Sunderland – Hull City

Sunderland host Hull City in what promises to be a pivotal clash in the lower half of the table, with the Black Cats sitting 14th on four points after one win, one draw and two defeats, scoring three and conceding five. Hull City arrive in good form, occupying third place with eight points from an unbeaten run of two wins and two draws, and a healthy +3 goal difference after netting five while letting in just two. The disparity in recent results suggests Sunderland will be desperate to close the gap and avoid slipping further down the standings, while Hull will look to consolidate their push for the top spots. The encounter could prove decisive for both sides, as a positive result for Sunderland would tighten the relegation battle, whereas a win for Hull would keep them firmly in contention for promotion.