North East | Sunderland look to continue positive home form

Sunderland v Wolves preview

In their first game after the international break, Sunderland will be looking to continue their positive home form against bottom side Wolves.

Author | Lewis Whatley 

Stadium | Stadium of Light

Sunderland v Brentford back in August

After a summer of heavy investment that saw Sunderland spend more than £150 million, the newly promoted side have made a steady start to life back in the Premier League following their playoff success last season.

They head into this match on the back of a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford against a struggling Manchester United side a fortnight ago.

Last time out for both sides

Sunderland suffered a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United as their head coach Ruben Amorim eased some of the pressure surrounding him with a much-needed victory.

For Wolves, it was another game where they didn’t pick three points. Jan Paul van Hecke's late header for Brighton denied Vitor Pereira and his players a first Premier League win of the season.

Sunderland team news

Regis Le Bris has confirmed that Democratic Republic of Congo international Noah Sadiki is fit after being assessed for an injury sustained just before the international break.

Sunderland will provide a late update on Paraguay international centre-back Omar Alderete, but the outlook is positive. The team will continue to be without defender Reinildo and midfielder Habib Diarra.

Key stats ahead of the match

This will be the first league meeting between Sunderland and Wolves since May 2018, when the Black Cats claimed a 3-0 Championship victory. It is also their first Premier League encounter since a goalless draw in April 2012.

Sunderland have collected seven points from their three home matches in the Premier League this season, with two wins and a draw. A victory here would take their tally to at least ten points from their opening four home fixtures of a top-flight campaign, something they have not achieved since 1968-69.

Only one of Sunderland’s seven Premier League goals this season has come in the first half, the lowest proportion in the division at 14%. They have managed 27 shots and 2.4 expected goals in the first 45 minutes of matches, compared with 43 shots and 3.9 expected goals after the interval.

Wolves, meanwhile, have won just one of their last ten league visits to Sunderland, drawing three and losing six. Their most recent success came in May 2011, a 3-1 Premier League victory under Mick McCarthy.