Sunderland’s Premier League journey continues as they welcome Bournemouth to the north-east. BBC Sport displays on among the key speaking factors forward of Saturday’s assembly (15:00 GMT).
This fixture represents one thing of a full circle second for Sunderland supporters and match-going followers specifically will bear in mind precisely what occurred the final time they hosted Bournemouth in a league sport in April 2017.
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The away facet edged a detailed sport 1-0 due to an 88th-minute purpose – a outcome that confirmed the Black Cats’ Premier League relegation that season. A second successive demotion to League One adopted instantly afterwards and what occurred to the membership within the intervening years is well-documented. However they’re now again within the large time and sit above this weekend’s opponents on purpose distinction in seventh.
Regis Le Bris’s males have been crushed at Fulham final weekend and might be happy with a return to the Stadium of Mild, which has been a stronghold this season. They’re undefeated at house within the Premier League thus far with three wins and three attracts, selecting up simply two fewer factors at their floor this time period than they did in the entire of their earlier top-flight marketing campaign in 2016-17.
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Anticipate rotation
Le Bris confirmed in his press convention that he’ll start to shuffle his pack forward of the congested Christmas fixture checklist, with Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis away subsequent week adopted by the large one – Newcastle at house.
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“Our rotation will occur naturally and organically,” mentioned the pinnacle coach, who will have a good time his fiftieth birthday on the Etihad subsequent Saturday. “We are actually at a stage of the season the place we’ve got many video games in a row in a small period of time and organically it would occur. Gamers could have alternatives to play – prepare for that.”
The Frenchman additionally discovered time to reward this weekend’s opposition and shared his admiration for the best way they’ve established themselves within the high flight.
“Bournemouth are a superb mannequin for us,” added Le Bris. “They manner they’ve constructed within the final 4 seasons within the league is absolutely fascinating for us.”
Cherries not travelling nicely
Bournemouth are on a three-game winless run within the Premier League and their two defeats in that spell each got here away from house.
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A 3-1 defeat at Manchester Metropolis was adopted by a 4-0 loss to Aston Villa they usually may now lose three successive away fixtures for the primary time since November 2023.
The Cherries have gained simply 5 factors from 18 out there on the street within the Premier League thus far this season – with their solely victory at Tottenham – and head coach Andoni Iraola believes his workforce have to be “particularly good” if they’ll triumph this weekend.
“We can’t see Sunderland like a promoted workforce,” mentioned the 43-year-old Spaniard. “I believe they’ve proven they’re a very good workforce they usually have a whole lot of expertise with gamers coming from large golf equipment. They know what they’re doing and what it takes to win within the Premier League.”
The primary optimistic for the south coast facet is that they’re unbeaten within the Premier League on the Stadium of Mild, with one win and one draw from their earlier two visits.