Fighting hard for an overdue return to the Premier League, Sunderland will welcome strugglers Plymouth Argyle to the Stadium of Light in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The Black Cats enjoyed a success at the home of Derby County last time out, whilst the Green Army endured another sobering contest in the second-tier spotlight.
Match preview
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Following a lacklustre 16th-placed finish during the 2023-24 Championship campaign, Sunderland were hoping to build towards a promotion push in the future under Regis Le Bris, but the acceleration of the club's progression has been faster than the majority expected this term.
Not always the strongest on the road, the Black Cats managed to secure a vital three points at the home of Derby earlier this week, when 19-year-old Spaniard Eliezer Mayenda scored the only goal of the contest during the opening 30 minutes at Pride Park in the East Midlands.
Unbeaten across their last four second-tier contests, Sunderland are currently occupying fourth spot in the Championship table ahead of this weekend's hosting of Plymouth, four points behind Sheffield United in second place and five points back from current pacesetters Leeds United.
The Black Cats have been seriously formidable on their own patch this term, with Le Bris's troops unbeaten during 13 matches at the famous North-East venue, winning nine, drawing four and breaching the back of their opponent's net on 22 occasions already in front of their own supporters.
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After the ill-fated reign of Wayne Rooney at Plymouth Argyle, the Devon-based club are desperately looking to save their campaign under the leadership of 42-year-old Miron Muslic, but the Green Army are showing little signs of recovery after the new manager's first three games.
A share of the spoils with newly-promoted Oxford United near the start of the month provided a slight cause for optimism, although back-to-back home defeats at the hands of Queens Park Rangers and promotion-chasing Burnley have left the Pilgrims in a terrible predicament.
Winless in the second tier since the hosting of relegation candidates Portsmouth on November 5, Plymouth are firmly rooted to the very bottom of the Championship rankings, six points behind fellow strugglers Derby in the relative comfort of 21st spot at this stage in the campaign.
The Green Army are notoriously poor on their travels - failing to win any of their 14 outings in the Championship to date - but the Devonshire club enjoyed a memorable day out in the FA Cup earlier this month, when they claimed the scalp of Premier League Brentford in West London.
Team News
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Sunderland remain without the services of Alan Browne, with the influential midfielder expected back sometime in April from a broken leg.
The Black Cats' options in the middle of the park are reduced further by the absence of Tom Watson, who suffered a knee injury during the festive period.
The hosts are also short on options at the top end of the pitch, with both Ian Poveda and Romaine Mundle currently occupying beds in the medical room.
There are serious doubts over whether Morgan Whittaker will feature for Plymouth this weekend, after the attacker failed to arrive on time to play in the defeat to Burnley.
The Green Army are without a host of first-team defenders for the daunting trip to the Stadium of Light, including Joe Edwards and Brendan Galloway.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Mepham, O'Nien, Cirkin; Le Fee, Bellingham, Neil, Mayenda; Isidor, Rigg
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Pleguezuelo, Palsson, Puchacz; Mumba, Randell, Gyabi, Sorinola; Baidoo, Wright, Hardie
We say: Sunderland 3-0 Plymouth Argyle
Unbeaten at the Stadium of Light this term, Sunderland should have no issues easing past the attentions of a Plymouth side who have been rotten on the second-tier road.
The Green Army will still be reeling from their disaster against Burnley, and it could be just as painful for the Pilgrims in the North-East this weekend.
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Carter White
