Match Preview - Sunderland v United

Competition: Barclay's Premier League
Kick-Off & Date: 4pm, Sunday 2nd May
Venue: Stadium of Light (Away)
Live TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 (HD), 3:30pm - 6:30pm

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent, England)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Bannister & Robert Madley
Fourth Official: Peter Walton


Form: Sunderland won't be doing The Reds any favours at their home ground on Sunday, after Rio's bro, Anton Ferdinand, scored a very late own-goal at Old Trafford last October to hand us a valuable 2-2 draw. Gaffer Steve Bruce was Sir Alex's first Premier League winning captain, and has proved his worth for The Black Cats - winning 3 out of their last 4 games in the League. 

United have been lucky in the past two games, with Paul Scholes scoring less than 20 seconds from time against Man City to win 1-0, as Sir Alex's men survived a scare when Tottenham Hotspur equalised late on - but Luis Nani and Ryan Giggs kept their cool to win it 3-1 at OT. The Reds could potentially win or lose the title on Sunday, if Chelsea lose or draw (against Liverpool @ 1:30pm) - and United capitalise, we'll be ahead by 1 or 2 points... but if The Blues win and we lose - they'll have won the League. Tense times.

The Injury Front: Sunderland will be without suspended Alan Hutton, and so Phil Bardsley could start against his former employers. Midfielder Lee Cattermole and defender George McCartney could also return from injury, but John Mensah and Andy Reid are both out with respective leg injuries. 

Squad: Gordon, Carson, Bardsley, Turner, Mensah, Ferdinand, Kilgallon, Da Silva, Cana, Cattermole, Zenden, Richardson, Malbranque, Henderson, Campbell, Bent, Jones, Benjani, Meyler, Liddle.

United may welcome back Wayne Rooney after spending a week on the sidelines, suffering a groin strain. Rio Ferdinand, also struggling with a groin injury, may also return - after the pair took part in training over the last few days. Gary Neville is out with a calf injury, while Owen Hargreaves may settle for a place on the bench, as John O'Shea is set to fill-in at the back.

Squad: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, O'Shea, Rafael, De Laet, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Hargreaves, Scholes, Fletcher, Park, Gibson, Obertan, Valencia, Giggs, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney, Macheda, Diouf.


Your Need-To-Knows;
  

The Gaffer: Steve Bruce may have played over 300 games for Sir Alex, scoring 36 goals playing as a centre back. But he won't be doing his old mentor any favours - as Sunderland have only lost an astonishing two games in the Stadium Of Light this season... 

Most-Feared: Darren Bent is going to the World Cup, or is he ? - well, anyway, Bent joined from Tottenham Hotspur last summer, and has turned-up trumps for Brucey. Scoring an amazing 24 goals in just 36 apperances, he is just one goal behind Wayne Rooney in the Premier League top-scorers list... watch-out Edwin !  

The Ref: Steve Bennett has been in charge of three United victories this campaign, against; Everton (3-0), Wolves (3-0) and Hull City (4-0). Bennett was set to take charge of the Manchester derby a fortnight ago, however he was stranded in Europe due to the 'ash cloud'. In 31 games, he has dished-out a massive 118 bookings - but just one red this season !

 
United Latest Prediction: Sunderland 0-3 United
- Wayne Rooney (if he's playing) & Luis Nani

Sunday's Other Matches;
Fulham v West Ham, 3pm
Liverpool v Chelsea, 1:30pm