SUNDERLAND boss Gustavo Poyet has name an unchanged side for today's crucial relegation battle with Cardiff City.
Poyet has selected the same 11 players that took four points from successive away games at Manchester City and Chelsea as he looks to guide his side out of the bottom three.
With Fulham only having claimed a point yesterday, and Norwich having suffered a heavy defeat at Manchester United, Sunderland will be guaranteed to leave the relegation zone if they win.
Santiago Vergini retains his place at right-back, even though Phil Bardsley is available again after suspension.
SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Mannone; Vergini, Brown, O'Shea, Alonso; Cattermole; Johnson, Larsson, Colback, Borini; Wickham.
Subs: Ustari (gk), Bardsley, Gardner, Bridcutt, Giaccherini, Scocco, Altidore.
CARDIFF (4-1-4-1): Marshall; Theophile-Catherine, Cala, Caulker, Fabio; Medel; Mutch, Cowie, Daehli, Whittingham; Campbell.
Subs: Lewis (gk), Turner, Eikrem, John, Bellamy, Zaha, Jones.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here