Sunderland V Spurs Preview

Sunderland head into this game with a bit of pressure behind them after losing their last two consecutive games in the league.

Spurs will be careful with them playing Milan in midweek and this could allow Sunderland to have the advantage.

Steve Bruce held a talk in at Rainton Meadows on Thursday evening and said he aims to take Sunderland to Europe soon. With three points against the high flying Spurs we would be in real contention.

Onuoha said: "I think we could finish very high this season, but there are a lot of very difficult games coming up in the next month and a half.

"Then after that we`ve got games which we could win, based on our league position.

"You never know where you might finish, but it`s down to ourselves and hopefully we won`t have to rely on any favours to finish as high in the league as possible.

"To begin with, improvement would be getting more points than last season - I think we need seven more for that.

"You`d like to think we can do that within the next month or two.

"But as for an actual position, the ambition at the start of the season was to finish in the top 10.

"Once you can tick that off, there`s nothing to stop you from pushing on to the next position, and the next one and so on."

Sunderland had both Gordon and Henderson miss International duty with injury but should both be fine for this important clash.

This is the type of player we expect to be lining up against, not enjoying to watch as one of our own!

He has skills, pace, flair and creativity and what a way to start his season by causing an upset live on ESPN camera's on Saturday evening.

Spurs will be hard to predict due to their big European game midweek.

Van de Vaart and Bale will both miss this clash and Modric will also be rested in order for them to be full strength against Milan.

Peter Crouch should return to the squad after recovering from a back injury.

Defoe always likes to score past us, and cause injury to Craig Gordon, so let's hope neither happen tomorrow.

He has not been as prolific this season but has been set back by a few injuries.

Spurs are unbeaten in all 11 league matches in which they have scored first this season (W7, D4).

Sunderland have dropped 17 points from winning positions this season, while Tottenham have picked up 17 points from losing positions - those figures are the highest in the top flight.

Referee: Mike Jones Assistant referees: Dave Bryan & Glenn Turner Fourth official: Neil Swarbrick

Sunderland 1 - 1 Spurs We could pick up a vital three points live on ESPN on Saturday but Spurs are a very good team. They will have one eye on midweek with them facing Milan in the Champions League but they are still good enough to come here and win. I think a point would be a great result and let's hope we can go one better and overtake Liverpool for 6th spot.

Everton away after the FA Cup next weekend.

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for the British GP

Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!