Sunderland vs Chelsea: Blue day in store for the Black Cats
Sunderland’s objective this afternoon is simple, beat Chelsea and they remain a Premier League club. However, the hard part is how?
There’s no good time to play Chelsea but they are currently on a good run of form and Guus Hiddink has certainly got them playing with confidence again. The Blues have lost just three games during 2009 and the players will be looking to end the league season on a high. They’ve scored 11 goals in their past seven league and cup games and have kept four clean sheets during that period.
Compare that to Ricky Sbragia’s record at the Stadium of Light. The Scot has won just one of his past 12 games and the end of the season can’t come soon enough for the Black Cats. They’ve looked short of ideas, leadership and confidence, but they must raise themselves for one final match which could determine their season.
Chelsea though love playing teams from the north east. In games against Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland this season they have scored 14 goals without conceding once. In fact you have to go back to December 29, 2007, for the last time they lost a goal to a north east side (v Newcastle at St James’ Park).
And Sunderland’s record against the Stamford Bridge side is hardly inspiring. They’ve lost their last eight games against the Blues and you have to go back to 2000 for the last time they triumphed over the former Premier League winners at the Stadium of Light, thanks to a Kevin Phillips penalty.
A win for Sunderland would ensure that no matter what happens with Hull City, Newcastle United or Middlesbrough they would stay up. However, the Black Cats have never won on the final day of the season in the Premier League and if Newcastle were to win at Aston Villa and Hull City were to beat Manchester United then Sbragia’s men may go down on goal difference. But the Mags have only won once under Alan Shearer and Phil Brown’s men haven’t won at home since the middle of December.
Sbragia has injury doubts over Steed Malbranque, while Nyron Nosworthy and Craig Gordon are set to miss the club’s big day.
Hiddink is expected to recall Michael Ballack to the first team and Deco and Carvalho are back in contention for a place in the squad.
The Stadium of Light should produce a wall of sound today as the fans get behind their team one finally time, but I’m sure they will be cheering on Villa and Manchester United just as much!
