AliousJeff Stelling Predicts Stalemate as Sunderland Host Aston Villa in Premier League Clash
Sunderland return to Premier League action on Sunday, September 21, when they take on Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light in Matchday 5 of the campaign.
The newly-promoted Black Cats have enjoyed a promising start to life back in the top flight, securing points in three of their first four fixtures.
Their season began with a statement 3-0 victory over West Ham, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Burnley.
They bounced back with a 2-1 win against Brentford and then settled for a hard-fought goalless draw against Crystal Palace.
Now, all eyes turn to their upcoming showdown with Unai Emery’s Villa — a fixture that carries the potential to be a historic moment for Sunderland. However, not everyone expects fireworks.
Speaking on *talkSPORT*, veteran pundit Jeff Stelling offered a surprisingly downbeat forecast for the clash.
He pointed out Villa’s ongoing struggles in front of goal, noting that they remain the only side across England’s top seven divisions yet to find the net this season. Their most recent outing, a frustrating match at Everton, yielded just a single shot on target.
While Stelling acknowledged Sunderland’s ability to grind out results — as they did against Crystal Palace — he cautioned supporters not to expect a goal-fest. “If Sunderland are to get anything from this, they’ll need to be resilient again,” he explained. “And I think they will be. I see this one ending 0-0.”
A draw would add to Sunderland’s steady run of form, but a victory would be truly significant. Should the Black Cats beat Aston Villa, it would mark the first time in their history that they’ve won their opening three home games in the Premier League.
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