Barclays Premier League
Sunderland v West Ham United
Stadium of Light
Sunday 23 November
4pm
Referee: Mike Dean
WHUTV - Full audio commentary I Pre-match photo gallery
Introduction
* West Ham United head to Sunderland looking to build on last weekend's 0-0 draw at home to Portsmouth. Manager Gianfranco Zola has a strong squad to choose from as he pits his wits against a familiar opponent from his playing days in Roy Keane.
* West Ham United are 16th in the Premier League on 14 points with four wins and two draws from their opening 13 games and a goal difference of minus six. Sunderland are 14th with four wins and three draws, and a goal difference of minus seven.
* With the current compact nature of the Premier League table, a first win in eight games could see the Hammers move up to 12th, although it would need a significant swing in terms of goal difference. The home side could potentially move into ninth spot with victory.
* Although they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light last season, West Ham United had won and drawn on their previous two visits.
* The away team's goalless draw last weekend was their first clean sheet in 25 matches since the 1-0 win at Fulham in February.
* Zola said: "We know exactly the situation and we don't have to think too much about it. We just need to focus on the next game which is going to be a tough match and I'm not looking back. I never do that. Sunday is going to be a different game. Yes we know it's tough but we are going to give our best as we always have done so far and maybe this time it will be a different story."
* Speaking of Zola, Keane said: "He's certainly one of the Premier League's better imports, most people would say that. Not just on the pitch, off it as well; he came across as a pretty decent bloke and played the game in the right spirit. Everyone took to him as a player and hopefully he will be a good manager. He has the credentials and qualities and Sunday will be a tough test for us, West Ham have some good players."
* West Ham United are next in top flight action on Monday 1 December when they make the trip to face Liverpool. Sunderland welcome Bolton Wanderers on Saturday 29 December.
Last time out
Saturday 15 November - West Ham United 0-0 Portsmouth
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga (Faubert 61), Behrami, Parker (Mullins 75), Collison, Sears (Etherington 46), Cole, Bellamy
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Davenport, Bowyer, Di Michele
Saturday 15 November - Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Sunderland
Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Tainio (Reid 53), Whitehead, Richardson, Malbranque (Leadbitter 83), Cisse (Yorke 83), Jones
Subs not used: Colgan, Diouf, Murphy, Henderson
Goals: Jones 49, Cisse 71
Team news
* Zola has Diego Tristan in contention after he returned to full training this week following a foot injury picked up in reserve action. All the internationals returned back with no problems, although Matthew Etherington has a slight muscle strain and could be rested.
* Herita Ilunga has trained normally this week despite having to come off against Portsmouth last week with a foot problem.
* Mark Noble (calf) and Jonathan Spector (hip) are both set to be in full training next week, alongside Kieron Dyer who is continuing to make good progress. The midfielder has stepped up his training following the double leg break sustained in August 2007.
* The likes of Jimmy Walker, James Tomkins, Walter Lopez, Kyel Reid and Luis Boa Morte are all pushing hard for places in the travelling squad.
* Only Danny Gabbidon and Dean Ashton remain on the long-term casualty list with both working hard on their rehabilitation from abdominal and ankle problems respectively.
* Nigel Quashie, Josh Payne and Bondz 'Gala are all still out on loan at Birmingham City, Cheltenham Town and MK Dons respectively.
* Sunderland have recalled Carlos Edwards from his loan spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers while goalkeeper Craig Gordon (ankle) and former Hammers left-back George McCartney (foot) are both unlikely to return from injuries.
Background
* The teams last met on 29 March 2008 at the Stadium of Light, when George McCartney and Anton Ferdinand were both in the West Ham side.
* The lineups were:
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Spector, McCartney (Pantsil 46, Tomkins 74), Ljungberg, Parker, Mullins, Noble, Cole (Solano 65), Ashton.
Subs not used: Walker, Boa Morte
Goal: Ljungberg 18
Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins, Murphy (O'Donovan 81), Whitehead, Reid, Richardson (Edwards 70), Chopra (Leadbitter 71), Jones
Subs not used: Fulop, Yorke
Goals: Jones 29, Reid 90
* West Ham United last won at the Stadium of Light on 19 October 2002 when Trevor Sinclair scored the only goal of the game.
* Sunderland will have two former Hammers in their ranks. Ferdinand made 163 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals, since emerging from the youth ranks before his summer switch north. McCartney appeared in 71 league and cup games, with one goal before bringing to an end his two-year stay in August.
* A third Sunderland player Kieran Richardson had a spell in the club's Academy before joining Manchester United.
* Robert Green is the only West Ham United player to have featured in every league and cup game this season, while Matthew Upson has also started every Premier League match.
* Bowyer will be making his 50th appearance for the club if he plays.
Head to head (last six meetings, league unless stated)
29 March 2008 - Sunderland 2-1 West Ham United
21 October 2008 - West Ham United 3-1 Sunderland
4 February 2006 - West Ham United 2-0 Sunderland
1 October 2005 - Sunderland 1-1 West Ham United
29 April 2005 - West Ham United 1-2 Sunderland
4 December 2004 - Sunderland 0-2 West Ham United
Overall record v Sunderland (all competitions): W 28, D 19, L 28
Barclays Premier League fixtures
Sunday 23 November 2008
Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers (1.30pm)
Monday 24 November 2008
Wigan Athletic v Everton (8pm)
General information
For ticket information, click here. For details on getting to the Stadium of Light, click here
Weather: The forecast is for a cold day with snow. The temperature is not expected to get above 5C.