Sunderland v Newcastle Betting Preview

Sunderland host Newcastle at midday this Sunday lunchtime looking to avenge that humiliating 5-1 defeat at the hands of their rivals in the reverse of this fixture back in late October of last year.

Steve Bruce has hinted that injured trio Lee Cattermole, Danny Welbeck and Nedum Onuoha are all in contention for a return to the side. But John Mensah, Michael Turner, Fraizer Campbell and David Meyler remain long-term absentees.

Newcastle are without Chiek Tiote as the midfielder begins a three-game suspension following his sending off in the FA Cup defeat against Stevenage. Manager Alan Pardew is also sweating on the fitness of star striker Andy Carroll whilst Shola Ameobi, Jonas Gutierrez and Steven Taylor are all hopeful of returning.

The Black Cats lost their unbeaten home record when losing to Blackpool in their final game of 2010. But they bounced back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Blackburn on New Years Day and have picked up 22 points from a possible 33 at the Stadium of Light.

It is that record that has forced the bookmakers to make Sunderland the clear betting favourites to win this one, most online firms going 11/10 about a home win. Newcastle are 12/5 to make it a double over their northeast neighbours and it is 9/4 that the game ends in an amicable draw.

Midfielder Kevin Nolan scored a hat-trick in that 5-1 demolition at St James’ Park a few months ago and is 3/1 to net again here. He is 9/1 to score the first goal of the game and 100/1 to write his name in Newcastle United folklore with another hat-trick.

Sunderland’s main man this season has once again been Darren Bent and the England striker now has two in his last three following a barren spell of five games without a goal. Bent is the 9/2 favourite to open the scoring and 11/8 to score at anytime in the game.

For all the great strides that Sunderland have taken this season that defeat to The Geordies earlier this season sticks in the throat of the fans. Bruce knows the importance of addressing that result with a win here and has commented on that point in the build up to this game.

“We’ll be reminded of the game all week and this is our chance to put it right. ‘Bottled it’ is the wrong phrase, but I can understand people saying that,” said the Sunderland manager.