Sunderland Looking for Revenge Against Bournemouth | OneFootball

The Stadium of Light will host Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon for the first time in eight years – but the stakes are very different this time around. The Cherries’ narrow 1-0 victory in 2016-17 was the final nail in the coffin of Sunderland’s relegation. Now the newly-promoted Black Cats will be looking to get their revenge and take three points that could catapult them into the top four.

The parallels between the sides set the tone for what could be a very cagey clash. Both teams sit on 19 points after 12 games, with only goal difference putting Sunderland in seventh above Bournemouth in eighth. Going into the weekend, both sides need to rebuild momentum as they are both winless in their last three games, and having started the season brightly, need to show that they are more than just a flash of promise.

Can Sunderland remain unbeaten at home?

Regis Le Bris’s side lacked creativity upfront as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat away at the hands of Fulham, who peppered shot after shot at keeper Robin Roefs. Despite an inconsistent record on the road (two wins, one draw, three defeats), Sunderland remain unbeaten at home with an impressive three wins and three draws. 

While the other promoted teams, Leeds and Burnley, have predictably been drawn into the relegation battle, Sunderland have shocked the league, including a dramatic win against second-place Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and recently holding league leaders Arsenal to a 2-2 stalemate.

It’s clear Sunderland mean to cement themselves in the top flight now, and look well on track to, having already almost matched the pitiful 24 points that they racked up in 16/17 that saw them finish 20th and fall back into the Championship.

Saturday’s match represents their last chance to pick up some momentum before a very tough December run of games which will see them travel to Anfield and the Etihad to take on Liverpool and Manchester City, before hosting bitter rivals Newcastle for the league’s first Tyne-Wear derby since March 2016.

Bournemouth need to stop leaking goals

The challenge facing Andoni Iraola’s side is a tall one at the Stadium of Light. Bournemouth have only taken five points on the road this season, and need to tackle their inconsistent defence which has seen them concede nine goals in their last three games, where they’ve only scored three.

“It’s true that last games we’ve been conceding goals because of miscommunications, probably cheap goals,” the manager said. “So we have to reduce the number of goals we are conceding; otherwise, even if you play, it becomes difficult to win games.”

In good news, for Iraola, they may be able to count on the return of Antoine Semenyo, who has been sidelined since the international break after picking up an injury while on duty with Ghana. Iraola confirmed ahead of the match that the winger had been in “modified training” but would likely be available for the fixture.

Bournemouth will need his creativity and pace as they try to best a Sunderland side who are one of just three teams (along with Arsenal and City) yet to concede more than twice in a league game this season.

Too early to be thinking about European places?

The Cherries will be looking to best their record ninth-place finish last season, and at this congested point in the season, they will need to dig deep to get their momentum going. A win for either side would keep them comfortably in the cluster fighting it out for European football next season, as they both currently sit just three points behind Manchester City in third place going into the weekend.

Although Sunderland probably have the edge going into this match, this could be a telling moment for the rest of their season, showing if they can bounce back after defeats on the road and defend their fortress at home.