Premier League preview: Wolves v Sunderland

Sunderland will be out to bounce back from the sacking of Steve Bruce when they visit fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

Assistant manager Eric Black will take charge for the clash at Molineux Stadium after Bruce was sacked on Wednesday following a poor start to the English Premier League season.

Sunderland conceded a last-minute goal to lose 2-1 at home to relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic last Saturday.

Franco Di Santo’s winner for Wigan prompted the home supporters at the Stadium of Light to chant for Bruce to be sacked.

Sunderland made significant transfer outlays in the off-season, bringing in the likes of Nicklas Bendtner, Connor Wickham, Wes Brown and John O’Shea.

Expectations rose accordingly, but the team has struggled so far, managing just two wins from 13 league matches played.

Only one of those victories has come in front of the team’s fanatical supporters, a 4-0 win over Stoke City on September 19.

Sunderland fans are noted for their high expectations and their limited patience ran out with the defeat to Wigan.

The trip to Molineux on Sunday will give Sunderland a chance to return to winning ways with players away from the glare of the Stadium of Light.

But in Wolves, they face another struggling team desperate to pick up points as they seek to secure Premier League survival.

Now playing their third season in the top flight after gaining promotion in 2009, Wolves continue their struggle to assert themselves at the highest level.

They escaped relegation by just one point last term, and sit 17th this season, just two points above the drop zone.

Mick McCarthy’s side have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League matches, including a 3-0 reverse away to Chelsea on Saturday.

The only exceptions have been a 2-2 draw at home to promoted Swansea in October, and a 3-1 win over Wigan a fortnight ago.

Goals have been a problem for both teams, both scoring them and keeping them out.

Sunderland have scored 15 and conceded 15, while Wolves’ statistics are even more troubling.

They have found the net just 13 times this season, and let in 23 goals.

Visitors Sunderland have a number of injury concerns going into the match, with goalkeepers Gregory Mignolet (face) and Craig Gordon (knee) both out indefinitely.

Defenders Titus Bramble and Marcos Angeleri are sidelined by knee injuries.

And strikers Wickham and Fraizer Campbell have also been struck by the club’s knee injury curse.

Wolves have their own worries, with Kevin Foley out due to an ankle problem and fellow defender Richard Stearman (arm) in doubt.

Further forward, midfielder Karl Henry is suspended until December, while key striker Kevin Doyle is doubtful due to a knee problem.