Sunderland vs Southampton, Barclays Premier League, The Stadium of Light, Saturday 7th November 2015, Kick Off 15:00
SUNDERLAND: Pantilimon, Jones, Kaboul (c), Coates, Yedlin, M’Vila, Gomez, Toivonen, Johnson, Watmore, Fletcher.
SOUTHAMPTON: Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Fonte (c), van Dijk, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Clasie, S. Davis, Mané, Tadić, Pellè.
If Sunderland fans could have appointed one manager to steady the ship and consolidate their currently precarious position in The Premier League then Sam Allardyce would have to be towards the top of many a smart list.
Because, he’s a specialist in staying up in the same way that Jose Mourinho is a specialist in winning titles.
It may not always be pretty to watch – perhaps a main factor in his shocking sacking from West Ham – but you can guarantee that he will get his Sunderland players fighting for the cause and putting in a proper shift each week.
As for Southampton, it’s difficult not to be impressed by them every time you see them.
They have not only consolidated their position in the league but done it playing lovely football.
Southampton have to be one of the most attractive teams in the league as well as one of the more effective.
And all this in the context of continual sales of their top players.
Any team would suffer after the loss of Luke Shaw, Nathaniel Clyne, Morgan Schneiderlin and Adam Lallana.
But Southampton have gone out and found worthy replacements every time.
It’s quite remarkable and should make The Saints a very popular side for the neutral.
