Sunderland will be bidding to return to winning ways in the Championship when they continue their 2024-25 campaign at home to Derby County on Tuesday night.
The Black Cats will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Watford, while Derby lost a five-goal thriller against Norwich City in their last game in the second tier of English football.
Match preview
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Sunderland finished 16th in the Championship last season, but it has been an impressive start to the 2024-25 campaign for the club, currently sitting up in second position in the table.
The Black Cats have won five and lost two of their seven matches to collect 15 points, which has left them just one point behind leaders West Bromwich Albion, but their recent form has been disappointing.
Indeed, Regis Le Bris's side have been beaten in two of their last three Championship matches, losing to Plymouth Argyle and Watford either side of a 1-0 home success over Middlesbrough.
Sunderland looked to be claiming what would have been a solid point against Watford on Saturday afternoon, only for the Hornets to score a second in the 84th minute to secure the bragging rights at Vicarage Road.
The Black Cats are actually unbeaten against Derby since February 2001, but this will be the first meeting between the two sides for more than six years, with their last battle occurring in March 2018 in the Championship.
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Since a 1-0 success over Sunderland in the Premier League in 2001, Derby have lost seven and drawn five of their 12 matches against the Black Cats, with those fixtures taking place across three divisions.
The Rams earned promotion from League One last season, finishing second in the table behind Portsmouth, and they will be looking to consolidate back in the second tier during the 2024-25 campaign.
Paul Warne's side can be relatively pleased with their start, winning three and losing four of their seven matches to collect nine points, which has left them in 13th position in the table.
Derby actually beat Bristol City and Cardiff City at home either side of the September international break, but they have lost their last two against Sheffield United and Norwich.
Borja Sainz scored three times for Norwich during Saturday's contest at Pride Park, and Derby were unable to find a late leveller after Corey Blackett-Taylor had made it 3-2 in the final exchanges.
Team News
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Sunderland will definitely be without the services of three players for Tuesday's Championship affair, with Niall Huggins, Ali Alese and Jenson Seelt unavailable through injury, while Eliezer Mayenda, Ahmed Abdullahi, Salis Abdul Samed and Alan Browne remain doubts.
Romaine Mundle has been the team's main source of goals this season, scoring three times in seven appearances, while a strong start for Luke O'Nien has seen him manage two goals and one assist.
Mayenda has two goals and two assists in his six Championship appearances this term, so his absence would be a big one, but 17-year-old Chris Rigg, who is believed to be on Manchester United's radar, will continue in midfield.
As for Derby, four players are currently unavailable for selection, with Tom Barkhuizen, Liam Thompson, David Ozoh and Jake Rooney set to miss out for the visitors on Tuesday night.
Kayden Jackson has scored twice in the Championship this season and will once again be in the XI, while there should be another start for Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Head coach Warne does have plenty of options for change in forward areas, though, and Blackett-Taylor will be in his thoughts after scoring off the bench against Norwich.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Mepham, O'Nien, Cirkin; Rigg, Niel, Bellingham; Roberts, Isidor, Mundle
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Widell Zetterstrom; Nyambe, Nelson, Cashin, Forsyth; Goudmijn, Osborn, Adams; Jackson, Yates, Mendez-Laing
We say: Sunderland 1-0 Derby County
Sunderland will be determined to return to winning ways in front of their own supporters, and we can see the Black Cats shading a close game on Tuesday night, with the winner potentially coming in the latter stages of the fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
