SCENE SETTER
Stoke City v Sunderland
Barclays Premier League
Britannia Stadium
Saturday 4 Ferbruary 2012
Kick-Off 3pm
INTRODUCING THE BLACK CATS
SATURDAY'S clash will mark the two-month anniversary of Martin O'Neill's appointment as Sunderland's new manager . . . and the transformation in their fortunes since that occasion has certainly been remarkable, even if it may not have surprised many people.
The inspirational O'Neill sized up the task in hand as the Black Cats suffered a familiar fate in going down to Wolverhampton Wanderers, a defeat that left them hovering precariously one point above the Premier League's relegation zone.
Since then, however, Sunderland have looked a far more confident outfit well capable of matching or even surpassing the highly creditable tenth place finish which they achieved in the 2010-11 season under the guidance of Steve Bruce.
In contrast to their fortunes in the final weeks of Bruce's reign, when they lost on a number of occasions to late goals, the roles were reversed as they left it late to grab winners themselves in claiming a number of memorable victories.
Seb Larsson curled home a last-minute free kick to give O'Neill a winning start to his reign as manager when Blackburn visited the Stadium of Light and then Wes Brown popped up with a decisive goal in injury time when they claimed a dramatic 3-2 triumph on their travels at newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers.
Undoubtedly, the most dramatic of their wins came in the New Year's Day meeting with Premier League leaders Manchester City when South Korean international Ji-Dong Won came off the bench to score an injury-time winner.
Not only has the O'Neill revolution brought about a dramatic climb up the Premier League table, it has also raised hopes that Sunderland can have a good run in the FA Cup, although they were frustrated by a 1-1 draw with their North East rivals Middlesbrough in last weekend's fourth round meeting at the Stadium of Light.
That tie was, however, memorable for the fact that former Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell made a dramatic return from 18 months of injury torment by scoring their equaliser shortly after his introduction.
Campbell's successful comeback has been one of the bright spots of an injury troubled time which has made their revival all the more commendable, and another former United star, Brown, limped out of the cup tie with a knee problem.
Consequently, O'Neill was keen to strengthen his squad before the January transfer window closed earlier this week and after failing with a bid to land Bolton striker Kevin Davies, he did manage to acquire Manchester City full back Wayne Bridge and former Liverpool defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos on loan to bolster his defensive resources.
MEET THE MANAGER
WHEN Martin O'Neill was confirmed as Steve Bruce's replacement as Sunderland manager back in early December, the Barclays Premier League welcomed back with open arms one of its most endearing characters.
On top of that, Sunderland secured the services of a self-confessed supporter of the club and a manager with a proven track record in British football, most notably in spells with Leicester City, Glasgow Celtic and Aston Villa.
O'Neill has shown his great managerial pedigree by transforming the Black Cats' fortunes in the short term he has been in charge at the Stadium of Light, thus confirming to fans that the club have picked the right man for the job.
A Northern Ireland international who learned so much from his playing days with Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough, he cut his managerial teeth with non-league Grantham Town and Shepshed Charterhouse before then moving into the Football League to enjoy spells with Wycombe Wanderers and Norwich City.
It was at Leicester City that he achieved considerable success, guiding them to three League Cup Finals and winning the trophy twice before he moved north of the border to take charge of Celtic in the summer of 2000.
Further success followed, with the Glasgow club wrestling back control of Scottish football from city rivals Rangers by winning the Premier League three times and reaching the UEFA Cup Final where they lost to Jose Mourinho's FC Porto.
O'Neill left Celtic to care for his unwell wife Geraldine in 2005 but resurfaced a year later with Aston Villa, whom he guided to three consecutive sixth-place finishes in the Premier League before resigning just days before the kick-off to the 2010-11 season because of the club's lack of investment in the playing squad.
SUNDERLAND FACT-FILE
Founded: 1879
Nickname: The Black Cats
Stadium: Stadium of Light
Capacity: 49,000
Owner: Ellis Short
Chairman: Niall Quinn
Manager: Steve Bruce
Record League Victory:
9-1 vs Newcastle United, 5th December 1908
Record League Defeat:
0-8 against Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham United & Watford
Record Transfer Paid:
£13,000,000 for Asamoah Gyan from Rennes, August 2010
Record Transfer Received:
£18,000,000 for Darren Bent to Aston Villa, January 2011
* Sunderland joined the Football League for the 1890/91 season when the Potters were kicked out after finishing bottom of the table the season before.
* When relegated from the Premier League in 2005/06, the Black Cats broke the record for fewest points earned in a season - they mustered just 15 in 38 league game. The record that they had broken in fact belonged to Stoke.
* Sunderland have won the FA Cup twice in their history - in 1937 after a victory over Preston North End and in 1973, as a Second Division side, after defeating holders Leeds United.
TEAM NEWS
MATTHEW ETHERINGTON is Tony Pulis' only major worry ahead of the game as he continues to nurse an illness.
Tony Pulis confirmed that the winger has missed the past two days of training, and will be forced to make a late check on him on Saturday morning.
Elsewhere, the City boss has a fully fit squad to choose from, however, he hinted he may make one or two changes from the side which slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
League - Played 127, Won 39, Drew 29, Lost 59
FA Cup - Played 9, Won 2, Drew 5, Lost 2
League Cup - Played 2, Won 2
FROM THE HORSES MOUTH
THOMAS SORENSEN
"I had five wonderful years with the Club and still have a lot of friends up there now, so It is a game that I look forward to yeah. It's nice to get the reception I do from the supporters, and it does mean a lot to me. Thankfully, I have always enjoyed a great rapport with the fans at most places, just like I did at Sunderland, and like I do now here at Stoke. With regards to it affecting me in any way though; no that isn't the case. I'm professional enough to know that my loyalties now lie with Stoke City and there is no question of who I want to go out there and pick up the win."
A CASE OF CHALK AND CHEESE
IT'S been a case of chalk and cheese for the Potters during clashes with this weekend's visitors since winning promotion from the Championship in 2007.
Of the three Premier League fixtures at the Britannia Stadium, Sunderland have failed to pick up a single point having lost by the odd goal in each encounter.
In the North East however, it's a totally different story - with the Mackems winning three and drawing one of the four clashes; denying Stoke even a solitary goal in the process.
This season's 4-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light was the Potters' heaviest defeat against the side in over half a century, so you can bet your life that the players will be determined to write those wrongs on Saturday.
ISN'T IT IRONIC
BY far the most entertaining encounter between the two sides came at the Britannia Stadium 363 days ago, as the Potters edged a five goal thriller.
A late Robert Huth brace completed a stunning City fight-back, after goals from Kieran Richardson and Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan had given the visitors the lead despite a John Carew goal for the hosts.
It's ironic that game fell on the same weekend of the year as Saturday's encounter, but stranger still, City were sat in ninth position in the league, having dropped one place from eighth three days earlier after a Sunderland victory and City defeat culminated in the Mackems elevating themselves above the Potters.
Tony Pulis' side came into the game 12 months ago, almost to the day, on 33 points, three more than they currently have - however the side had played two games more.
FRIENDS RE-UNITED
LINKS between the two side's are plentiful in this day and age with up to five current City players hoping to feature against their former employers.
Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, who is expected to start, is still regarded as a folk hero up on Wearside for his impressive displays during his five-year spell with the Club.
Rory Delap joined the Potters from Sunderland in 2006, bringing an end to a relatively short stay in the North East, whilst midfielder Dean Whitehead followed him South in 2009.
Former Mackems skipper Danny Collins completed a whirlwind move from the Stadium of Light just two months after Whitehead, before Kenwyne Jones put pen to paper on what was then a Club record deal in the summer of 2010.
Danny Higginbotham, who is currently out on loan at Nottingham Forest, also spent twelve months in the North East, sandwiched in between his two spells in the Potteries.
THE MAN IN CHARGE
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Martin will be taking charge of his 26th game of the season on Saturday, having dished out 97 yellow and eight red cards in those games.
He has already taken charge of matches featuring both the Potters and Sunderland; officiating Stoke's comfortbale 2-0 win against Fulham back in October, whilst he oversaw Sunderland's recent 2-0 FA Cup victory at Peterborough.
BETTING NEWS
ALL odds shown are the most recent with official Club betting partner Bet365 - For the most up to date odds click HERE
Stoke to win - 5/4
Draw - 9/4
Sunderland to win - 23/10
