Sunderland Preview

I don’t know why, but I have a feeling of foreboding about this afternoon’s game. I can’t rationalise why, but although it is a game we need to win, something tells me it is not going to go to plan.

It will be good to see Craig Bellamy back, but what a shame it won’t be alongside Dean Ashton. I imagine Carlton Cole will get a runout again and he certainly has something to prove. Maybe that will spur him on, but he certainly seems to be a player who doesn’t react well to pressure. I’m assuming Freddie Ljungberg will be missing, having not appeared for Sweden during the week. Presumably Bowyer will play on the right, or maybe we’ll see Solano make his debut. Here’s the team I’m expecting…

Green, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Neill, Noble, Mullins, Bowyer, Etherington, Bellamy, Cole.