Sunderland vs Brentford Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Sunderland and Brentford sit on three points apiece after two games, and after contrasting EFL Cup experiences midweek, the two sides face off at the Stadium of Light.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – NBC.com
Sunderland preview: Mixed start
After a superb opening weekend victory over West Ham, Sunderland were brought back down to earth a little with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of fellow promoted outfit Burnley at Turf Moor last Saturday.
The Black Cats were then in action in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, where they were eliminated on penalties by League One high-fliers Huddersfield. In one positive, loan signing Marc Guiu scored his first goal for the club when his 84th-minute header levelled the scores at 1-1.
Brentford preview: Steadying the ship
The season began in worrying fashion for Brentford when they were easily swatted aside by Nottingham Forest, but they have responded well since then, defeating Aston Villa 1-0 in the Premier League last weekend before seeing off ten-man Bournemouth in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
In the absence of wantaway striker Yoane Wissa, Igor Thiago has stepped up with two goals so far, while new signing Dango Ouattara struck the winner on his debut against Villa.
Sunderland team news: Ballard misses out
Centre-back Dan Ballard came off injured against Burnley and is set to miss "two to three weeks" of action, according to Regis Le Bris.
Niall Huggins picked up a groin strain against Huddersfield, and he may miss out along with six others in the Black Cats treatment room.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Roefs; Hume, Seelt, Alderete, Mandava; Diarra, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra
Unavailable: Ballard (Injured), Alese (Injured), Hjelde (Injured), Cirkin (Injured), O’Nien (Injured), Mundle (Injured)
Questionable: Huggins (Injured)
Brentford team news: Wissa not involved again
There's no real change on the injury front, although Yunus Emre Konak and Paris Maghome aren't far away from making the matchday squad.
With speculation increasing around Wissa's exit before the transfer deadline, the Congolese international will once again be excluded from selection this weekend.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Yarmolyuk, Henderson; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago
Unavailable: Janelt (Fitness), Nunes (Fitness), Wissa (Out of favour)
Questionable: Konak (Injured), Maghoma (Fitness)
Sunderland vs Brentford prediction
Having lost Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo to Premier League rivals in the summer, and with Wissa looking likely to follow suit, there is no doubt that Brentford are a weaker side under Keith Andrews. However, the signing of Ouattara has reinvigorated them, and having won back-to-back games in league and cup, they are certainly not without confidence under the new manager.
Sunderland were excellent at the Stadium of Light on the opening weekend, and their ability to pick up points on home turf will likely be crucial when it comes to their chances of staying in the Premier League.
The hosts will set up to frustrate the Bees, but the visitors could sneak this.
Sunderland vs Brentford tip: Brentford draw no bet
