A big crowd, possibly in excess of 45,000, is expected as struggling Sunderland aim to end a run of five Premier League games without a win in this classic relegation “six-pointer”. Should Tim Sherwood choreograph a third straight victory for Aston Villa the mood on Wearside could well turn ugly. If Gus Poyet would be well advised to have a tin hat at hand on a day when he must cope without the suspended Lee Cattermole and Adam Johnson, Sherwood remains wary of Jermain Defoe’s potential penalty area menace. Louise Taylor
Kick-off Saturday 3pm
Venue Stadium of Light
Last season Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 1
Referee N Swarbrick
This season G16, Y70, R1, 4.44 cards per game
Odds H 11-8 A 13-5 D 23-10
Sunderland
Subs from Mannone, Coates, Jones, Gómez, Álvarez, Wickham, Fletcher, Watmore
Doubtful Jones (ankle)
Injured Buckley (knee, 21 Mar), Giaccherini (ankle, Aug)
Suspended Cattermole (first of two)
Unavailable Johnson (club suspension)
Form WLDDLD
Discipline Y73 R2
Leading scorers Fletcher, Johnson 4
Aston Villa
Subs from Given, Steer, Bacuna, Gil, Sinclair, Sánchez, Cole, Weimann, Kinsella, Calder
Doubtful Vlaar (calf)
Injured Cissokho (groin, 21 Mar), Richardson (calf, 21 Mar), Baker (knee, 21 Mar), Senderos (calf, Apr), Kozak (broken leg,) Herd (knee, both unknown)
Suspended Grealish (one match), Hutton (last of two)
Form LLLLLW
Discipline Y61 R6
Leading scorer Agbonlahor 4
