Aiming to continue their flawless start to the 2024-25 league campaign, Sunderland will make the long trip down to Home Park to face strugglers Plymouth Argyle in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The Black Cats have enjoyed a blistering beginning to competitive action following the summer break, whilst the Green Army are still finding their feet under new management.
Match preview
Following a final-day victory over top-six hopefuls Hull City in May, Plymouth Argyle avoided an immediate return to League One by the skin of their teeth in the Championship, finishing in 21st position with 51 points, just a single point above 22nd-placed Birmingham City.
Requiring a fresh permanent face in the dugout, the Green Army decided to turn to former Manchester United and England superstar Wayne Rooney to lead the club into their second straight Championship season, with the 38-year-old's coaching credentials under intense scrutiny after an incompetent stint at the Second City Blues last term.
Losing 4-0 at the hands of Danny Rohl's Sheffield Wednesday on the opening weekend of the second-tier campaign, it appeared as if Rooney would be soon adding another managerial mess to his CV, although draws with Hull and Queens Park Rangers since have steadied the ship slightly.
That being said, the Pilgrims are still one of five outfits in the Championship who are yet to enjoy a maiden league victory of the season, meaning that Saturday's hosts sit 22nd in the early standings, only boasting a better points tally than recently-relegated Luton Town and Cardiff City.
Despite interest from higher up the English football food chain, Plymouth managed to keep hold of talisman Morgan Whittaker past the conclusion of the summer transfer window, with the 23-year-old netting a stellar 19 goals in the Championship last season, firing the Devon-based club to safety.
After an uninspiring 16th-placed finish in the Championship during the 2023-24 season - one which seriously fizzled out in the final months under the interim leadership of Mike Dodds - Sunderland have commenced the new campaign in sensational style with Frenchman Regis Le Bris at the wheel.
The 48-year-old's Black Cats have been faultless in the second tier to date, winning four straight matches prior to the first international break of the term, meaning that they sit top of the pile in the division, two points ahead of second-placed West Bromwich Albion.
The most recent of Sunderland's successes arrived at the home of newly-promoted Portsmouth on August 31, when goals from youngster Romaine Mundle and summer signing Alan Browne helped to fire the visitors to a comfortable win at Fratton Park, regardless of a late own goal from Luke O'Nien.
Following the departure of Ross Stewart to Southampton last summer, the Black Cats battled on for the majority of the 2023-24 term without potent central striker, but the recent emergence of Eliezer Mayenda has solved that particular problem, with the 19-year-old bagging four goal contributions in as many matches at the start of this campaign.
Despite Sunderland's exceptional start to the Championship season, it remains to be seen how the North-East giants cope in the long term with the departure of star man Jack Clarke, who secured a lucrative switch to Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town in the final days of the summer window.
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Team News
After receiving a straight red card during the draw at QPR in August, Plymouth's Freddie Issaka remains out of action this weekend due to suspension.
Also earning an early dismissal at Loftus Road, ex-Leeds United enforcer Adam Forshaw is available once more after serving his one-match ban in the EFL Cup defeat to Watford.
With first-choice goalkeeper Michael Cooper sealing a move to Sheffield United, Conor Hazard is now the man in between the sticks for the Green Army.
Sunderland remain without the services of Ajibola Alese, who picked up an ankle injury following his involvement in the 1-0 success over title favourites Burnley.
The Black Cats' options at the back are further restricted by the absence of Jenson Seelt, with the 21-year-old last featuring in a competitive fixture in March.
Keen to continue their rich vein of form, Sunderland should stick with the XI that bested Portsmouth prior to the international break, meaning that Dan Ballard and O'Nien will form the centre-back partnership again.
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Hazard; Edwards, Gibson, Pleguezuelo, Mumba; Randell, Szucs, Whittaker, Gyabi, Cissoko; Hardie
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Ballard, Cirkin; Browne, Rigg; Roberts, Bellingham, Mundle; Mayenda
We say: Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Sunderland
Plymouth have the attacking talent to hurt Sunderland in the form of Whittaker, but the Pilgrims' defensive frailties under Rooney are set to seriously hinder their chances of victory on the weekend.
The Championship's in-form outfit arrive to Home Park on Saturday, when the purring Black Cats should bulldoze their way to another second-tier success.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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