Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This is a huge game for both the race for European qualification as well as in the relegation battle as Sunderland welcome Nottingham Forest to Wearside.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Hulu+
Sunderland preview: Mid-table Black Cats
Last week, Sunderland experienced a thriller at Villa Park as they fought back from 3-1 down to make it 3-3 against Aston Villa. They had a brilliant opportunity to win it, too, via Habib Diarra, before Tammy Abraham snatched a seven-goal thriller for the Villans.
The Black Cats have been very impressive following their promotion to the top-flight via the Championship playoffs last season and they now begin the weekend sitting just a couple of points outside of the European spots in the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest preview: Relegation-battling Forest
Nottingham Forest enjoyed a brilliant last week, which began with a defeat of FC Porto at the City Ground, winning 2-1 on aggregate, to set up a UEFA Europa League semi-final against the aforementioned Aston Villa next week.
Forest then managed to come from behind to dispatch of relegation-bound Burnley by four goals to one in Nottingham, courtesy of a Morgan Gibbs-White hat-trick as well as a late strike scored by former Palmeiras attacker Igor Jesus.
Sunderland team news: Alderete fit
Having struggled with illness last week, Paraguay international centre-back Omar Alderete is fully fit and available for this one, according to manager Regis Le Bris.
However, attacking trio Jocelin Ta Bi, Nilson Angulo and Bertrand Traore were all working their way back to full fitness but still remain sidelined for this one.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Roefs; Mukiele, O'Nien, Alderete, Reinildo; Diarra, Xhaka, Sadiki; Rigg, Brobbey, Le Fee
Unavailable: Moore (Injured), Mundle (Injured), Ta Bi (Fitness), Angulo (Fitness), Traore (Fitness)
Questionable:
Nottingham Forest team news: Murillo out
In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Vitor Pereira confirmed that Murillo has been ruled out of the trip to the Stadium of Light after being forced of through injury.
Versatile attacker Dan Ndoye is, though, in contention to start after sustaining a knock, while Chris Wood has returned to full fitnes for Forest, too.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Bakwa; Wood
Unavailable: John (Injured), Murillo (Injured), Boly (Injured), Savona (Injured), Hudson-Odoi (Injured)
Questionable: Ndoye (Injured)
Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest prediction
Sunderland have been very difficult to beat and to play against throughout this campaign, losing as many games as the likes of Chelsea and only one more than reigning champions Liverpool. They haven’t been overly fluent in attack with 36 goals scored in 33 games, with last week’s thriller being a bit of anomaly. Nottingham Forest begin the weekend with a five-point lead over the danger zone and Vitor Pereira may go with the safety first approach to continue to edge clear and so a low-scoring clash may well be in store at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest tip: Under 2.5 goals
