In a potentially crucial clash in the Championship, promotion-chasing Sunderland travel to bet365 Stadium on Sunday where they take on relegation-threatened Stoke City.
The Potters are sixth last in 19th place with 22 points and lost 2-0 against Leeds United on Boxing Day, whereas Sunderland are fourth in the table with 44 points and drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers on Thursday.
Match preview
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Stoke are only three points ahead of 22nd-placed Hull City, who occupy the final relegation spot, and have played a game more than 23rd-placed Cardiff City and 24th-placed Plymouth Argyle, who both have 18 points.
The hosts can have no complaints about their loss against Leeds considering the victors produced 20 shots and three big chances while restricting their opponents to just three attempts.
Boss Narcis Pelach had come under increasing pressure, and the Potters announced on Friday that they had parted ways with the 36-year-old, but there has been no communication about the temporary coaching setup at the time of writing.
The Potters' form is horrendous, with the club winless in their last nine and having succumbed to defeat five times in their past six matches, including on December 7 when they lost 2-1 against Sunderland in the Championship.
Stoke have been somewhat better at home considering they have only lost twice in their last nine games at bet365 Stadium, but they only won once in that period.
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As for the visitors, they come into the clash off the back of an entertaining draw with fifth-placed Blackburn, a match in which they created four big chances and produced 1.2 xG.
Manager Regis Le Bris felt that his team's showing in the first half was far below what they are capable of, telling reporters: "We were probably at 60-70% of our best potential. It was clear during half-time it wasn't a tactical issue or something like that. It was just a question of our level and we were not at our best level."
Le Bris's side are currently four points from both first-placed Leeds United and second-placed Sheffield United and occupy one of the league's four promotion playoff spots.
The Black Cats are in strong form having won four of their six most recent fixtures, scoring 10 goals and conceding on seven occasions in that time.
Sunderland's away record is mixed considering they have drawn four of their last six on the road, though they have only been defeated once in their past eight away games.
Team News
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Stoke will not be able to call upon midfielders Ben Pearson and Jordan Thompson, so expect to see a double pivot consisting of Souleymane Sidibe and Wouter Burger.
Ben Wilmot, Ashley Phillips and Ben Gibson are likely to be stationed in a back three considering defender Enda Stevens is not scheduled to return from injury until the middle of January.
Forward Million Manhoef has been ruled out, and this could mean that striker Thomas Cannon will be flanked by Andrew Moran and Lewis Koumas on Sunday.
As for Sunderland, attacking midfielder Chris Rigg was forced off against Blackburn and could be replaced in the starting lineup by Adil Aouchiche.
Elsewhere, defenders Daniel Ballard, Jenson Seelt and Niall Huggins are ruled out, as are midfielders Alan Browne and Salis Abdul Samed.
Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil are almost certain to partner each other in midfield in front of a defence of Trai Hume, Chris Mepham, Luke O'Nien and Dennis Cirkin.
Forwards Tom Watson, Ahmed Abdullahi and Romaine Mundle are unavailable due to injury, so perhaps Aouchiche will be joined in attack by Patrick Roberts, Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Wilmot, Phillips, Gibson; Tchamadeu, Sidibe, Burger, Gooch; Moran, Cannon, Koumas
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Mepham, O'Nien, Cirkin; Neil, Bellingham; Roberts, Aouchiche, Mayenda; Isidor
We say: Stoke City 1-3 Sunderland
Sunderland's mixed record away from home suggests that they could encounter difficulties on Sunday, but it is difficult to see them dropping points against an under pressure Stoke City side.
The hosts are in poor form and while they might at times pose a challenge to the visitors, they are unlikely to avoid defeat.
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Lewis Nolan
