Sunderland will head to the Midlands for the second time in a week on Saturday when they visit the Pirelli Stadium, KO 3pm.
REWIND
Chris Coleman took charge of his first match on Tuesday evening when the Black Cats visited Villa Park. Unfortunately, the Welshman was dealt a blow ahead of kick-off and was forced to name a much-changed side as he was without 10 first-team faces. The Black Cats produced a gritty display in the West Midlands, but were once again left ruing sluggish defending when Albert Adomah poked home on 10 minutes following a cross from the right. Lady luck was then on Villa’s side at the start of the second 45, when Josh Onomah’s strike from range took look a hefty deflection off Ty Browning, leaving Robbin Ruiter rooted to the ground as the ball ended up in the back of the net. Lewis Grabban halved the deficit late on, notching his 10th goal of the season, but the damage was done, and Coleman’s tenure started in defeat.
THE TASK IN HAND
While Sunderland returned to Wearside without any points, the task that lies ahead for Coleman and his side remains the same. Burton Albion was always going to be an important match, and Coleman was quick to ramp the heat up on his team in his press conference on Thursday. Coleman is keen for his team to turn a corner quickly and ignite a run of form to put to bed their current run of just one win in 18 league matches. The Brewers, meanwhile, have lost their last five matches on home soil and have won just two league games since September. Three points on Saturday for both sides will be crucial.
MORE WOES FOR WATMORE
Duncan Watmore is expected to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery. The news comes as a bitter blow for the 22-year-old who missed the last six months of the 2016-17 season, as well as the start of the current campaign, while recovering from the first injury which he picked up in December 2016. After returning against Preston North End in September, Watmore featured regularly under Simon Grayson and re-established himself as a key member of the first-team squad, but once again his involvement has been curtailed by a cruel twist of fate after limping off last Saturday against Millwall.
DUO RETURN
Paddy McNair will be available for selection when Sunderland travel to Burton Albion but Didier Ndong will miss up to three weeks due to a knee injury. Both missed the midweek trip to Aston Villa with Ndong also missing last weekend’s stalemate against Millwall, with the Gabon international taking time away from the club due to personal reasons. Marc Wilson will also miss out due to a calf problem, but Lee Cattermole is available again after serving a one-match ban
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Supporters are reminded that all tickets for the away end at tomorrow’s match have been snapped up.
If you’re unable to attend 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 1.30pm, with minute-by-minute analysis available right here and across social media from Twitter to Instagram.