Sunderland v West Ham preview: Black Cats still chasing first win

Sunderland will be hoping to claim their first victory of the season when West Ham visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Dick Advocaat's side have started the season in terrible form, and are propping up the Premier League table having claimed just two points from their first seven games.

West Ham, meanwhile, have had a very different opening to their campaign, and are currently sitting in third with 13 points.

It is their away form which will be of most concern to the Black Cats as Slaven Bilic's side have a 100 per cent record on the road so far following wins at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Team news

Sunderland boss Advocaat does not envisage any fresh injury concerns, and he will be tempted to restore striker Jermain Defoe to his starting line-up after leaving the former England man on the bench for last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Defoe has fully recovered from the hamstring problem that dogged him in the build-up to the trip to Old Trafford while Jack Rodwell is also aiming to return from an ankle injury, but Adam Matthews (ankle) remains sidelined.

Andy Carroll could make his first league start in more than eight months for West Ham at Sunderland. Carroll tore ligaments in his knee in February but came off the bench against Norwich last weekend and is expected to shake off a sore ankle ahead of the game at the Stadium of Light.

Angelo Ogbonna (hamstring) and Alex Song (ankle) are both out while Winston Reid is a doubt with a hip problem. Enner Valencia has returned to light training following a knee injury but is short of match fitness.

Opta stats

Merson's prediction

It just doesn't get any easier for Sunderland, does it? If you looked at this at the start of the season you would have probably said this wasn't a bad game for Sunderland, but West Ham are probably the worst team to play at the moment at home.

West Ham have been phenomenal on the road this season and they are set up perfectly for the win. Sunderland will have to come out and have a go and that plays right into West Ham's hands. They've counter attacked a lot better teams than Sunderland and they'll be too strong come Saturday.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)

Betting

Away-day specialists West Ham are Sky Bet's favourites 7/5 favourites with winless Sunderland 19/10 and the draw 12/5. The Hammers have already recorded wins at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City and are 100/30 to add the Black Cats to their list of scalps in a win to nil. Last year this fixture finished 1-1 and Sky Bet are offering 5/1 for a repeat of that outcome.

The Soccer Saturday pundits and Jamie Redknapp are all backing West Ham to win in their Sky Bet tips, including Charlie Nicholas' 50/1 fancy for Dimitri Payet to score first in a 2-0 victory.