Sunderland and Aston Villa are two clubs that have been on the same trajectory for the past few seasons, with last gasp relegation fights – but just about having enough quality to stay up.
Sunderland have had a very indifferent, nervy and damn right poor start to the season unfortunately despite fairly decent recruitment from Dick Advocaat and Steven Houston, but it still seems a negative mentality at the club is infectious.
However, with a massive win against Exeter – Sunderland will be a bit more positive going in the Villa game. It’s a must-win game after the poor start, with the team obviously wanting to stop the rot and get back into winning ways. They’ve already showed signs of improving against Swansea, with a respectable 1-1 draw against a powerful footballing side.
However, as a Villa fan with new signings of real quality and players starting to gel together nicely now, I can’t see Sunderland having much of a say in the game.
Wes Brown and John O’Shea look like they never really settled into life in the North East and Sebastian Coates doesn’t have the defensive intelligence to deal with someone like Jack Grealish pulling him out of position in every attack.
New signing Younes Kaboul is a clever signing by Dick Advocaat, but it seems the massive Stadium of Light is a bit too much for him. Patrick Van Aanholt after signing in 2014 hasn’t inspired many either, which is someone I’m sure Tim Sherwood will be looking to exploit with Gabby Agbonlahor’s pace.
I worry for Villa’s defence also, Micah Richards isn’t totally adept in central defence yet and Ciaran Clark didn’t do the best against Scott Dann against Crystal Palace, I fear Jermain Defoe’s scoring against Villa like he tends to do, and I believe that Jermain Lens could be a danger.
PREDICTION
2-0 Villa.
