Alious
Sunderland is preparing for a challenging away fixture against Swansea City in the Championship, seeking to reclaim their early-season form and momentum. The team’s performance has been a tale of two halves this season – they began spectacularly by securing 28 points from their first 12 matches, but recently experienced a challenging period.
November proved particularly difficult, with the team enduring five consecutive draws followed by a defeat at Sheffield United that left them winless for the entire month. A glimmer of hope emerged last weekend when Tom Watson’s double secured a crucial victory against Stoke City. However, their midweek home match against Bristol City resulted in another draw, highlighting ongoing inconsistencies.
The team currently sits fourth in the Championship standings, remaining competitive and within reach of top-two teams Sheffield United and Leeds United. Despite being five places and 10 points ahead of Swansea City, Sunderland faces significant challenges, particularly with their recent away form – their last away victory dating back to October 23rd when they won 2-1 at Luton Town.
Manager Regis Le Bris confronts several injury concerns. A significant blow is Tommy Watson’s two-month injury, which occurred during the Bristol City match, affecting both his ankle and knee. Other players like Ian Poveda are returning but may not be match-ready, while new signings Ahmed Abdullahi and Salis Abdul Samed are expected to make their debuts in January.
For the upcoming match, Le Bris is anticipated to field a 4-2-3-1 formation with Patrick Roberts and Adil Aouchiche returning to the starting lineup, replacing the injured Watson and potentially resting Chris Rigg. With a demanding festive schedule ahead, squad rotation will be crucial.
Swansea City, having won just one of their last eight games, will likely view this match as an opportunity to narrow the points gap and potentially exploit Sunderland’s recent vulnerabilities.
Alious
