Premier League: No Fear on the Wear for Fulham

Sunderland vs Fulham

11^th hosts 12^th in the cold North East this weekend when Premier League: Sunderland vs Fulham is set to spark up at the Stadium of Light. 

Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have been very strong on Wearside; their home form has all but guaranteed another season at the top table with 36 points in the bag, and Sunderland’s first loss at the Stadium of Light came last time out at home to champions Liverpool who snatched a narrow 1-0 victory. Meanwhile Marco Silva’s Fulham lost 3-0 away to title chasers Manchester City.

Both teams come into this match with back-to-back losses in the Premier League, in fact the Cottagers have lost their last three, though they both safely navigated their FA Cup fourth round ties against Championship opposition last week. Sunderland took a 1-0 win away from Oxford United, while Fulham won 2-1 in Stoke. 

A victory on Sunday would see Silva’s team leapfrog their hosts, but the pre-match Sunderland vs Fulham betting odds say they will have a real battle on their hands in front of a passionate home crowd.     

 

Talking Points

Sunderland’s success is based on a rock solid defence

From the very first match of the season, a 3-0 win over West Ham United, Le Bris’ side, pre-season tips for relegation, have made their home a fortress thanks largely to a well organised and miserly defence. The Black Cats’ clash with Arne Slot’s Liverpool was a case in point, as it took a second half goal from Virgil Van Dijk to end Sunderland’s unbeaten home run which lasted until February.

And last week Sunderland reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in 11 years as they choked Oxford City and won, thanks to a contentious first half penalty converted by Habib Diarra. The hosts rarely had a sniff of a goal and it is that meanness in their own half which has made Sunderland so hard to beat, particularly on Wearside. The Black Cats have conceded just 30 goals in 26 league games and data provided by Sky Sports says that conceding fewer than 60 goals will give you an 80 per cent chance of staying up. 

I think Sunderland have passed that point.

Keeper Robin Roefs has been in sensational form and has emerged as one of the best goalies in the league, and with the dominant Dan Ballard in the centre of defence he is well protected. In turn the recruitment of Grant Xhaka has given the defence cover and, of the £187m splashed by Sunderland last summer, the £13m spent to bring Xhaka back to England from Bayer Leverkusen is, pound for pound, the best deal they made.              

 

Silva needed that cup of cheer

The Fulham boss has not been in the best spirits in recent weeks with a run of losses to Manchester United, Everton and Manchester City. The Londoners lost to an injury time goal against Manchester United and then submitted a one goal lead to lose 2-1, again to late goals, against the Toffees.    

The Cottagers’ trip to Manchester City was never going to be easy but a 3-0 capitulation, all three goals scored before the half time break tested the managers’ patience: “Not good enough,” he fumed. “We have to congratulate our opponent. They were better than us; clearly we didn’t play in the way we are capable of. Cheap goals, simple as that.”

Silva made ten changes from that team for the FA Cup visit to Stoke City and he was vindicated, as goals from Kevin and Harrison Reed gave Fulham a 2-1 win over a tough opponent. The Cottagers have a deep squad and, while I suspect the likes of Harry Wilson, Sander Berge and Raul Jimenez to return to Sunderland, the performance of the team which faced Stoke has given Silva plenty of choice; particularly in his creative unit.    

 

History

In terms of head to head Sunderland vs Fulham results the Cottagers have had the better of this relationship, winning 11 to Sunderland’s seven and there have been nine draws, while at the Stadium of Light they have won four, drawn six and lost three.

Sunderland have won three and lost three of their last six games, in all competitions, while Fulham have won two and lost four.

 

Betting Tip

With Sunderland at SBOTOP odds of 2.70 and Fulham at 2.75 this game is a toss up, and there is a good case for backing a rare draw (for both clubs) at odds of 3.20. But I’m backing the Black Cats to keep the Cottagers’ flair players at bay for much of the match, though Silva would take a 1-0 win right now. 

   

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