Sunderland are seeking back-to-back wins in the Sky Bet Championship for the first time this season – and next up they face a Barnsley side who are without a league win in 10.
The Black Cats will usher in 2018 by entertaining the Tykes at the Stadium of Light, but despite the visitors’ poor run of form they are more than capable of picking up a result, having won 3-0 earlier in the season when the sides met at Turf Moor.
And in the words of George Honeyman, ‘we owe them one…’.
BEWARE THE WOUNDED ANIMAL
Many will say Sunderland won’t have a better chance to clinch successive wins and start a real run of form, but any complacency needs to be put to bed and the Black Cats need to look no further than the last meeting between the sides. Quickfire goals from Ike Ugbo and Harvey Barnes put the Tykes in command before the break, with George Moncur adding a third following the restart to hand Heckingbottom’s side a comfortable win. Football, though, is of course about the here and now, and Sunderland will be heading into the game with three points in their sights after an upturn in form under Chris Coleman.
STAGE IS SET
The Welshman hailed his side’s response on Trentside after bouncing back from a poor Boxing Day display, but there was no time to revel in victory with Monday’s game coming less than 48 hours after Saturday’s success. Sunderland have picked up 11 points from eight games since Coleman took charge and kept four clean sheets to ensure they enter 2018 out of the bottom three. Victory would see the Black Cats move above the Tykes with just one point and one place separating the sides, but they can’t afford to let the visitors end a ten-game winless run which stretches back to early November.
MCGEADY MAGIC
Aiden McGeady’s first goal since October was the catalyst for success at Forest but the winger’s overall performance was a real tone-setter. The Republic of Ireland international gave Eric Lichaj a torrid time, particularly in the early stages, running at his man on every occasion before putting a number of testing crosses into the box. McGeady, 31, has scored five goals this season and provided four assists, and if called upon, Coleman will be hoping the wing wizard can produce more magic against the Tykes.
TEAM NEWS
Sunderland’s injury troubles seem have followed the pattern of one in, one out in recent weeks, and that’s once again the case heading into Monday’s game. Lynden Gooch has been ruled out of the game due to a hamstring injury but Northern Ireland international Paddy McNair could return to action at the Stadium of Light. McNair last featured on 25 November in the Black Cats’ 2-0 win over Burton Albion, but Coleman says he ‘has a chance’ of facing the Tykes. Sunderland will once again be without Lewis Grabban, though, with Lamine Kone, Lee Cattermole, Jack Rodwell, Didier Ndong, Jonny Williams and Duncan Watmore also still sidelined.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Tickets for the game are on sale now and cash turnstiles will be in operation.
If you’re not attending the game we have comprehensive coverage of all the action as it happens across our digital channels.
Nick Barnes and Gary Bennett will be in the commentary booth from 2pm, with minute-by-minute analysis available right here and across social media from Twitter to Instagram.