Sunderland v Stoke City – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds – EPL – 18 September 2011

19th place Sunderland are still looking for their first win of the season as they host 5th place Stoke City in the English Premier League. The match will take place at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England on Sunday, September 18, 2011. Kickoff is scheduled for 15:00 BST (UK time), 16:00 CET (Central Europe), and 10:00 EST (USA Eastern).

Sunderland v Stoke City TV Listings

It will be televised on Viasat XTRA (Scandinavia), TV2 PL (Norway), and Abu Dhabi Sports (Middle East).

Sunderland v Stoke City Preview

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce

“If we don’t stand up to them physically we will get turned over.

“We must deal with set pieces, otherwise we’re in for a tough afternoon.

“The game down there last year was arguably the turning point of our season. We were 2-1 up with seven minutes to play and let it slip.

“We know we’re capable of getting a result. It will be a big challenge.

“It’s a tough encounter and I ask each and every fan to get behind the team.

“Stoke are a tough side who’ve progressed very well.

“They finished just below us last year and have had a decent start to this season.

“They’ve mirrored us in that they’ve come up and established themselves in the Premier League.

“We know they’ll be a handful because they are big, strong and direct.

“I don’t believe Stoke are one-dimensional. Tony has always set his sides up in a similar sort of way.

“Yes they’re a little direct at times, but you won’t hear me complaining about that. They will go out to try and get a result in the way they see fit.

“It’s up to us to do what we have to do in terms of winning the football match.”

Stoke manager Tony Pulis

“The aspirations of people around football clubs are far beyond what most people can achieve these days.”

“That’s life I’m afraid and that’s certainly football management for you. Ninety per cent of this job is all about managing people’s expectations and it’s extremely difficult. Steve Bruce knows it, I know it and indeed everybody else in the business knows it.

“If things don’t go right in the time people want them to, then the pressure soon mounts. Even when they are going well, those same people expect so much more.

“We will concentrate on what we have to do because we have a tough enough task with all the games which we are playing. What I will say is Steve Bruce is a great football manager and Sunderland are a great football club, but they are having a difficult time.

“You have spells like that playing at this level and the important thing is to stay focussed on your long term objectives, which is what we will aim to do. Despite all that is being said, the important thing from our point of view is not to get too carried away and maintain the steady improvement which we’ve made at this Football Club over the past few years.”

“Their experience has been a key factor. We’ve got some exceptionally good young players at the heart of our defence in Asmir and Ryan, while Huthy is a fantastic player too, but sometimes last year we lacked that bit of experience.

“Upson and Woodgate both possess that experience and one of the big differences this season has been having that cool head in the back four.”

Team Stat Comparison