SAFC v WHU

By The Black Cats
April 3 2009

Sunderland make the long journey to West Ham's Upton Park tomorrow, and Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will be looking to burst all of the Hammers' bubbles. West Ham won the reverse fixture earlier in the season at the Sunderland Stadium of Light 1-0.

The Black Cats are currently 14th in the Barclays Premier League with 32 points.  and have won 3 games and drawn 5 on their travels picking up at least a point in 3 of the 4 games they've played in the capital scoring 12 goals and conceding 21 (in all away games).

However, the Black Cats haven't won on their travels in their last seven games, since their 4-1 win at Hull before Christmas.

Influential midfielder Kieran Richardson is available again at West Ham after completing a two-match suspension, but Calum Davenport is not available to face his parent club on Saturday as part of his loan deal clause.

Tal Ben-Haim, who is available for the weekend after missing the City game as part of his loan deal, will make his 200th career league appearance when he next plays.

Carlos Edwards' next game will be his 50th Sunderland appearance in all competitions.

Defender Nyron Nosworthy played for Sunderland's reserves at Liverpool last night after recovering from a hamstring injury and is fit for selection.

The opposition:
West Ham have six first team players on international duty this week.

Robert Green and Matthew Upson were in the England squad for the 2-1 win at home to Ukraine last night, but neither played. Upson did feature in the friendly win over Slovakia on Saturday.

James Collins played 90 minutes in Wales' 2-0 defeat at home to Germany last night after the centre-back made a successful comeback from a hamstring injury in their 2-0 defeat against Finland last Saturday.

Defender Radoslav Kovac played 72 minutes for the Czech Republic in their 2-1 defeat at home to Slovakia last night, while defender Jonathan Spector was with the USA squad for their game against T&T last night, but didn't play.

Right-back Lucas Neill led Australia to a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in a World Cup qualifier in Sydney yesterday (10am UK time).

Meanwhile, striker Carlton Cole has been ruled out for the rest of the season with the groin injury he picked up during England's win over Slovakia last Saturday, while Savio is hoping to be fit after missing West Ham's 1-1 draw at Blackburn with a knee injury.

Swiss defender Valon Behrami (knee ligaments), striker Dean Ashton (knee) and Welshmen Jack Collison (knee) and Danny Gabbidon (groin) are all out for the rest of the season.

West Ham are currently eighth in the Barclays Premier League with 41 points.

They have won seven games at home, drawn two and lost six, scoring 19 goals and conceding 17.