Saturday 10th December 2016 Kickoff: 1500hrs
Swansea City v Sunderland
Football – England – Premier League
Two of the bottom three in the Premier League meet on Saturday with two points separating bottom club Swansea and their opponents Sunderland. Both teams have struggled to get going this campaign and look short of quality in key areas meaning they will likely be involved in the relegation battle throughout. It would be foolish to suggest that it is a must win for either team with so much football left to play but the pressure is on heading into the festive period and will only intensify in the coming weeks.
Swansea have been a real positive story for English football over the past few years and their stay in the Premier League has barely come under threat during their five year stay, until now. They sit at the foot of the table and have already changed manager this season in a bid to try and change their fortunes. The club is also under new ownership for the first time and that change in culture and approach may well be affecting performances on the park. Bob Bradley was brought in by the American owners and his appointment was something of a surprise with no experience or knowledge of the English game. Despite only being in post for a few games his position is already reported to be under threat and a fourth defeat in six games could well see the axe yielded again.
Sunderland are the perennial Premier League strugglers and have had what has become a standard beginning to the season as they lurk in the depths of the league. The Black Cats took until the 5th of November before registering their first win in the league and had looked a lost cause up until that point. But, as we have all come to expect in this story, their amazing powers of recovery are beginning to come into view and three wins in their last four has breathed new life into their survival bid. David Moyes is still finding his feet at the club having only arrived in the summer and the recent signs are positive that he is the manager to take them forward, particularly as he is working with a very limited squad of players – one which you would expect to be strengthened in the winter transfer window.
Swansea City v Sunderland Betting Tips
These two next face each other on the final day of the season and it will be interesting to see how much importance that game will have for both these clubs’ fate. At the moment it appears that Sunderland have the better chance of the two to survive for another season if they are able to continue their recent good form, whereas Swansea – coming off the back of a horrific 5-0 mauling from Tottenham last week – looked to be hurtling towards turmoil on and off the park.
In terms of the weekend’s game, I was very surprised to see how much the prices favoured the home team and I’m backing Sunderland to get another three points on the board which may prove fatal for Bradley and send the Swans into the managerial market for a second time this season.
Sunderland 27/10 @ Marathonbet
