This meeting at the Stadium Of Light promises to be an extremely competitive one. Sunderland have found a relegation-battling spring in their step as Gus Poyet has settled in as head coach, and Steve Bruce travels to his former club having upset a few expectations by keeping Hull above the relegation places so far this season. Both these clubs have tasted victory at Newcastle this season, but Sunderland's 3-0 thrashing last weekend was evidence of the growing progress being made under Poyet. Even Adam Johnson has rediscovered his best form, with five goals in four games securing him the Player Of The Month award for January. Confidence will be sky-high, but they must remain focused to stay out of trouble. Hull, by virtue of goal difference, lie just above Sunderland in the table, but a tough set of fixtures since the New Year have seen only one point picked up from five games. The 6-0 thrashing of Fulham seems a long way ago, but victory at the Stadium Of Light would ease a few Tiger concerns. Prediction - 1-1 draw.
I am from Bangor, aged 24, and possess an MA in Journalism from The University Of Ulster. I have had work published in the Belfast Telegraph and interviewed several local footballers and Olympic athletes. I also run my own sports blog, 'Sporting Thought' in addition to contributing to What Culture.
