Sunderland have won four straight games in all competitions.
Sunderland have found their best form in League One so far and a 3-0 win over Southend United last Saturday made it four straight wins in all competitions.
Jack Ross’s side have also kept three straight clean sheets, which has been a rare occurrence in past campaigns, but they face another tough fixture in the third tier away to Plymouth Argyle this weekend.
The Black Cats will face Argyle for the first time since 2007 at Home Park and Ross may be keen to field a team close to the one that has performed so brilliantly in recent weeks.
The brightest sparks in Sunderland’s side have been Chris Maguire – who has now bagged five goals this term – and Lynden Gooch, who has a magnificent seven assists in League One.
Throughout the season the Black Cats have often looked dangerous in attack, but it was defensively where they needed to improve, and that has certainly been the case in recent weeks with three straight shutout wins.
At the heart of those clean sheets has been goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, who has made some game-winning saves, as well as central defenders Jack Baldwin and Tom Flanagan, who seem to be forming a solid partnership at the back.
Fringe wide player Aiden McGeady has also thrown his name in the hat for a starting place with his excellent performance from the bench last weekend, but he will face a tough task to rid Maguire and Gooch of their place.
The only likely change this weekend that we are anticipating will be talisman Josh Maja, who we expect to come in for the inconsistent Jerome Sinclair.
Maja will be hoping to add to his nine-goal tally on Saturday, while also silencing the few critics who suggest the 19-year-old still is not ready for first-team football.
Below is how we predict Sunderland will set up against Plymouth, with just one change to the side:
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