West Ham's Andy Carroll (L) and Diafra Sakho. (Photo : Reuters)
Cellar-dweller Sunderland (0-5-2, 2 points) will clash with top team West Ham United (4-2-1, 13 points) at their home turf of Stadium of Light on October 3, Saturday as the 2015-2016 Premier League season moves ahead.
Dick Advocaat is reportedly close at getting sacked as the Black Cats have yet to register a win in this season. They are currently on a three-game losing streak as the last time they did not lose was late August in a 2-2 draw versus Aston Villa.
Sunderland was blanked by league-leader Manchester United, 0-3, in their game last Saturday at the Old Trafford behind goals from Wayne Rooney, Memphis Depay, and Juan Mata, as per BBC Sport.
Advocaat's boys were playing lifeless on both offense and defense as they did nothing to resist the relentless Red Devils attack.
Meanwhile, West Ham forced a 2-2 draw with newly-promoted squad Norwich City in their game at the Upton Park also last Saturday, via Yahoo Sports.
The Canaries went up 2-1 at the 83rd minute after midfielder Nathan Redmond's curling shot through a defending Adrian. But Irons winger Cheikhou Kouyaté salvaged the draw by drilling one in injury time to keep Slaven Bilić's team at the no. 3 spot of the overall standings.
West Ham is set to extend their four-game unbeaten run against Sunderland as the Black Cats remain winless and in danger of relegation.
Prediction: West Ham over Sunderland, 2-1.
Betting odds: Sunderland (+200), West Ham (+130), draw (+250), via Bovada
Sunderland starting lineup (4-1-4-1 formation): Pantilimon; Kaboul, O'Shea, Jones, van Aanholt; Cattermole; M'Vila, Toivonen, Johnson, Lens; Borini
West Ham starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Adrián; Reid, Jenkinson, Cresswell, Tomkins; Moses, Kouyaté; Noble, Lanzini, Payet; Sakho
