Next up in our double gameweek analysis we take a look at Sunderland, who, aside from Darren Bent and his 18 league goals, have contributed very little to our fantasy season’s to this point. The Black Cats will however be intent on bouncing back from the disappointment of local boy Adam Johnson’s injury time equaliser for Man City last Sunday and may yet provide some mid-price offerings…

Opponents

Steve Bruce’s side first play host to Birmingham City, one of the few sides in the league who are, realistically, not involved in any sort of scrap for points as the season really heats up. Playing without pressure can therefore make them a dangerous proposition, and a fantastic comeback against Everton last weekend gives them two wins and a draw in their last three league games.

Sunderland then travel down to the Midlands, to face an Aston Villa playing their fourth league game in a fortnight. Four points from last week’s double gameweek kept Villa firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place and maintained their mantle as the only unbeaten team in the Premiership for 2010. Perhaps surprisingly -given their defensive solidity- Martin O’Neill’s team have kept just two clean sheets in their last five at home, but Sunderland have been terrible on the road, with just one away win all season, coming on the opening day at Bolton.

Current Form

Sunderland may be unbeaten in their last three games, but in fairness, it’s a slightly misleading stat: the bigger picture shows Steve Bruce’s side have only two wins in their last 20 league matches. Relegation form you would think, but it says a lot for the quality of the bottom three that they are still seven points clear of the drop zone.

Rotation Risk

With the club’s three main midfielders, Reid, Cattermole and Cana, all currently out injured, the Sunderland midfield is continually chopped and changed by Bruce, as he tries to find a balance. Andy Reid could well make a return against Birmingham having returned to training earlier this week – he has the talent but would represent a major risk as a double gameweek investment at this stage. While Meyler and Henderson have been given opportunities, more experienced players have failed to impress; Malbranque’s poor form has seen him benched and Richardson is now peripheral. The pace of forward Frazier Campbell has seen him earn a place on the right wing recently.

Potential Targets

Craig Gordon
The keeper’s performance last weekend (eight saves) was indicative of his importance to his team right now. The Sunderland defence have recorded just six clean sheets all season, and will need Gordon to be on top form if they are to pick up any points next week.
Predicted Return: 9 saves

Steed Malbranque
Recently punished for a breach of club discipline and subsequently dropped, the winger has responded by finally showing some semblance of form. With Frazier Campbell occupying his normal right wing berth, Malbranque has found himself on the left and responded with two bonus points and an assist in the last two games.
Predicted Return: 1 assist, 2 Bonus Points

Darren Bent
Sunderland have scored 37 league goals this season, with 18 of them bagged by Bent. Without Dazza’s goals, it’s feasible that Sunderland could easily be in the bottom three. Is essential to his team, arguably more than any Premier League player this campaign. Bent’s fantasy popularity has suffered from the emergence of Drogba, Rooney, Torres and in particular Bendtner, as options – that could make him a strong differential going into the gameweek. Whether he can outscore that quartet, even with two fixtures, is another matter. The Birmingham and Villa defences are more than capable of restricting opportunities and shutting him out.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 1 Bonus Point