAPE
Whereas Sunderland have started well, Sheffield Wednesday have faltered. The Owls have picked up just one point from their opening Sky Bet Championship outings, with Carlos Carvalhal’s side slipping to an opening-day defeat to Preston North End before coming from behind to earn a draw against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. Like Sunderland, they progressed in the Carabao Cup with a 4-1 win over Chesterfield clinching a comfortable passage to the second round, but the pressure will very much be on the Owls on Wednesday with a passionate home support expecting a first league win sooner rather than later.
FIERY FERNANDO
Perhaps one of the main reasons behind Wednesday’s start has been the lack of harmony within the squad. The Owls lost Sam Hutchinson and Glenn Loovens to injury in the opening period of Saturday’s stalemate at Loftus Road, with the latter facing a late fitness test ahead of Wednesday’s match-up. Steven Fletcher is also a doubt and Kieran Lee won’t feature, but the biggest talking point ahead of the game – at least in Sheffield – is whether or not Fernando Forestieri will feature. The 27-year-old is undoubtedly the man who makes Wednesday tick, but he was dropped on Saturday after a training ground bust-up with Sam Winnal, who scored against the R’s. Forestieri has since returned to training and Carvalhal insists the matter is done and dusted, but the Owls boss wouldn’t reveal if the Italian would feature against the Black Cats. Sunderland, meanwhile, have a clean bill of health following a majestic win at Carrow Road, with Duncan Watmore, Paddy McNair and Josh Maja the only absentees.
HOW’S STAT
Looking back at previous meetings between the two sides, Wednesday have recorded just one win against the Black Cats at Hillsborough in their last six contests, conceding 12 goals. Sunderland won the last four of those encounters and they’ve lost just one of their last 12 meetings with the Owls, but Simon Grayson, who had a loan spell at Wednesday in 2000, has lost in three of his four managerial visits to Hillsborough. He didn’t have Grabban then, though, and the forward has been in scintillating form since his Wearside arrival, scoring three goals in two league games including his first league brace since February 2015.