Media mash-up continues as a batch of local reporters preview Sunderland’s latest fixture providing insight, analysis and opinion.
Next up, Nick Barnes, James Hunter and Richard Mennear preview the Lads’ mouth-watering clash at Crystal Palace.
Nick Barnes (@Tweed_Barnesy) – BBC Radio Newcastle
Superlatives can’t do this match justice. It is truly huge. While it is only the beginning of February victory can very much affect the relegation battle. For Sam Allardyce and Palace a consecutive Premier League win and a margin of six points over Sunderland would be highly significant and Sunderland would be mindful their fate could rest very much on the likes of Leicester and Middlesbrough becoming embroiled in the battle at the bottom. Victory for Sunderland however and the landscape changes significantly. Then the pressure is truly on Palace and Swansea again, as well as the teams just above. Sunderland galvanised against Spurs and David Moyes may be right to suggest the key to their survival now is team spirit, discipline and organisation. Words which will be familiar to Sam Allardyce whose biggest smile at Bournemouth was reserved for the ‘nil’. Moyes has a few fresh faces now too, affording him a little elasticity finally in team selection but it’s going to be a hard fought match at Selhurst Park where Sunderland have won for the past two seasons. My instinct is to suggest it will end a draw. Both needing to win but both fearing defeat and in such circumstances it is so often the case the match will end a stalemate and we will be exactly where we were before kick-off but hoping the likes of Middlesbrough and Leicester haven’t pulled further away.
James Hunter (@JHunterChron) – The Chronicle
With Sunderland and Crystal Palace among the clutch of clubs fighting against the drop, the importance of this game cannot be overstated. It will be considered by many a 'must-win' fixture but David Moyes and Sam Allardyce know that, in the context of the battle at the bottom, avoiding defeat against a relegation rival is just as important. Sunderland are three points behind Palace and five points from safety, and they cannot afford to see either of those gaps widen this weekend. The return of Lamine Kone and Didier Ndong from the Africa Cup of Nations made a big difference and helped Sunderland keep a clean sheet and earn a point against Spurs in midweek. Moyes will also be able to call upon new signings Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo this weekend, although Palace have also strengthened their own squad. This one is too close to call.
Richard Mennear (@RichMennearJP) – Sunderland Echo
Sunderland head to the Palace on Saturday - looking to make it three wins on the spin against the Eagles. Given Sunderland's position in the table, five points from safety, the game against Crystal Palace couldn't be any bigger. And just to add to the spice of the occasion, Sunderland come up against former boss Sam Allardyce and left-back Patrick van Aanholt. The stakes couldn't be higher. Defeat doesn't bare thinking about given the increasing gap to safety, with Swansea City picking up back-to-back wins recently, while Hull City have showed there is plenty of fight left in them. Sunderland, though, should head to London buoyed by the hard earned and hard-fought point against Spurs on Tuesday night. Didier Ndong and Lamine Kone both excelled against Spurs and they are key players for the rest of the campaign. Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson give David Moyes further options and some added competition, which can only be a good thing. With Jermain Defoe leading the attack, Sunderland always have a chance. Sunderland can't afford to lose this one, that's for sure.
The views expressed within this article are the views of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Sunderland AFC.