Sunderland boosted their hopes of finishing in top 10 with an impressive victory at Reebok, with the Black Cats now looking to continue the good run and end the season on a high. Wolverhampton have finally climbed out of the relegation zone and Mick McCarthy’s side would probably be delighted with one point from Stadium of Light.

No strikers but still scoring

Sunderland have started the season in excellent manner, proving their quality by recording great results against top Premiership sides and Steve Bruce’s side continued playing well even when their star players started picking up serious injuries. With their squad constantly stripped to bare bones, the Black Cats couldn’t cope with the busy schedule and their form started taking a turn for the worse, with the four-match run seeing Sunderland slip into the danger zone. However, the home win over Wigan saw the Black Cats climb out of the precarious position, while the away success over Bolton helped them return to the brink of the top half of the table. The interesting thing is that Steve Bruce currently has no fit senior strikers, but that didn’t stop Sunderland from scoring two goals at one of the most difficult grounds in the league. With the pressure clearly on Wolves in this game, the hosts are expected to play another good game and record a victory that would probably mean Sunderland finish the season in top 10.

Asamoah Gyan, Frazier Campbell, David Meyler, Danny Welbeck, Kieran Richardson and Titus Bramble remain sidelined.

Wolves back in business

If Wolves manage to survive this season they will owe it all to their impressive home form that has seen them beat sides like Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United among others. Mick McCarthy’s side have proved that Molineux is slowly becoming a teal fortress by easily beating fierce rivals West Bromwich, with the win helping Wolves finally climb out of the relegation zone. With the away game against indifferent Sunderland and home match against relegation rivals Blackburn on agenda, Wolves have a really good chance of staying alive, although I can’t see them having an easy game at the Stadium of Light. If this were an Italian Serie A fixture, I would have no doubts that Sunderland would let Wolves win the game, but since this is England we are talking about I really can’t see that happening. With Wolves’ away record one of the worst in the league, it looks as though the final game against Blackburn will be their chance to clinch survival.

Kevin Doyle could play some part after recovering from injury, but David Edwards and Ronald Zubar remain sidelined.

Verdict

Sunderland are slowly returning to form and they are looking to finish the season in top half following numerous injury problems, with the away victory over Bolton proving the Black Cats are coping well with absence of several first team regulars. Wolves, on the other hand, will be under big pressure to get a result here, but taking their wretched away form into account, I cannot see them getting anything from this match.

Our prediction: Home win

Odds: 2.50 (3/2)

Bookmaker: Bodog