Sunderland return to home soil this weekend when they host Plymouth Argyle at the Stadium of Light in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Black Cats walked away with all three points when the sides last met on Wearside, goals from Dan Neil and Nathan Broadhead securing a 2-1 win for the Lads.
Opposition
Argyle currently sit 15th in the Sky Bet Championship with 36 points from 29 games. The Pilgrims have recorded nine wins, and nine draws while suffering 11 defeats so far this campaign.
Ian Foster’s side have lost just three of their last 14 outings across all competitions, only Leicester City, Southampton and Leeds United have managed to take maximum points from the Pilgrims.
Plymouth's last defeat against a team outside of the play-off positions stretches back to November when Coventry City scored late on to claim a 1-0 home win.
Morgan Whittaker is the Championship’s top goalscorer with 16 goals, one of those strikes coming against the Black Cats earlier on in the season. The striker is currently on a hot streak in front of goal having fired eight times in his last eight matches.
The Pilgrims are the division’s fifth-highest goalscorers with 48 goals to date, only Leicester City (64), Southampton (55), Leeds United (52) and Ipswich Town (53) have found the back of the net more often.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Plymouth currently have the league's sixth-poorest defence having conceded 47 times – that record is only bettered by Swansea City (48), Preston North End (49), Sheffield Wednesday (50), Rotherham United (54) and Blackburn Rovers (55)
Bali Mumba returns to Wearside following a 10-year spell at the Stadium of Light. The defender made 10 senior appearances before departing the club in 2020 for Norwich City.
Team News
Michael Beale has confirmed Dan Ballard will be available for Saturday’s match following a shoulder injury picked up against Middlesbrough.
Romaine Mundle could make his debut, while Patrick Roberts and Nazariy Rusyn are both pushing for a starting spot.
Callum Styles has returned to light training, but the match will come too soon for the new signing. Bradley Dack remains out and is unlikely to return from injury this month.
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Around the grounds
Friday
Sheffield Wednesday vs Birmingham City (8pm)
Saturday
Ipswich Town vs West Bromwich Albion (12.30pm)
Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke City
Cardiff City vs Preston North End
Hull City vs Swansea City
Leeds United vs Rotherham United
Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
Queens Park Rangers vs Norwich City
Southampton vs Huddersfield Town
Watford vs Leicester City
Sunday
Coventry City vs Millwall (12pm)