In a rearranged Sky Bet League One fixture from Boxing Day, Sunderland are back on home soil at the Stadium of Light earlier than anticipated as we take on second-placed Hull City on Saturday evening.
The Lads will search for our first win of 2021 after last weekendâs stalemate at Northampton Town, whilst Hull defeated Charlton Athletic 2-0 to start the calendar year, putting an end to a run of three straight defeats.
With several League One clubs involved in Emirates FA Cup third round action this weekend, just half of the division face a league fixture â including Rochdale and Crewe Alexandra, who like the Lads, have rearranged their initial meeting for this Saturday with both clubs having a weekend slot available. Rochdaleâs results have been remarkably fluctuant in recent weeks, with 4-0 and 5-0 wins joined by two 4-1 defeats in four of their last five games. They sit in the relegation places having just played 18 games, whilst Crewe sit ninth, having built an impressive run which sees them unbeaten in the league since November.