AFCB have to unpick Sunderland's organisation

Under Sam Allardyce there has been a resurgence in the Black Cats fortunes. They have got back in touch with the pack and more importantly for their prospects they have found ways to get Jermain Defoe doing what he does best. Far from being a shambles, Sunderland are an organised team now with reason to believe they can pick up points. 

Sunderland will be virtually cut adrift with Villa if
they lose to Bournemouth as a 9 point gap could open up between the teams.

So how do AFCB go about such a crucial game? As always the first goal is important and the Cherries will want to start well with a crowd of some 40,000 behind the Black Cats. There are weaknesses in their back line though. It was back in early November when they last secured a clean sheet at home. They have also let in the most goals in the Premier League at 45, while their 14 defeats is on a level with Aston Villa. AFCB will want to put Sunderland under as much pressure as they can early on and should look to test Jordan Pickford if selected with as many shots as they can from distance as well as with crosses coming in. The young keeper made his debut at Spurs last weekend and played well even if Sunderland conceded four goals. While Sam Allardyce says Vito is his number one keeper Mannone, does he bring him back in for this game?

Lee Cattermole, Wes Brown, Sebastián Coates and John O'Shea have plenty of experience at the back and it will also be interesting to see who Sam Allardyce picks in defence and how they do up against a powerful forward like Benik Afobe. Jan Kirchoff, recently signed from Bayern Munich looked well off the pace last weekend at Spurs when he was at fault for Christian Eriksen's second goal that deflected in off of him. His foul on Danny Rose also gave away a penalty and it is perhaps likely that we won't see him this Saturday.

They do have knew wonder kid Duncan Watmore, but Allardyce has been resting him of late and bringing him on as a sub. Their new signing is Senegalese forward Dame N'Doye who signed from Turkish side Trabzonspor this January and played for Hull City in the Premier League last season. Fabio Borini and Jermain Lens are also likely to start, but it's Jermain Defoe who is the man that Eddie Howe will be making most plans to nullify. He is such a live wire though that it is hard to prevent him from not having some impact if he does see a sight of goal in and around the box and AFCB's main job will be to stop him getting any service.

Sunderland Home Form
LWLLW (Allardyce has won 3 of Sunderland's 6 home games since his arrival)

AFCB Away Form
DWWLD

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