Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Both these sides suffered heavy defeats and will both look to bounce back this Afternoon, the need in which to do so is arguably more urgent for Sunderland as they continually look for points to drag themselves out of the bottom three and that quest continues with a trip to The Hawthorns later Today.
Hosts West Brom were run ragged by a relentless Tottenham last Saturday Lunchtime as Mauricio Pochettino’s side ran out very comfortable 4-0 winners on their way to moving up to second in the Premier League table. A heavy defeat in a game that they were never really a part of.
In their trips to Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham, Tony Pulis’s side have failed to score a goal let alone pick up a point. In the visits to the first two they could be accused of not really having a go until going behind but at White Hart Lane they were not even allowed to have a go.
It was a rare off day for West Brom this season as the Midlands club have exceeded even their own expectations as they find themselves in the heady heights of 8th in the table at present, and they will look to solidify that position with the visit of David Moyes men.
Sunderland will not come into this game particularly high on confidence after failing to win any of their last four league outings. A run of games that has only bought a solitary point, a point from the toughest fixture when they managed to earn a creditable performance at home to Liverpool.
But those kind of performances have been far too few and far between and their 3-1 defeat to Stoke last Saturday will only highlight that fact. Like West Brom it was a game they were never involved in, but the manner in which Stoke raced into a 3-0 lead would have been alarming.
Mark Hughes men had the game wrapped up within the first 35 minutes with his side scoring three unanswered strikes. That was enough to have Sunderland fans once again leaving for the exit door early but remarkably it still only leaves them 1 point from safety.
So it’s games like this that Sunderland have to win if they are to enhance their chances of survival come the end of the season. Once again the hopes will rest with Jermaine Defoe but as good as he is he cannot do it all on his own as he continues to carry the clubs goal scoring burden.
David Moyes said earlier in the week that new signings ‘will not make any difference’ therefore he seems ready to work with what he has got, a willingness more out of necessity than anything else due to the fact that the financial cupboard is bare on Wearside.
But can his side get much needed points on the board? With West Brom in the league position they are in and forgetting that blip last Saturday Lunchtime they will go into the game as heavy favourites and I can’t see this one going against the form book. A home win for me.
