Sunderland will be hoping that they can kick start their campaign ahead of the international break when they take on fellow strugglers, Aston Villa, on Saturday afternoon.
Sunderland struggling
Despite the season only being weeks old, it has been far from the start that Sunderland would have hoped for.
Everything looked positive ahead of the new campaign with Dick Advocaat taking charge at the Stadium of Light on a permanent basis and bringing five new faces to help bolster squad. It has been far from a fairy-tale beginning as they sit second bottom of the table with just one point from nine and the worst defensive record in the league; shipping eight goals in the first three outings.
Things are looking up
After their embarrassing 4-2 and 3-1 defeats to Leicester City and Norwich City respectively, things have begun to look up in the last week.
They managed to grab their first point of the season when Jermain Defoe’s equaliser cancelled out Bafetimbi Gomis’ opener to get a 1-1 draw with high-flying Swansea City.
Their first win of the campaign came in spectacular style on Tuesday when a Defoe hat-trick, a Jack Rodwell brace and another from Duncan Watmore gave them a 6-3 win over Exeter City in the Capital One Cup. Advocaat will hope they can channel that excellence at Villa Park.
Villa on the slide
The Tim Sherwood revolution began in style when they beat new boys AFC Bournemouth in the opening match of the season. However they have slipped in the past few weeks with defeats to Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
They returned to winning ways midweek when they had to play out extra-time to defeat League Two side Notts County ,eventually coming out 5-3 winners. Villa have impressed at the back conceding just twice but the lack of firepower, and the marathon of football in midweek, could prove the difference against the Black Cats.
Team news
Advocaat doesn’t seem to give any fresh injury concerns ahead of their trip to the Midlands, the one absentee will be former Tottenham and Portsmouth defender Younes Kaboul, who is expected to be replaced by veteran defender John O’Shea.
Sherwood is set to recall a number of first-team players after their midweek antics. Gary Gardner and Jores Okore are expected to miss out with ankle and knee injuries, respectively Sunderland will travel to face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, August 29 with kick-off at 3PM BST.