Sunderland take on West Ham United on Saturday in the Premier League, and HITC pundits give their predictions on the likely outcome.
Sunderland 0-2 West Ham United
Relegation will be practically confirmed for Sunderland with a loss here. West Ham relieved themselves of pressure by beating Swansea last weekend, and this will give them the freedom to attack a vulnerable Sunderland.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
Sunderland 0-1 West Ham United
The Black Cats are now goalless, and thus winless, in seven Premier League games and there’s little reason to expect that to change against West Ham on Saturday. Slaven Bilic’s side should go into the clash with the pressure off after beating Swansea last time out.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Sunderland 0-2 West Ham United
After years of flirting with relegation, the chances of a great escape are somewhere between slim and impossible for Sunderland now. Hopeless for much of the season, they have now lost six of their last seven games, drawing the other and failing to score in any. West Ham have hardly impressed either, but ground out a huge win against Swansea last weekend, and two from two at the Stadium of Light would put any relegation concerns to bed.
Sunderland 1-0 West Ham United
West Ham are desperately unpredictable, and Sunderland will be dying for three points in this game. I could see them nicking a result here at the Stadium of Light, possibly by a Jermain Defoe goal. Sunderland will need to be defensively perfect though.
Sunderland 1-2 West Ham United
Simply put, Sunderland’s form has been awful in recent weeks, and there looks to be no coming back for David Moyes and his side. West Ham have been little better, so I don’t think there will be much quality on display, but I think the Hammers will scrape a win.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe
Sunderland 0-0 West Ham United
Both teams are desperate for the points, so I suspect they’ll have to settle for one apiece, which would be entirely unhelpful. Sunderland haven’t scored in seven, making West Ham the more likely to snatch this.
West Ham United’s Manuel Lanzini
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