Chris Coleman will take charge of his first game as Sunderland manager on Tuesday when the Lads take on Aston Villa (KO 7.45pm).
The trip to Villa Park marks the start of a new era, so, naturally, there are plenty of talking points ahead of the game.
A NEW ERA
The search for a new manager is over and Chris Coleman has been tasked with leading the Lads up the Sky Bet Championship table. The Welshman’s stock couldn’t be higher after guiding Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 before narrowly missing out at a place at next summer’s World Cup, but the Dragons' loss is very much Sunderland’s gain. Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale led the tributes following Coleman’s departure from the international scene, labelling the 47-year-old as an ‘amazing manager’ before wishing him luck for the future as he embarks on a new challenge on Wearside.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Sunderland are without a league win since August and the gap to safety now stands at four points. Coleman has had just one session with his full team but he’ll be quietly confident heading into the game, with the Black Cats losing just one of their last three away games. Their only win also came on the road as Norwich City were well beaten at Carrow Road, and the Villans lost their last outing at Villa Park. However, Steve Bruce’s men did return to winning ways on Saturday as they came from behind to overcome Queens Park Rangers, and they’ve lost just one of their last five games.
SEVEN MISS OUT
The Black Cats' ranks are severely depleted following a cruel day at the office against Millwall. Marc Wilson, Jonny Williams and Duncan Watmore were all named in the starting XI but all three of them were forced off due to injury, with Paddy McNair also set to miss Tuesday’s game after being forced to complete a first 90 minutes in over a year. A decision will be made as to whether Williams requires surgery on a shoulder injury while Watmore is undergoing tests on his knee, with Lee Cattermole set to serve a one-match ban after picking up five yellow cards. Lamine Kone and Billy Jones remain sidelined.
A FAMILIAR FACE
There will be a familiar face in the home dugout on Tuesday with Steve Bruce currently in charge of the Villa. The former Black Cats boss took charge of the club in October 2016 and guided the club up the table before plotting promotion in the current campaign, and they’re neatly poised in fifth heading into the festive period. Bruce spent two full seasons on Wearside and guided the Lads to a top-ten finish in his second, with a four-year spell at Hull City, during which time he won promotion twice and reached the Emirates FA Cup final, coming after his departure.
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Nick Barnes and Gary Bennett will be in the commentary booth from 7pm, with minute-by-minute analysis available right here and across social media from Twitter to Instagram.
