Sunderland vs Brentford preview, team news and predicted lineup

Looking to win their first two Premier League home games of a season for only the second time in their history, Sunderland host Brentford at the Stadium of Light in a Saturday afternoon clash. Both teams have collected three points from their opening two league matches, but experienced contrasting fortunes in the EFL Cup midweek—Sunderland were eliminated by Huddersfield Town, while Brentford overcame Bournemouth.

The Black Cats’ optimism following their emphatic 3-0 victory over West Ham United on the opening weekend quickly faded, as Regis Le Bris’s side now aim to bounce back from consecutive domestic defeats. Last weekend, Sunderland came up short in a battle between newly-promoted sides, falling 2-0 to Burnley as Jaidon Anthony and Josh Cullen each notched a goal and an assist.

In contrast, Brentford have recovered from an opening-day defeat by stringing together back-to-back wins in both league and cup competitions, boosting their early-season ambitions. Keith Andrews secured his first top-flight victory last weekend as the Bees edged Aston Villa 1-0, courtesy of a debut goal from Dango Ouattara, before dispatching Bournemouth in the EFL Cup.

Sunderland’s hopes against Burnley last weekend suffered an early blow when defensive stalwart Daniel Ballard was forced off with a groin injury in the ninth minute. Ballard is now sidelined until after the September international break. He joins Aji Alese (shoulder), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Luke O'Nien (shoulder), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (calf), and Romain Mundle (thigh) on Sunderland’s growing injury list, while Niall Huggins is also a fresh doubt after picking up a groin issue in midweek.

New signing Nordi Mukiele filled in for Ballard during the EFL Cup, and the ex-Paris Saint-Germain defender could now make his Premier League debut at right-back, with Jenson Seelt expected to start in central defence.

Brentford, meanwhile, did not escape their win over Bournemouth unscathed. Midfielder Frank Onyeka was substituted late on with a knock, though he was already likely to drop out of the starting lineup for Saturday’s match. Onyeka is among five fitness concerns for manager Andrews, alongside Vitaly Janelt (ankle), Gustavo Nunes (thigh), Paris Maghoma (thigh), and Yunus Konak (ankle). However, Maghoma and Konak have not been ruled out yet, and neither has wantaway forward Yoane Wissa. The DR Congo international has been training with the squad and there has been no recent progress regarding a potential move to Newcastle United, but it would still be a surprise to see him feature at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland: Roefs; Hume, Seelt, Alderete, Mandava; Sadiki, Diarra, Xhaka; Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra

Bournemouth: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Berg, Lewis-Potter; Yarmoliuk, Henderson; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago

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