Sunderland’s recent results have been encouraging, including a win against Norwich and a draw at Swansea, but they need to beat Birmingham at home to capitalize on the opportunity.
Birmingham City have struggled so far under Wayne Rooney, leaving Sunderland the overwhelming favorites for the encounter. Sunderland’s likely starting lineup, highlighting crucial players such as Anthony Patterson and Jack Clarke who have been performing well and can contribute to a win.
Sunderland will try to build on some encouraging recent successes by defeating Birmingham City at home tomorrow in the early kick-off.
After defeating Norwich City a fortnight ago, they earned a point at Swansea City, which isn’t awful on paper.
But if they don’t get maximum points at the Stadium of Light this weekend, the draw at Swansea.com Stadium will feel like a squandered opportunity. Birmingham have won just one of a possible 12 points during Wayne Rooney’s tenure as manager, so he will need to improve outcomes sooner rather than later.
The Blues’ recent form makes the Black Cats the clear favourites, and we look at how they might line up tomorrow.
Sunderland’s anticipated XI to face Birmingham is 4-2-3-1 with Ballard out
GK: Anthony Patterson
Patterson was very good at the Swansea.com Stadium and it would be a major surprise if he didn’t retain his place.
Nathan Bishop will be keen to do everything he can to force him out of the first XI though.
RB: Trai Hume
Hume will be keen to ensure he keeps his starting spot for the long term, not just to develop but also to give himself the best chance of representing Northern Ireland regularly
CB: Dennis Cirkin
Cirkin comes in to replace the suspended Dan Ballard – and he may see this as the perfect opportunity to try and force his way into the first XI for the long term.
Able to operate both on the left-hand side and centrally, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him win a decent number of minutes this term.
Read also: Sunderland’s Key Midfielder Winning Transformation and Tony Mowbray’s Advice
CDM: Dan Neil
Neil could be a very important player as someone who can sit deep to protect the defence and create from midfield.
Having plenty of experience at this level, he should do a reasonably good job tomorrow.
CDM: Pierre Ekwah
Ekwah and Neil have done very well together in the past and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see both line up alongside each other as holding midfielders.
The pair can help to support Cirkin and Seelt but may have a battle on their hands against a Blues midfield looking to impress.
LW: Jack Clarke
Clarke has been the Black Cats’ best player this term and could help to compensate for a strike force that still needs to adapt to life at the Stadium of Light.
Scoring nine goals in 15 league appearances this term, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get himself on the scoresheet again tomorrow.
CAM: Jobe Bellingham
If Neil and Ekwah operate in deeper roles, that could allow Bellingham to push up and support the striker. The Birmingham academy product will likely have a point to prove against his former club.
RW: Patrick Roberts
Roberts has the right amount of experience and skill to be a game-changer tomorrow and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him give Emmanuel Longelo a hard time.
If Roberts can get the beating of Blues’ left-back, it would be difficult to see the Black Cats coming away with anything but three points.
ST: Nazariy Rusyn
Rusyn didn’t perform too badly in South Wales last weekend and he should start again.
CB: Jenson Seelt
Seelt is another player who will be looking to prove a point – and Saturday could be the perfect opportunity for him to do that in the absence of Luke O’Nien.
LB: Niall Huggins
Huggins’ injury record is always a bit of a worry but he has performed exceptionally well when on the pitch and will need to defend superbly tomorrow to give his side the best chance of winning.
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