Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
What a difference a win makes and that is something you could apply to both of today’s sides as Sunderland play host to Hull and both come into this game off that rare of spectacles in this part of a country, that being an all important three points.
For Sunderland their win against Bournemouth probably saved David Moyes from getting sack after just 11 Premier League games in charge. But a 2-1 win over Eddie Howe’s side has just lifted the gloom ever so slightly on Wearside and they will look to use that result as a springboard to try and finally start their season
They may be 5 points form safety but they will certainly feel more optimistic then fellow strugglers Swansea who are in the same boat and are only above The Black Cats in the table by virtue of goal difference and if results go Sunderland’s way then they will find themselves off the bottom of the table.
If they are to move off the bottom they are going to have to pick up at least a point at home to Hull who they themselves found a win after a dismal run of results. The season may have started well for Mike Phelan’s men with 7 points from the first four matches but the next 6 produced successive losses and saw Hull drop into the bottom 3.
Although they are still in the bottom three they come here off the back of beating Southampton to end that barren run of defeats. A 2-1 win before the international break at the KCom Stadium means they are just a point behind West Ham in 17th and a win today could take them as high as 13th.
The Tigers will have to do without Will Keane for the 12 next months as the striker has been ruled out with a serious ligament injury. Both he and Abel Hernandez had to leave the pitch early in the win over Southampton and while Hernandez’s injury is not all that serious it’s a devastating blow for Keane and Hull.
Will the injury Keane mean that Hull will look for reinforcements in the January transfer window? I think it’s fair to say that both sides could do with a few new faces in the new year to help aid their bids for survival but as has been proved before buying in the New Year can always lead to desperation purchases but it’s almost as if these two sides have little other choice.
The transfer window opening is still 7 or so weeks away and both Sunderland and Hull have to make sure they aren’t cast too far adrift before the chance to bring in new players comes around. The only way to do that is by getting points on the board and that starts today.
It’s probably a bit too early to be labelled as a 6 pointer but let’s not pretend that this is anything less than a must win for fixture for both teams. Because of the fact that neither team will want to lose I have a feeling that they will cancel each other out and it will end up in a draw. A share of the points for me.
