Hope continues to flicker at Sunderland where, remarkably, around 42,000 tickets have already been sold for a fixture which looks ominously capable of extinguishing such lingering Wearside optimism. Lose again and questions about Dick Advocaat’s future will resurface as Sunderland head into another international break without a win. Re-energised and remodelled under Slaven Bilic, West Ham appear awkward opponents, and locals will dread the prospect of their old enemy Andy Carroll stepping off the bench and scoring the winner. Louise Taylor
Kick-off Saturday 3pm
Venue Stadium of Light
Last season Sunderland 1 West Ham 1
Referee N Swarbrick
This season G7, Y29, R2, 4.4 cards per game
Odds H 21-10 A 13-10 D 23-10
Sunderland
Subs from Mannone, Brown, Larsson, Bridcutt, Van Aanholt, Gómez, Rodwell, Johnson, Fletcher, Watmore, Graham
Doubtful Johnson (mental state), Rodwell (ankle), Watmore, Graham (both match fitness)
Injured Kaboul (knee, 17 Oct), Matthews (ankle, 24 Oct)
Suspended None
Form LLLDD
Discipline Y19 R1
Leading scorer Defoe 2
West Ham Utd
Subs from Randolph, Spiegel, Collins, Oxford, Hendrie, Cullen, Obiang, Antonio, Zárate, Carroll, Jelavic
Doubtful Carroll (knee), Reid (hip)
Injured Ogbonna (hamstring, 17 Oct), Valencia (knee, 24 Oct), Song (foot, 31 Oct), O’Brien (calf, unknown)
Suspended None
Form DWWWL
Discipline Y8 R3
Leading scorers Kouyaté, Payet, Sakho 3
