Stoke vs Sunderland Preview

Sunderland are looking to overturn their dreadful home form as Stoke City visit the Stadium of Light this weekend.

The Black Cats have the unwanted record of losing eight of their last nine home games in the Premier League and have not claimed a point on their own turf this season.
Last weekend's defeat to Chelsea has left them in 16th place and they welcome a Stoke side who have yet to lose away this season.
Tony Pulis' team were moments away from a famous win at Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League on Thursday, before conceding a late goal to draw 1-1.
The Potters' impressive record on the road is backed up by conceding just once in their two Premier League away games this season - in a draw against Norwich in August.
They are also the only team to have beaten Liverpool in the current campaign, after Jonathan Walters' penalty handed them a 1-0 win against the Reds last week.
After a poor finish to last season and a worrying start to this campaign, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is coming under pressure but midfielder Craig Gardner says it is 'ridiculous' that his side are being written off.

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Bruce also has to cope without defender Phil Bardsley who has received a four-match ban for an apparent stamp on Chelsea's Juan Mata last week.
However, former Manchester United defender John O'Shea could make a return to the Sunderland squad if he has managed to recover from a calf injury sustained on international duty at the start of September.
The Republic of Ireland international has yet to play at home for his new side this season with his only game being the 0-0 draw at Swansea last month.
The North East club's attacking options have also been reduced with Asamoah Gyan moving on a season-long loan to UAE side Al Ain.
Pulis made eight changes to his Stoke team for the game in the Ukraine and is expected to bring back a number of players for the trip to Sunderland.
Peter Crouch did not travel with the squad and should regain his place, as could Walters and Jonathan Woodgate.
Rory Delap and Matthew Etherington are doubts after picking up injuries against Liverpool last weekend.
There are six former Sunderland players in the Stoke squad, including Danny Higginbotham, Delap, Dean Whitehead, Kenwyne Jones and Thomas Sorensen.

Possible starting XIs:

Sunderland: Mignolet, O'Shea, Brown, Bramble, Richardson, Cattermole, Larsson, Colback, Ji Dong-Won, Sessegnon, Bendtner
Stoke: Begovic, Shotton, Huth, Woodgate, Wilson, Pennant, Palacios, Whitehead, Etherington, Crouch, Walters