Premier League preview: Stoke v Sunderland

Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland have found form ahead of a visit to Stoke City in the English Premier League on Saturday.

With just one loss in their last seven league outings – five of which have been wins – Sunderland have climbed to eighth.

Since O’Neill took over on December 3 after Steve Bruce was sacked, Sunderland have collected 19 of a possible 27 points in the league.

The latest impressive display was a 3-0 thrashing of Norwich City on Wednesday, with former Manchester United forward Fraizer Campbell – starting his first league game in 17 months – on the scoresheet for the second time in as many games.

The win also took Sunderland to 30 points for the campaign, a milestone O’Neill was glad to achieve.

“Of course, I am very, very pleased. I am more concerned, seriously, with the points on the board,” he said.

“We have got a type of a landmark, to get 30, and I am very conscious about saying that because we might not move again.”

If Campbell and Stephane Sessegnon (six league goals) can combine well, Sunderland will be an even more dangerous opponent throughout the second half of the season, beginning with Saturday’s trip to the Britannia Stadium.

Sunderland’s form defies a long injury list, with Wes Brown (knee) set to miss another two months, while Lee Cattermole, David Vaughan and Nicklas Bendtner are all likely to be sidelined again.

Also on the injury list are Matthew Kilgallon, Titus Bramble, Marcos Angeleri and Craig Gordon.

They meet a Stoke City side whose recent league form has been indifferent, backing up their draw at Liverpool with losses to West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United.

The 2-0 loss at Old Trafford came after they conceded two penalties, with manager Tony Pulis unhappy with both decisions.

Striker Peter Crouch has been Stoke’s key man up front with six goals, but the last of those came against Blackburn on January 2.

Unlike Sunderland counterpart O’Neill, Pulis has almost a full squad to choose from, with only long-term absentee Mamady Sidibe missing.