Jones & Jagielka

By The Black Cats
December 27 2008

Sunderland head to Goodison Park for their second game in three days this Sunday after the hard fought, but disappointing game against Sam Allardyce's Blackburn Rovers in which they earned a point. Sunderland are out to avenge the defeat at the hands of David Moyes' men earlier in the season. Everton won this last encounter by 7-1, Sunderlands' biggest defeat for 25 years in November.

Black Cats Captain Kieran Richardson is confident that Sunderland are in good shape to avenge last season's horror show at Everton when they go back to Goodison Park tomorrow.

Richardson did not play in the game but he remembers how low the mood was at the club in the wake of the defeat.              

And Richardson reckons the Wearsiders are in much better shape now than 13 months ago.

"Everton is always a tough game, we found that out last season," said the midfielder, who has captained Sunderland in recent weeks.

"But after the way we have played in recent weeks, we will go there aiming for three points, we are confident.

"Everton are a good side, they are flying high in the table but we are on a decent run and hopefully we can continue to progress; we want a point minimum from Goodison Park."

Richardson says Sunderland were happy with a point from the Boxing Day game at the Stadium of Light and I also am, the game could have gone either way, but Blackburn had the better chances.

"A point is OK. We let ourselves down in the last third but hopefully that will improve at Everton," he said.

"We kept a clean sheet, which is a positive, and we feel we are getting stronger."

Sbragia is set to make "one or two" changes for the game at Goodison. "I'll have a chat with the lads to see how they are before I name the team," he said.

Everton beat fellow north easters Middlesbrough 1-0 in their boxing day game, courtesy of a Tim Cahill goal scoring his second goal in three games.

I believe this is a game Sunderland can win, Everton are currently without a recognised striker and are struggling for goals, and with Sunderland in such a rich goal scoring vein (ignoring the goallless boxing day draw) I can see this going our way.

The following is from the Premier League Website

New Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia is hoping to celebrate his 18-month contract with victory at Goodison Park.

Everton have struggled in front of their own fans this season but are in confident mood following their 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.

Everton team news

Victor Anichebe is expected to ease Everton's striking problems by returning to the starting line-up for his side's Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland at Goodison Park.

But elsewhere boss David Moyes' injury concerns show few signs of easing with Joseph Yobo (back) still ruled out and Leon Osman (foot) also unlikely to figure against the Black Cats.

Hamstring injury victim Louis Saha is also still sidelined and with Ayegbeni Yakubu a long-term absentee Moyes will once again look to 18-year-old Dan Gosling.

Sunderland team news

New Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will hope midfielders Teemu Tainio and Kieran Richardson shake off knocks.

Tainio complained of a tight hamstring during yesterday's 0-0 draw with Blackburn, while Richardson has a hip problem, although both are expected to be fit.

El-Hadji Diouf was an unused substitute after returning from compassionate leave, but Craig Gordon (ankle) and George McCartney (foot) are still out.

Squads

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka, Lescott, Neville, Osman, Arteta, Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill, Anichebe, Nash, Van der Meyde, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Gosling, Kissock.

Sunderland: Fulop, Colgan, Bardsley, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Malbranque, Whitehead, Richardson, Tainio, Leadbitter, Edwards, Miller, Yorke, Reid, Henderson, Colback, Diouf, Cisse, Jones, Murphy, Healy.