Source: Northern_Echo
Malbranque in for Black Cats
STEVE BRUCE makes one change from the team which lost 3-2 at Stoke ahead of this evening's visit of Tottenham Hotspur.[LNB] STEVE BRUCE makes one change from the team which lost 3-2 at Stoke, ahead of this evening's visit of Tottenham Hotspur.[LNB] Bruce has reverted to a flat back four from the five-man defence which toiled against the aerial presence of the Potters, Anton Ferdinand dropping to the bench in favour of a central defensive pairing of John Mensah and skipper Titus Bramble.[LNB] In midfield, Steed Malbranque comes in and is likely to start on the right side of the midfield, with Kieran Richardson on the left, Jordan Henderson and Stephane Sessegnon in the middle, with Sulley Muntari anchoring the midfield.[LNB] Sessegnon will be the most advanced midfielder providing the service for Asamoah Gyan.[LNB] Injury-hit Tottenham make four changes to their team, opting to stick with the back five that started in the 2-1 win against Bolton Wanderers. It is the midfield which takes the biggest hit, with Rafael Van Der Vaart injured, Aaron Lennon and Wilson Palacios dropping to the bench and Sandro, Niko Kranjkar and Steven Pienaar starting in the middle.[LNB] Up front, Roman Pavyluchenko partners Jermain Defoe, who will face Craig Gordon for the first time since the latter suffered an arm-breaking injury at the feet of the former in November 2009.[LNB] Former Sunderland loanee Alan Hutton does not feature for Spurs.[LNB] SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon; Onuoha, Mensah, Bramble, Bardsley; Malbranque, Henderson, Muntari, Sessegnon, Richardson; Gyan. Substitutes: Mignolet (gk), Angeleri, Riveros, Ferdinand, Colback, Zenden, Elmohamady.[LNB] TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2): Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Kranjkar, Jenas, Pienaar, Sandro; Pavlyuchenko, Defoe. Substitutes: Palacios, Bassong, Crouch, Lennon, Cudicini, Khumalo, Woodgate.[LNB] Referee: Mike Jones.[LNB]
