Verdict: Morgan Gibbs-White over 0.5 shots on target
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Looking to find a route into the top-half of the Premier League table, Sunderland will welcome Nottingham Forest to the Stadium of Light on Friday night.
Sunderland
Starting with the hosts, suffering the most dramatic of last-gasp heartbreak last weekend as they eventually slumped to a pulsating 4-3 loss away at Aston Villa, Sunderland will be searching for an immediate response here. Nevertheless, despite only making their iconic Premier League return this season, the Black Cats have firmly cemented their spot as one of England’s ultimate surprise packages. In fact, Regis Le Bris’ camp open Friday’s return to the Stadium of Light sat just one-point adrift of breaking into the top-half. Heading into March’s international break with a remarkable 2-1 victory away at arch-rivals Newcastle, Le Bris’ side were also last seen on Tyneside snatching a 1-0 win against relegation scrappers Tottenham. Landing another 1-0 victory when they travelled to Nottingham for their reverse Premier League showdown back in September, Sunderland will be dreaming of a repeat display here.
Sunderland Team News
Not featuring over the past couple of months and still recovering from a hamstring issue, Sunderland are once again expected to be without ex-Tottenham youngster Romaine Mundle. However, coming off the bench at Villa Park last weekend after returning from his own recent muscle injury, Dan Ballard should be handed a full recall.
Making a sensational immediate impact since arriving at the Stadium of Light last summer, former Arsenal skipper Granit Xhaka will start in the middle of the park. Despite notching just a single strike since the end of January, Dutch international Brian Brobbey should keep his spot leading the line.
Nottingham Forest
As for the visitors, putting in a dominant second-half performance last weekend as they eventually cruised their way to a 4-1 romp against Wolves, Nottingham Forest now sit in pole position to extend on their Premier League status. Travelling to Tyneside on Friday night holding a five-point buffer over the drop zone, Vitor Pereira’s side have enjoyed an essential flurry on either side of March’s international break. Booking an iconic Europa League semi-final ticket this month as they edged past Portuguese giants Porto thanks to a 2-1 aggregate win, Forest are unbeaten in each of their previous seven appearances across all competitions. Likewise, heading into March’s fortnight interval with what could prove to be a season-defining 3-0 romp away at Tottenham, the former Wolves boss has seen his resurgent squad suffer a sole defeat on their travels since back on February 6th.
Nottingham Forest Team News
Limping off against Burnley last week with another suspected hamstring injury, Nottingham Forest are sweating over the fitness of defensive talisman Murillo. Pereira’s side have confirmed that ex-Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi will miss the remainder of the season with a quadricep injury.
Bagging a sensational second-half hat-trick at the City Ground last weekend and dragging Forest across the finishing line, skipper Morgan Gibbs-White will play a leading role in the final third. Cementing his spot as Pereira’s number one choice in the Premier League, Matz Sels will start between the sticks.
Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest Key Factors to Consider
- When Sunderland and Nottingham Forest met for their reverse Premier League showdown back in September, the Black Cats picked up a 1-0 victory on their travels.
- However, Forest secured their own 1-0 win when they last travelled to Tyneside for a Championship battle back in December 2017.
- Forest are unbeaten in all of their previous seven appearances across all competitions (four wins, three draws).
- Sunderland have registered just a pair of clean sheets from any of their previous nine Premier League appearances.
- Including a sensational second-half hat-trick against Burnley last weekend, England international Morgan Gibbs-White has recorded 12 goals across all competitions so far this calendar year.
Conclusion
Suffering the most dramatic of late heartbreak away at Villa Park last weekend, Sunderland will be seeking an immediate response here. However, although the Black Cats might sit within touching distance of breaking into the top-half, they will meet a resurgent Nottingham Forest on Friday night. Watching the Europa League semi-finalists eventually sweep past Wolves last week, the relegation worriers are unbeaten in all of their previous seven appearances across all fronts and they are desperate to widen their buffer over the drop zone.
Verdict: Morgan Gibbs-White over 0.5 shots on target
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
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