Well, here we are again, another game that seems winnable on paper, but then real life and paper don’t always have so much in common.

Darren Bent returns to Sunderland, and has promised not to celebrate. I would love to see him not celebrating something he otherwise would. Whether Craig Gardner lines up against his old club remains to be seen.

News from the Villa camp says that Alan Hutton and Jermaine Jenas will be available, and many of the Villa faithful will probably be itching to see if Jenas gets a run-out. Given the injury struggles, though, it’s quite likely too soon to expect much of anything, but then we’re a bit desperate for any ray of light in midfield. Probably about the same number of Villa supporters won’t be fussed if Hutton makes way for Carlos Cuellar at right back. Barry Bannan won’t be available, as we know, but Chris Herd will. Fabian Delph has gotten over the flu and will also be available.

So, barring Bannan, Alex McLeish has pretty much everyone to choose from. How he’ll employ them is anyone’s guess. I suppose on the road we’ll likely see the 4-2-3-1 again. And again, most of the arguments will revolve around whether Ireland and N’Zogbia get a look in, or whether Heskey will again be deployed to run the midfield. I jest…If he’s in, well, we all know the reasons. Sort of. But who knows, maybe we’ll see the diamond, a Christmas tree, or some sort of flexible 4-3-3.

At the back, it’s a question of whether Delph steps back into the lineup or Chris Herd gets a chance to make a further claim after his midfield debut last week was cut short. And of course, we’ll be watching to see whether Cuellar stays in.

The Black Cats

With Sunderland, it’s a bit hard to tell who’s going to be lining up. Of the current squad, only Larsson has featured in every league game so far with Cattermole, Gardner, Vaughan, Kieran Richardson, Ahmed Elmohamady and Jack Colback all switching places in Steve Bruce’s lineups so far.

Larsson has been the most dangerous player, leading the scoring with three, and is boosting the Black Cats’ options off set pieces. In Sunderland’s last outing, a 2-0 win over Bolton, Bruce went with Bendtner and Wickham up front in Wickam’s full debut, after failing to field a recognized striker in the 1-2 loss to Arsenal. Sessegnon has been on good form lately, delivering useful balls from either flank. So far this season Sunderland are 2-3-4, with two of the losses being narrow affairs against Chelsea and Arsenal. 0-1 and 1-2 losses to Newcastle and Norwich respectively round out that column, and in the draws, a good point away against Liverpool opened the season. The other draws were against West Brom and Swansea. Apart from the Bolton match, Sunderland’s other win was a good 4-0 defeat of Stoke at home.

So, it’s been an up-and-down season so far for Steve Bruce’s men, and they sit two points behind Villa in 14th place.

Given the stats you’ll see below from Opta, it figures to be a tight game, 1-0 or 1-1.

Stats

In 20 Premier League meetings between Sunderland and Villa, the Black Cats have only scored more than once in a game on one occasion. Villa have only scored more than once on five of the 20 occasions.

Sunderland have scored one goal in nine of the last 10 meetings with Villa and failed to score in the other match.

There have been four red cards in the last five league matches between Sunderland and Villa.

The Black Cats have won just two of their last 12 Premier League matches at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland haven’t won a home league match without scoring at least three goals since December 2010.

Villa have won just four of their last 24 Premier League away games (W4 D8 L12).

Aston Villa have dropped more points from winning positions (7) than any other team in the top flight. (Sound familiar? I thought this would change, but it hasn’t.)

Sunderland haven’t won back to back away games since January, when the second of those matches was against Aston Villa.

The Black Cats haven’t had back to back clean sheets either since the start of January and those matches against Blackburn and Villa.

Aston Villa have won just one of their last seven Premier League matches.

Prediction

Since we need something from this, I’m going for a 1-1 draw. However, I don’t think it’s going to be comfortable at all, and a third straight defeat isn’t going to sit well. Here’s hoping McLeish’s men have got a good frame of mind and go out and do the things we’ve been complaining about them not doing.

So…what are your lineups and predictions?

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