Sunderland v West Ham preview

Black Cats hope to overcome slight stutter against resurgent Hammers

By Jamie Casey   Last updated: 30th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sunderland v West Ham preview

Bruce: Injury doubts over bent

PREDICTIONS

skysports.com's prediction: Sunderland 2 West Ham 0

Sky Bet odds: Sunderland 5/6, Draw 5/2, West Ham 10/3

One to Watch: Alessandro Diamanti

You can get 11/1 for Darren Bent to score a goal in each half against West Ham. But after their fightback against Arsenal the visitors have seen some money and are 10/3 to sneak the points. Click here to bet on this match.

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Sunderland will be aiming to bounce back from their defeat at St Andrews last week as they host West Ham on Saturday, and they may have to do so without Darren Bent.

The Black Cats failed to build on their controversial 1-0 win over Liverpool earlier this month by going down 2-1 to Birmingham last weekend, followed by a midweek Carling Cup exit to Aston Villa.

The Hammers, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their second-half showing at home to Arsenal last weekend after they pulled back a two-goal deficit to earn a point at Upton Park.

Gianfranco Zola's men have been struggling for form this season and remain in the relegation zone, but the 2-2 draw with Arsenal may act as a springboard to set their season alight.

Both sides have injury worries ahead of the Stadium of Light encounter, with the home side sweating over the fitness of striker Bent, the league's joint-second top goalscorer.

The former Tottenham striker is facing a race to be fit for the visit of West Ham, as he battles to overcome a knee problem.

Bent missed Tuesday's Carling Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Villa but is rated as better than 50-50 for Saturday's clash, after returning to training on Thursday.

Fellow striker Fraizer Campbell is also a doubt after suffering a knock against Villa, while Phil Bardsley (shoulder) and George McCartney (hip) are also touch-and-go.

New signing Bolo Zenden and centre-back John Mensah are ruled out while Lee Cattermole is a long-term absentee with knee ligament damage.

West Ham news

Alessandro Diamanti is in line for a start after his inspirational impact from the bench against the Gunners.

The Italian scored the equaliser from the spot after playing a helping hand in Carlton Cole's goal earlier in the game, and Guillermo Franco could lose his starting place as a result.

Diamanti can expect to partner in-from Cole up front with the England international grabbing 5 goals from 9 starts this term.

Captain Scott Parker will miss the clash through suspension after seeing red against Arsene Wenger's men courtesy of a second bookable offence.

Zola must continue without injured trio Kieron Dyer (hamstring), Luis Boa Morte (knee) and long-term absentee Dean Ashton (ankle).

Possible starting XIs

Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Turner, Richardson, Malbranque, Cana, Henderson, Reid, Bent, Jones.

West Ham: Green, Spector, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Kovac, Noble, Collison, Cole, Diamanti.