Sunderland vs Swansea – Match Preview

Just how pivotal could Sunderland be in the battle to beat the drop, of course we already know that David Moyes side will be playing in the second tier next season after they were relegated a couple of weeks ago. Many felt that from that point onwards their final handful of fixtures would be something of a procession.

So much so that it was almost nailed on that last week Hull would earn a crucial win and further boost their hopes of survival. Only by now we should know that football has a tendency to make fools of us all and throw up the unexpected.

Defeat for Hull gave Swansea something of a lifeline and it was one that they called upon last Saturday evening when they played Everton at the Liberty Stadium. Fernando Llorente’s early goal was the difference and it meant that Swansea now find themselves out of the bottom three at the expense of Hull.

But like any good drama there is another twist in the tale this weekend as Swansea themselves travel to Sunderland, will the Black Cats prove to be unlucky again or will Paul Clement’s side end up taking a massive stride in a bid to beat the drop.

There may be doubts as to whether or not David Moyes stays on at Sunderland next season but the stronger he can finish the season it will at least give Sunderland supporters a glimmer of hope as they prepare for life in The Championship next season.

That win over Hull was a huge dent in their own survival prospects and Swansea will now look to turn the knife further by earning back to back wins for the first time since early March. After their form deserted them with just a solitary point from six matches it looks as if they have rediscovered it at just right at the time.

In addition to the vital win over Everton last Saturday they have also picked up a win over Stoke and a well earned draw at Manchester United a fortnight ago. There home form has been crucial in assisting their fight against relegation they now need to replicate that on the road.

If Swansea can pick up all three points and Hull lose away at Crystal Palace on Sunday then the battle to beat the drop is over without the tension that a last day relegation head to head to bring. The fixture computer has been kind to Swansea in this aspect.

This is because with Swansea playing a day before Hull they can really ramp up the pressure on Marco Silva’s men. Crystal Palace vs Hull is already a six pointer but just imagine what will be at stake should Swansea make it four matches unbeaten.

That of course is not to overlook Sunderland as we did last week. I think everyone to a man felt that Hull were going to do the necessary and ask serious questions of Swansea instead the playbook has been turned upside down leaving us in the situation that we are in now.

Huge credit has to go to Jordan Pickford whose string of saves kept Hull at bay, that has been the case so many times during the season. It really does say something that a player can miss two months through injury and still be nominated for the PFA Young Player Of The Year award.

If we are handing out credit then it must also go to the evergreen Leon Britton whose performances as of late have given Swansea a huge resurgence. Not only that but it was his idea for the club to subsidise their fans travel to the game today and just how big of an aspect could that be when the two sides go head to head.

Sunderland may have thrown a spanner in the works for Hull last week but I’m not sure if lightning is going to strike twice this time around. I think with the traveling Swansea army of fans behind them, I think it’s going to a massive away win for Swansea with Hull left in a Sunday sudden death situation.