Sunderland begin life without manager Paolo Di Canio tonight as they prepare to welcome Peterborough United to the Stadium of Light for their Capital One Cup clash. There are some who suggest the outspoken Italian was living on borrowed time but the brutal nature of his dismissal - after just 13 games - still came as something of a surprise, even in today's football climate. The Black Cat's one and only win this season came in the League Cup against MK Dons, and caretaker boss Kevin Ball will now be tasked with keeping the Wearsiders in the competition and slamming the brakes on their dramatic slide in form. His next two games are against Liverpool and Manchester United and you have to feel a win here is the only thing that could stop the north East club from enduring a truly torrid fortnight. But Sunderland come up against tough opposition despite the fact tonight's opposition were relegated into League One last season. Peterborough have won six of their eight league games so far this season under manager Darren Ferguson and are only two points behind early pacesetters Leyton Orient in the table. Moreover, Posh have 11 goals in their two League Cup matches this term - more than any other side - and hammered Championship outfit Reading 6-0 recently. So if the Black Cats were hoping for some respite, they may have to think twice.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
