Source: Northern_Echo
Matchfile: Stoke City v Sunderland
STOKE CITY
Sorensen
Wilkinson Shawcross Huth Higginbotham
Whelan Delap Whitehead Lawrence
Beattie Kitson
Jones Bent
Richardson Cattermole Cana Malbranque
McCartney Da Silva Ferdinand Bardsley
Gordon
SUNDERLAND
Sunderland subs (from): Carson (gk), Nosworthy, Henderson, Tainio, Reid, Murphy, Healy, Campbell
Stoke City subs (from): Simonsen (gk), Griffin, Amdy Faye, Abdoulaye Faye, Cort, Pugh, Cresswell Etherington, Fuller
SUNDERLAND: Marton Fulop's heel injury will sideline the Hungary international goalkeeper giving Craig Gordon another chance to impress Steve Bruce. Andy Reid's impressive showing in Monday's League Cup victory at Norwich pressed his claims for a starting berth while Stoke-bound Danny Collins is expected to be replace by Paulo Da Silva.
Suspensions: None
Injuries: Fulop (heel)
Last five league games: WLWLL
Leading league scorer: Bent 2, Jones 2
Next game: vs Hull City (H) 12/09/09
STOKE CITY: With Peter Reid joining as Tony Pulis' assistant, the Potters are rapidly becoming a mini-Sunderland. The former Black Cats boss joins five ex-Sunderland players (possibly about to be six) at the Britannia where Dean Whitehead will be looking to get one over the side he skippered for four seasons. Robert Huth's addition brings experience to the back four but James Beattie is a doubt.
Suspensions: None
Injuries: Sidibe (knee)
Last five league games: LLDLD
Leading league scorer: Shawcross 1
Key Player: James Beattie - By common consent the former England striker was the best signing of last January's transfer window.
Last season: 1-0
League head to head: Sunderland 57, Blackburn 37, Draws 28
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham) G1 Y1 R0 Ave: 1br /> Last Sunderland game: vs Aston Villa (A) L2-1 27/09/07 Y2 R0
Odds: H 11/8; A2/1; D9/4
It's a fact: The last time Peter Reid was sat on the bench for this fixture Sunderland secured a 2-1 victory.
Comment by Paul Fraser: Stoke secured ten victories at the Britannia last season and will provide another tough physical obstacle for Bruce's side.
Prediction: 1-2
