We spoke to Chris Sparks from Read Sunderland ahead of West Ham United’s Premier League clash with Sunderland. The home side are currently bottom of the Premier League.
1) What can we expect from Sunderland?
Hopefully, some passion and fight, the Black Cats have had a tough time of it of late following a winless September, where we conceded ten and scored just one. The return to form of Lee Cattermole against Manchester United was a brief positive for Sunderland and he will be an important player on Saturday. Dick Advocaat has toyed with the idea of changing his formation and line-up this weekend, so Sunderland fans don’t really know what to expect from Sunderland at the moment!
2) Who will be their key player?
Lee Cattermole. The combative midfielder is like marmite for football fans, Sunderland supporters love him whilst everyone else despises him. The former Wigan man is an extremely underrated footballer, he has a lot of ability with the ball but also had a hot streak and his passion sometimes boils over. However, passion is what Sunderland need at the moment and they don’t come more passionate than Lee Cattermole.
3) Why are Sunderland struggling so much to get their first league win of the season?
We lack a way of playing, we don’t know if this is down to the manager or the players but it isn’t working. One week we pass around the defence and the next we are hitting long balls up to Borini or Defoe and neither are working. Without an identity and a sustained way of playing we will never progress.
4) The Black Cats have only scored two goals at the Stadium of Light thus far. What do you put this down to, and do you expect this tally to change at the weekend?
We began the season with a few goals, Defoe had 5 in 5 but since he stopped scoring the whole team did. I don’t think there is one reason why we aren’t scoring at present other than lack of confidence, as the confidence grows the goals will come, hopefully!
5) Will we be likely to see a more defensive approach from Dick Advocaat’s side?
I don’t think Dick has any other choice, we are shipping goals left, right and centre. Lee Cattermole will help tighten up a leaky defence, our biggest issue is our full-backs and we will have to wait until January before we can significantly improve that aspect of the side unfortunately.
6) And finally, can we get a score prediction please?
Sunderland 0-0 West Ham.
