Sunderland v Everton

By Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator

Leon Osman has scored in Everton’s last two league matches

TEAM NEWS

Sunderland’s Connor Wickham is unlikely to be ready despite an improvement in his knee condition.

Fellow striker Fraizer Campbell and goalkeeper Craig Gordon are on the mend after their knee problems but are short of match practice.

Everton’s Seamus Coleman could be sidelined for a fortnight with a recurrence of a thigh problem.

Midfielder Jack Rodwell and forward Conor McAleny are battling to shake off hamstring strains.

MATCH PREVIEW

It hasn’t taken long for Martin O’Neill to live up to his reputation for getting the best out of his players. Two wins from three games has lifted Sunderland upwards. Instead of relegation looming larger in their rear view mirror, now it’s the top half of the table that’s in their sights.

Look a little closer at those successes against Blackburn and at QPR on Wednesday night – on both occasions victories were earned with late, late goals.

This is now a team that believes in itself. A team with drive and determination, characteristics sadly absent towards the end of Steve Bruce’s tenure. Without those last-gasp winners, O’Neill’s points haul would be two rather than six and Sunderland would be on 13 points and in the bottom three.

Everton have enjoyed a much-needed revival as well over the last week. They had enough chances to beat Norwich and then got the better of clean-sheet kings Swansea. Leon Osman popped up with important goals on both occasions to underline his terrific value to the side that can go unnoticed.

It’s about now that David Moyes’s men traditionally get their season into gear and they usually do very well against Sunderland. In fact, they’re unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League meetings, winning 10 of those games.

However, before you Mackems ponder whether to opt for a Boxing Day afternoon in front of the fire with Shrek or Harry Potter on the television instead of a typically chilly one at the Stadium of Light, here’s a little glimmer of hope – Sunderland last beat Everton on 22 December 2001 and yours truly was in the commentary box that day too. Merry Christmas!

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Everton are unbeaten in their last 13 league meetings with Sunderland (14 in all competitions).

Sunderland

• Sunderland have won just four home league matches in 2011 but they have lost only one of their last six at home.
• The Black Cats have won two of their three Premier League matches under manager Martin O’Neill – both with winning goals in the final two minutes.
• Sunderland were sixth at Christmas last year.
• Wes Brown, who scored the late winner against QPR in midweek, is set to make his 250th career league appearance.

Everton

• All six of Everton’s wins this season have come against sides in the bottom half of the table.
• Only Swansea and Wigan have scored fewer league goals than Everton’s 17 this season.
• Tim Cahill has scored in two of Everton’s last three matches against Sunderland – but the Australian has yet to find the net for the Toffees in 2011.
• Everton have failed to score in six Premier League matches this season.
• Victory would see Everton becoming the seventh club to reach 1,000 Premier League points. They are on 998 at present.